Top 10 Antiwar Stories of 2005

[Clara T]

From Cindy Sheehan to John Murtha

Top 10 Antiwar Stories of 2005

By KEVIN ZEESE

1. Cindy Sheehan stands up to President Bush in Crawford, TX and reawakens the anti-war movement. When the 'Peace Mom' was at the Veterans for Peace conference in Dallas,Texas this summer she decided she was going to Crawford to see the President. She went but only saw the President as he sped by to a fund raiser for Republican candidates. But Bush and the world ­ heard her question: "Mr. President what was the noble cause for which my son Casey died?" The President is still having trouble with that basic question. Sheehan's stand awakened the nation in what Nancy Lessin of Military Families Speak Out described as "the acoustics of ditch." Sheehan usually appears on stage with other Gold Star Families, family members of soldiers serving in Iraq and veterans of the Iraq War recognizing that she is just one of hundreds of thousands of family members whose loved ones have been killed or seriously injured in the war and occupation.

2. The people speak with their feet and in the polls. A majority of Americans now believe the war was a mistake and want to see the U.S. beginning to withdraw troops from the country. In March more than 700 demonstrations were held throughout the country on the second anniversary of the invasion. On September 24, several hundred thousand people took action and demonstrated in Washington, DC against the war in Iraq. The march, co-sponsored by United for Peace and Justice and the ANSWER Coalition, featured speakers from a wide range of perspectives geographic, political, ethnic and religious. The event was reported in the corporate media as a 'mere' 100,000 when DC police officials said the organizers at least met their goal of 100,000. After the march activities continued a United for Peace and Justice sponsored lobby day where more than 1,000 people lobbied elected officials. And, the several days of activities included civil disobedience where 40 people were arrested at the Pentagon and more than 370 people were arrested at the White House - three times larger then the previous record for arrests for civil disobedience at the White House.

3. The people of Iraq who have stood up for their nation's freedom voting for political parties that call for the end of the occupation, with political leaders who signed the Cairo Statement that called for withdrawal of troops, for political forces putting forward the framework for a ceasefire and end to the war, and for Iraqis who have resisted the occupation. DemocracyRising does not support terrorism but recognizes the desires of Iraqis to see foreign troops leave their country as well as their ability to fight the world's most powerful military force to a standstill.

<snip>

10. Anti-war Democrats, ignored the leadership of their party and have gotten organized and are speaking out more effectively than they had been through the 'Out of Iraq Caucus' in the House. House members deserving special recognition include Maxine Waters (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Neil Abrocrombie (D-HI), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Michael Capuano (D-MA) and Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA). In the Senate Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Robert Byrd (D-WV) have spoken out for bringing U.S. troops home. And, Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic Leader deserves credit for closing the Senate to force debate on misuse of intelligence leading up to the invasion.

http://www.counterpunch.org/zeese12292005.html

[Trevelyan]

1. Pentagon propaganda program orders soldiers to promote Iraq war

Pentagon propaganda program orders soldiers to promote Iraq war while home on leave
By DOUG THOMPSON Publisher, Capitol Hill Blue Dec 29, 2005,

Good soldiers follow orders and hundreds of American military men and women returned to the United States on holiday leave this month with orders to sell the Iraq war to a skeptical public. The program, coordinated through a Pentagon operation dubbed “Operation Homefront,” ordered military personnel to give interviews to their hometown newspapers, television stations and other media outlets and praise the American war effort in Iraq.

Initial reports back to the Pentagon deem the operation a success with dozens of front page stories in daily and weekly newspapers around the country along with upbeat reports on local television stations. “We've learned as a military how to do this better,” Captain David Diaz, a military reservist, told his hometown paper, The Roanoke (VA) Times. “My worry is that we have the right military strategy and political strategies now but the patience of the American public is wearing thin.”

When pressed by the paper on whether or not his commanding officers told him to talk to the press,Diaz admitted he was “encouraged” to do so. So reporter Duncan Adams asked:

“Did Diaz return to the U.S. on emergency leave with an agenda -- to offer a positive spin that could help counter growing concerns among Americans about the U.S. exit strategy? How do we know that's not his strategy, especially after he discloses that superior officers encouraged him to talk about his experiences in Iraq?”

Replied Diaz: “You don't. I can tell you that the direction we've gotten from on high is that there is a concern about public opinion out there and they want to set the record straight.”

Diaz, an intelligence officer, knows how to avoid a direct answer. Other military personnel, however, tell Capitol Hill Blue privately that the pressure to “sell the war” back home is enormous.

“I’ve been promised an early release if I do a good job promoting the war,” says one reservist who asked not to be identified.

In interviews with a number of reservists home for the holidays, a pattern emerges on the Pentagon’s propaganda effort. Soldiers are encouraged to contact their local news media outlets to offer interviews about the war. A detailed set of talking points encourages them to:

--Admit initial doubts about the war but claim conversion to a belief in the American mission;

--Praise military leadership in Iraq and throw in a few words of support for the Bush administration;

--Claim the mission to turn security of the country over to the Iraqis is working;

--Reiterate that America must not abandon its mission and must stay until the “job is finished.”

--Talk about how “things are better” now in Iraq.

“It’s way better now (in Iraq). People are friendlier. They seem more relaxed, and they say, ’Thank you, mister,’” Sgt. Christopher Desierto told his hometown paper, The Maui News.

But soldiers who are home and don’t have to return to Iraq tell a different story.

“I've just been focused on trying to get the rest of these guys home,” says Sgt. Major Floyd Dubose of Jackson, MS, who returned home after 11 months in Iraq with the Mississippi Army National Guard's 155th Combat Brigade.

And the Army is cracking down on soldiers who go on the record opposing the war.

Specialist Leonard Clark, a National Guardsman, was demoted to private and fined $1,640 for posting anti-war statements on an Internet blog. Clark wrote entries describing the company's commander as a "glory seeker" and the battalion sergeant major an "inhuman monster". His last entry before the blog was shut down told how his fellow soldiers were becoming increasingly opposed to the US operation in Iraq.

“The message is clear,” says one reservist who is home for the holidays but has to return and asked not to be identified. “If you want to get out of this man’s Army with an honorable (discharge) and full benefits you
better not tell the truth about what is happening in-country.”

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/printer_7918.shtml
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/revote2004/message/4087

[Hissyspit]

2. Off to the Home page with you! n/t

[eridani]

3. We are definitely making headway here n/t

[Clara T]

4. Gotta keep it movin'

The anti-war movement needs to kick into high gear.