Iraqis Stage Sweeping Pro-Coalition Demonstrations

DoD - American Forces Press Service ^ | Dec. 11, 2003 | Donna Miles

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Iraqis Stage Sweeping Pro-Coalition Demonstrations

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2003 - Pro-coalition demonstrators gathered throughout Iraq Dec. 10 to protest terrorist actions and urge their fellow Iraqis to take action against anti-coalition forces.

Coalition Provisional Authority officials reported major demonstrations in as many as eight cities by a sweeping representation of the Iraqi people: Kurds, Shiites, Sunnis and Christians among them.

Although the CPA estimated participation at 15,000 to 20,000 people, Iraqi police and media sources cited numbers ranging from 100,000 to 1 million.

The demonstrations, organized by the Iraqi Reconstruction and Development Council, took place in every major Iraqi city except Tikrit and Mosul, officials said.

In Baghdad, the scene of the largest demonstration, an estimated 5,000 Iraqis carried banners and chanted slogans opposing violence by Saddam Hussein loyalists and other insurgents. A CPA spokesman said the demonstration was initially planned to take place over a one-mile area, but that it extended an additional half-mile as the crowd swelled beyond expectations.

Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada Sadar -- who had previously been an outspoken opponent of the coalition -- spoke at the demonstration, condemning terrorism and the violence inflicted by the insurgents. In Ramadi, a former Baathist stronghold about 60 miles west of Baghdad, Iraqis demonstrated at the provincial council headquarters.

U.S. Central Command officials said some 200 men, women and children carried banners and chanted slogans condemning terrorism — an encouraging development, they said, as Ramadi has been a site of persistent anti-coalition activities since post-war reconstruction efforts began.

CENTCOM officials applauded the strong showing of support during the demonstrations, which they said demonstrates increased cooperation between local Iraqis and coalition forces.

The increased cooperation, they said, reflects the Iraqi's desire for a safe and secure environment and is resulting in more tipsters coming forward to provide information about insurgents and their activities.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

It appears the DoD agrees with you ~ more publicity for the rallies. *g*

[El Conservador]

Will you see this on ABCNNBCBS???

Most likely not.

You won't even see it on Fox News.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

I am guessing this wasn't the lead story tonight on CNN.

[Joee]

According to FOX, there was no recognition of these demonstrations by the press. The Democrooks would love to see the US fail in Iraq

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Coalition Provisional Authority officials reported major demonstrations in as many as eight cities by a sweeping representation of the Iraqi people: Kurds, Shiites, Sunnis and Christians among them.

Although the CPA estimated participation at 15,000 to 20,000 people, Iraqi police and media sources cited numbers ranging from 100,000 to 1 million.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One more time, Iraq-ization, ping!

[BluH2o]

The more Iraqi's who demonstrate the more co-operation we will receive from Iraqi's in general ... I'm speaking of hard accurate intelligence the coalition forces need to eliminate the terrorists.

[Arpege92]

You go Iraq!!!

[HHFi]

The Western media couldn't report these rallies: nobody was holding up a sign comparing Bush to Hitler, so it wasn't "news."

[Verginius Rufus]

Brit Hume talked about the non-coverage of this story in the mainstream media...he said The New York Times did mention it, but just one sentence in the 9th paragraph of a story, appearing on page 21.

[FreedomPoster]

bump!

[Libertina]

pictures? where is abcnbccbscnn when you need them?)

[dsutah]

I wouldn't be too sure about "Fox" news not talking about it! Brit Hume brought it up on his part of the show, and said that he didn't think it was mentioned at all in some other media outlets, particularly the print media.

[aquawrench]

Wow ping.

[sgtbono2002]

Are you people trying to say the media is left wing biased????? The nerve of you people.

[Ex-Dem]

Now that's showing those pesky peace activists in London how to put on a real demonstration. How many people did they manage? A few hundred?

Undoubtedly, the mainstream media is too busy raising quagmire alerts to take notice.

[PhilDragoo]

So not a quagmire bump.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Would be nice to see these demostrations frequently!

[McGavin999]

If you want to see pictures, taken by a citizen journalist (who in real life is a dentist in Iraq) go to Healing Iraq

[CyberAnt]

And .. you would be wrong. Brit Hume talked about it today, and also indicated what other news organizations had not even acknowledged the event (including print) .. very telling indeed.