Posted on 03/12/2005 11:53:08 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
Opponents of the US-led invasion of Iraq nearly came to blows in Berlin Saturday with pro-US demonstrators accusing them of supporting "terrorism" and tolerating Saddam Hussein.
About 200 people, mainly German pacifist and left-wing activists, attended an unofficial meeting called to condemn the war against Iraq and demand the withdrawal of American troops.
But the gathering was interrupted by hecklers blaming anti-war demonstrators for supporting the wave of extremist violence in Iraq.
Outside, about 20 people demonstrated against the conference, saying it was indirectly supporting the old Saddam regime.
"We don't hate the Americans and we condemn suicide bombings against civilians, but we believe the resistance (against US forces) is legitimate," said conference organiser Barbara Fuchs, a member of the anti-globalisation movement Attac
"We are not supporters of Saddam Hussein either," Fuchs stressed. "We're glad his regime has ended."
"None of those invited here has any links with Saddam Hussein, they are all his former opponents," said co-organiser Joachim Guilliard.
But one Iraqi interrupted, crying: "By supporting terrorism you have destroyed our country."
But another replied to loud applause: "Before all this, we were all Arabs in Iraq. Now we're Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds ... all because of the occupation."
"We call on the Americans to leave Iraq because they are turning the country into utter chaos," said Sheikh Hadi al-Khalissi of Iraq's National Founding Congress (INFC). "They are destroying Iraq and its oil resources and are trying to change Iraqi culture."
"Germany, France and all other countries hostile to the occupation must help not the Iraqi government but the population, by providing medical supplies and food," he said, stressing that he was opposed to the kidnapping of foreigners in Iraq.
Germany, together with France and Russia, led European opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq two years ago, on March 20, 2003.
Germany's attitude produced major strains in its relationship with Washington. Last month US President George W. Bush made a special fence-mending trip to Germany, a key NATO ally of Washington, and had conciliatory talks with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as part of a European tour.
But the German government still refuses deploy any forces in Iraq.
Sami Ramadani, an Iraqi sociologist exiled to London in 1979, told the conference there were daily acts of resistance to the American presence in Iraq, but only terrorist acts made headlines.
"If somebody kills your father or your brother, it's normal to take up arms," said Ramadani, an opponent of both Saddam and the US presence.
He said the way to get rid of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party regime was not American intervention.
"The US has its own political and strategic agenda to dominate the region, they have only brought instability. Without clear notification of American withdrawal the situation can only get worse.
"Iraqis are not idiots."
Outside the building where the meeting was held about 20 people demonstrated against the conference. The gathering was "indirectly supporting the old regime," said Ali al-Nasraui, spokesman for the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), the country's main Shiite party.
"The meeting has the hidden aim of legitimising (Saddam Hussein's) old Baath Party," which was responsible for many of the suicide bombings and causing anarchy.
He said no Iraqi like the idea of the country being occupied. But the US was contributing to providing Iraq with democratic institutions.
"We need time." he said. "When we no longer need the Americans, we'll push them over the border."
does FR have a German chapter? :)
Germany purged itself of militant nationalism after WWII but in the process purged itself of rational thought as well.
A nation that gave the world so much of the arts, science, and literature had gotten emeshed in the hell of Naziism...and coming out of this mess emerged as just a pathetic socialistic wreck.
Must be a mistranslation for "pointing out that they were in fact."
Dan
"If somebody kills your father or your brother, it's normal to take up arms," said Ramadani, an opponent of both Saddam and the US presence.
He said the way to get rid of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party regime was not American intervention.
I wonder if Mr. Ramadani realizes that when he had the chance to stand-up for Iraq, and against Saddam, he ran to Britain. So I wonder exactly what the alternatives to the invasion were when Iraqi-patriots aren't willing to hang tough?
über Zeit sprach jemand oben. These folks must be freinds or relatives of a lot of the German soldiers that have vocalized support to our troops over there. A lot of these soldiers have saluted our troops every time they come across one who is wearing an Iraqi Freedom badge. They have been doing this in direct violation of orders not to salute.
Leftists love to praise "stability." It's a code for supporting dictators like Saddam, whose governments are often very "stable."
I wish someone would make it clear to the inept thinkers and state simply:
"Either you are with us, or you are against us".
Sometimes braindead libs are just too easy! Now how did they say they would have ended Saddamn's torture and rape rooms???
Let's end the occupation of Germany!!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Marching Troops
So how many millions of people lost a father, or mother, or child, etc under Saddam? These folks should be fighting the terrorists.
"We don't hate the Americans and we condemn suicide bombings against civilians, but we believe the resistance (against US forces) is legitimate,"
That comment makes no sense. They condemn the suicide bombings that are the very same "resistance" they support?
"we believe the resistance is legitimate"
How can a person with a brain believe that ..?? It boggles the mind. Everytime we arrest these people - they are from several other different countries - they're not Iraqis.
But .. these people come to the table with a grudge against us in the first place which makes feeding them disinformation so easy.
longjack
I think Europe is in real trouble - France alone has a 10% Muslim population - we only have 1-2%.
The Muslims in the UK are a huge force also. This is going to get ugly.
HA! HA! HA! Idiots, They aren't even envolved with Iraq. I wonder what kind of "blows" the Germs will come to when they debate whether or not to become an Islamic State?
Maybe thru NATO.
"We need time." he said. "When we no longer need the Americans, we'll push them over the border."
uh...yeah right. We'll leave when we're damn good and ready and not before. We might even decide to build a base or two. Ungrateful Iraqi scum...
...20 people demonstrated against the conference...
FReeperdamnerungs
We are currently in favor of pushing them into Syria, but it may be more beneficial for us to push them into Iran. Its too early to tell.
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