The Vietcong flags will be replaced by
Posted on 08/12/2005 10:56:36 AM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Pentagon is dismissing claims that a "Freedom Walk" marking the fourth anniversary of the September 11 attacks and honoring US troops is merely a sinister stunt to build support for the Iraq war.
Walkers will leave the Pentagon parking lot this September 11 to trek two miles (3.2 kilometres) to Washington's National Mall, in an event culminating with a concert by Country Music star Clint Black.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday the walk would wind its way past some of Washington's most famous monuments "reminding participants of the sacrifices of this generation and of each previous generation that have so successfully defended our freedoms."
But critics say the Pentagon-sponsored "America Supports You Freedom Walk" is the latest bid by the Bush administration to connect the invasion of Iraq with September 11, despite the lack of evidence an Iraqi role in the 2001 attacks.
"The fact that they are having the walk on September 11 is clearly an attempt to link the two," said Nancy Mitchell, media coordinator of anti-war group ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).
"The Department of Defense is always claiming that to support the troops we have to support the mission. We think that the best way to support the troops to bring them home safely now."
A senior Defense Department official was not immediately available to comment on criticisms of the walk on Friday.
But deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications Allison Barber said on local WTOP radio on Thursday there was no political agenda behind the event.
"This is not a statement about the war in Iraq or about any policy decisions."
"This is a statement about, 'We remember we came under attack, and we're grateful for our men and women in the military who volunteer to serve our country.'"
ANSWER meanwhile is laying plans for what it says will be the biggest anti-war demonstration yet, hoping to draw tens of thousands of protestors to Washington on September 24.
Some critics of the walk, notably on online political weblogs or "blogs," have said the requirement for marchers to sign up online providing a name and contact information provides the walk with an Orwellian touch.
But Pentagon officials say the requirment is necessary to allow them to estimate crowd numbers.
There has also been criticism of the fact that some media companies have agreed to act as sponsors for the event.
"Our interest in the event is consistent with our past support of causes related to September 11 and the veterans of wars past and present," the Washington Post quoted a spokesman for the paper as saying Friday.
And this is okay for anyone to do but a Freedom Walk is Not? WHAT HYPOCRITES! Only marches can be anti-war and not for our heros?? Since when?
It's the central truth of the Left: they believe they are entitled, and no one else is.
What hypocrisy. It reminds me of how upset all the gay people in my class got last year when a local radio station had the gall and audacity to hold a "straight pride parade."
Leftie Doctrine No. 5:
Free speech for me, none for thee.
"Straight pride parade"
Is that one of those wacky parades where men and their wives walk down the street holding hands and appropriately dressed?
Just a thought.
'All the gay people in my class'..
What sort of class is that? Jusst curious.
I am also worn out with this incessant repetition of 'critics claim'...,'some critics say...'
It's the reporter claiming and saying.
The Vietcong flags will be replaced by
Because they are NOT against Islamic Terror - they call the Terrorists Freedom Fighters don't ya know that?
Since Able Danger became public the "No connection between Saddam and Al Qaeda" line is all worn out.
I don't know, since I wasn't there to see it. I did see a newspaper photograph of some people walking in the parade. One was a gay walker holding a sign that said something like "I love my straight friends." The other person was apparently straight and holding a sign with a slogan I can't remember. It was mostly a joke. But 99.99% of the local gay community was apoplectic.
This from the people who gave us the Bush National Guard forgeries.
Exactly.
Sounds fun. I love Clint Black. Except for it being a Sunday and with school the next day, I'd go.
Check your FReepmail. I've already had to change my screen name once because a moonbat I know started cyber-stalking me, so I try not to give out terribly much information about myself publicly.
No doubt they'll ANSWER for their hypocrisy.
DUers are having lengthy discussions as to how the Sept. 11th walk is "illegal".
(((((GROAN)))))
How the heck is this illegal? Whatever happened to Freedom? They are calling this a Nazi Walk.
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