Posted on 03/13/2007 8:32:46 PM PDT by mdittmar
It was four years ago this March 19 that the United States invaded Iraq, triggering massive street protests in San Francisco and a widely criticized military occupation that has become one of the longest in US history.
The war has proved to be as bloody and shortsighted as its opponents always claimed it would be. More than 3,100 American soldiers have been killed, as have as many as hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, with little hope of the violence abating anytime soon, despite President George W.
Bush's recent deployment of 21,500 more troops. The war has cost the United States about $400 billion so far, a price tag increasing by about $250 million every day of the occupation. And it has spurred anti-Americanism around the world.
Opinion polls show a strong majority in the United States favors immediate withdrawal from Iraq, and a growing number of Democrats in Congress now appear to be moving in that direction. But antiwar activists are planning an escalation of their own, arguing that only through a ramped-up and more widely disseminated peace movement will this war come to an end.
To mark this inauspicious anniversary, United for Peace and Justice, the nation's largest antiwar coalition, has issued a call for "a massive outpouring of opposition to the war in locally based, decentralized actions throughout the U.S." from March 17 to 19. It's a clear departure from the peace movement's norm of massive, centralized marches located in Washington, DC, New York, and San Francisco.
Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets of San Francisco on March 20, 2003, with more than 1,500 people arrested in civil disobedience actions that effectively shut down the city. Antiwar groups are still hoping for a big turnout in the city next week, even as they shift their strategy to include more of Middle America.
Instead of relying on charismatic visionaries, influential organizations, and hierarchical organizing in the big cities, the new strategy calls on citizens to take the initiative and organize — from Mobile, Ala., to Jonesboro, Ark., to Fayetteville, N.C. — and demonstrate a broad base of active opposition to the war.
"The resistance isn't only in San Francisco," Jim Haber, a member of the steering committee for United for Peace and Justice Bay Area, told the Guardian. "Large demonstrations here get attributed to San Francisco being out of step with the rest of the country — although less so these days."
While it is important to have big showings, Haber said it's also important to demonstrate that the opposition is widespread. "Rather than making people who want to protest come to us, we're going to them — and they're all over."
Several of the affinity groups that were instrumental in the shutdown of San Francisco four years ago are regrouping ...| 2 | 3
There won't be anything massive, especially on Sunday when everyone is hung over. But even if 23 people show up, the local news stations will cover it like Operation Overlord.
Thanks for posting it.
They are indeed determined to destroy us, funded by Soros and his ilk.
Leftists in Search of Permanent Democrat Majority (IMPORTANT Read -- Soros and leftists org)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1769370/posts
Tracking Down A Fifth Column Front
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=3181
Where was this poll taken? A local Mosque? or Berkeley?
ping
And, what if we don't knuckle under to the San Fran moonbats? They gonna swish us to death?
What makes you think that?
because the media always lie and hide the free mumia nuts
That has nothing to do with this anti war rally. It will be a large turnout.
If you want government to intervene domestically, you're a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you're a conservative. If you want government to intervene everywhere, you're a moderate. If you don't want government to intervene anywhere, you're an extremist. --Joseph Sobran, Editor of the National Review at one time (1995)
They should be locked up awaiting charges of treason.
It's S.O.P. for the MSM. My wife attended USC during the late 60's and witnessed the 15-20 or so sitting around on the lawn with placards denouncing this or that, most often the war in Viet Nam, but also whatever smoked their shorts at the moment. The MSM would have bold headlines declaring "a huge turnout..." to protest whatever, and the TV news would take camera angles of the 15-20 students from various angles creating an illusion of hundreds. She saw this happen many times.
I was actually more curious as to why Ieatfrijoles thought it would be a low turnout. Not the MSM.
Yes they should,kennedy,murtha,kerry,durbin,and maybe those nutty war protestors.
This moonbat would make Baghdad Bob proud. She must pull her facts out of thin air.
The politicians for sure. The protesters who try to block arms and troop movements should be executed.
All the stickers that I and other good souls have been taking down and defacing here in SF are advertising Mar 18 in JH plaza. This town goes nuts over St. Pats even on a Monday so a Saturday will be way over the top. Only the hardest core of losers will feel like paticipating with these smelly fools while some idiot beats on a snare drum.
Demonstrably false.
L
military occupation that has become one of the longest in US history.
Really? Someone really needs to read some history.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
