Posted on 09/15/2007 2:55:26 PM PDT by BenLurkin
WASHINGTON Thousands of anti-war protesters, including a sizeable contingent of military veterans, rallied on Saturday outside the White House in Washington, D.C., to demand an end to the Iraq war.
The protesters gathered in Lafayette Park with signs saying "End the war now," and calling for President Bush's impeachment.
"I am here representing everybody from Indiana, who is tired of seeing American lives lost and Iraqis killed for no reason," said one protester, Sarah Wylder.
"I believe that Bush is a war criminal; I believe that secret prisons and indefinite detention without charge or representation is against the American constitution," another protester, Mitch Muncrief from California, said
Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance.
"We're occupying a people who do not want us there," Cliburn said of Iraq. "We're here to show that it isn't just a bunch of old hippies from the '60s who are against this war."
The rally, organized by the ANSWER Coalition and other groups, was expected to feature a march to the Capitol and a "die-in" to demonstrate the number of troops killed in Iraq.
The death toll of American forces to date, according to the Associated Press, is 3,772.
CBS News Correspondent Dan Raviv reports that counter-protester groups, including a contingent of Vietnam veterans called Gathering of Eagles who support the war in Iraq, lined Pennsylvania Avenue and had a verbal battle of chants and slogans.
Nearly 1,000 counter-protesters gathered near the Washington Monument, frequently erupting in chants of "U-S-A" and waving American flags.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson, speaking from a stage to crowds clad in camouflage, American flag bandanas and Harley Davidson jackets, said he wanted to send three messages:
"Congress, quit playing games with our troops. Terrorists, we will find you and kill you," he said. "And to our troops, we're here for you, and we support you."
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., made a surprise visit to the counter-protest.
"We're a people of faith, courage and fidelity," said Hunter, a 2008 presidential candidate. "It's for this generation that we will win this war on terror."
Overall the rallies were peaceful, but there were sporadic confrontations between protesters and counter-protesters.
A few counter-protesters wearing "War Dogs" motorcycle jackets confronted the protesters and threw fake punches before riding off.
"I believe that Bush is a war criminal..." Mitch Muncrief from California, said
"We're occupying a people who do not want us there," Cliburn said of Iraq. "We're here to show..."
Three recent graduates of the Brian Becker Soundbite School. They sound good, don't they?
“I am here representing everybody from Indiana...” said one protester, Sarah Wylder.
These people are the most naive arrogant folks on earth.
I’m so glad there were pro-troop demonstrators there. However, all we’re ever gonna hear about are the “anti-war, anti-tropps, anti-Bush” demonstrators.
Any FReepers here from Indiana want to verify that claim?
Don’t know how many of you are familiar with the Bonus Army in 1932. These were a bunch of left wing veterans of WWI who marched on Washing trying to get money out of the government.
General McArthur used troops and tear gas against them, killing and injuring several, dispersing them, and driving them out of Washington, DC.
We need another McArthur today.
I’m surprised Vets are appearing at this Commie (ANSWER) sponsored event.
David Horowitz saiys that ANSWER is a front for a coalition of Workers World parties aligned with North Korea.
All the more reason to use McArthur’s tactics on them. A ‘whiff of grapeshot’ can have a salutary effecto on the mob.
“We’re here to show that it isn’t just a bunch of old hippies from the ‘60s who are against this war.”
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True...They brought their drug damaged DNA, spoiled and worthless Dim & Gimmie offspring that they didn’t murder
in the womb to protest being responsible citizens, too.
Agreed!
ANSWER is a creation of the Stalinist Workers World Party. It also created International Action Center, Peoples Video, and a WWP split off, Party for Socialism and Liberation (or something like that). Ramsay Clark got involved in either the late 1980’s or very early 1990’s, though his record of supporting Communist Party USA, Socialist Workers Party and WWP fronts started in the early 1970’s. He is a nut, but the Reds got to him, possibly though a WWP woman who worked in his NY law office. (I wonder who got into whose briefs - a legal joke).
There were very few Iraqi war veterans at the protest today. There were thousands of WW II, Korean War, Vietnam, and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans at the “Support our troops rally”, plus their wifes and children. I represented my son (OIF) as well as being a Vietnam journalist (our side).
Several leading Vietnam POWS, Mike Benge and Larry Stark,were there, as usual, plus the Gathering of Eagles, the Patriot Patrol cycle riders, Freepers and many other groups, with people coming in from all over the US.
The Leftists were boring, stupid, looked ridiculous, sounded even more ridiculous, had stupid signs, and had absolutely no enthusiam for the demonstration. Only the reds made some unintelligible sounds, and the anarchists couldn’t even get organized to show up (there were two or three).
The march came almost three hours after it was scheduled so we had Pennsylvania Avenue all to ourselves for hours, and we gave the tourists a real show.
The lefties had to run a gaunlet of patriots and American flags and signs of support for our troops. We called it the “Chicken Run”.
One kid even hugged me. He was nice, but clueless, but his heart was in the right place. Someday I hope his head will be.
A couple old commies came by to cuss at us. They must have raided the CPUSA cemetery for these characters.
Even the Castro-whore Jodie Evans (Code Pink, Global Exchange founder) was there, but she was surrounded by patriots, and her 7 little pink piglets looked and sounded like drunk clowns.
Oh, if you see a picture of them together in the middle of the street, and a sign above them says “Bite Me” or “Thank God for PetraeUS, Because the Democrats Betray U.S.”, that was moi.
It was a beautiful day to be a patriot.
Send more commies. These ones were pathetic, but the mainstream media will kiss there red asses, as usual.
Hoorah!!
Thank-you, Max, for standing up for our troops and fighting against these moonbat “protestors.”
Great post.
In the words of Sean Hannity, “you’re a great American!”
As I posted on another thread:
Laurie Dhue, on the Fox Report, just said (with obvious disgust in her voice) regarding the anti-war protesters: “These are the people who never served and never will serve.”
I wasn't out there because I'm "pro-war" any more than the other folks were there because they are "anti-war."
War is an unfortunate reality. Once we are in it, we have to stay to win. That's why I was there.
The other crowd was nowhere to be found when Clinton was bombing Kosovo. They are not anti-war, they are anti-Bush and pro-communism.
Heard it and loved it!
God Bless. I am reading Nixon, No More Vietnams. I don’t see any evidence that he considered the anti war protestors communists. But that was the last time I heard so much talk of revolution, 1968.
BUMP to your post, Max, and thank you for being there for those like me who wanted to be there, but couldn’t make it!!!
God bless the men and women of the United States Military!
What a woman!
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