War protest blocks building; rally backs U.S. - Iraqi natives in San Diego rally support for U.S.

Associated Press ^ | October 12, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

War protest blocks building; rally backs U.S.

10/12/2002

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - Hundreds of antiwar protesters chanting "No War in Iraq" and beating on drums blocked an entrance to the federal building Friday morning after an all-night vigil. Forty-six were arrested, authorities said.

Some protesters, one as young as 12, passed out fliers apologizing to employees for the inconvenience.

"We don't mean to disrupt your day, but we must disturb the lock-step march toward war," the fliers said.

The protest came after Congress approved the use of U.S. military might against Iraq. Both the House and Senate passed and sent to the White House a resolution authorizing President Bush to use military force.

A protest of a different nature took place outside the federal courthouse in San Diego, where about 200 people - mostly Iraqi natives - rallied in support of U.S. action against Iraq. Chants included "Down, down with Saddam" and "He's a butcher. He must go."

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/nation/stories/101202dnnatprotest.a94b0.html

[MeekOneGOP]

[PokeyJoe]

I wonder what would happen if about 200 people (free republic marchers) started shouting "Allah Ak'bar" and "Saddam, Sallom - they don't go together".

hmmm

[Oldeconomybuyer]

	Anti-war protesters blocking the entrance to the Phillip Burton Federal Building are arrested by police Friday, Oct. 11, 2002 in San Francisco, Hundreds of anti-war protesters chanting 'No War in Iraq' and beating on drums blocked an entrance to the federal building after an all-night vigil. Dozens were arrested. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) - Oct 11 2:27 PM ET
	San Francisco police officers take control of a skirmish that broke out between protesters and federal employees in front of the Phillip Burton Federal Building Friday, Oct. 11, 2002 in San Francisco. Although no arrests were made during this situation, dozens of others were arreseted after hundreds of anti-war protesters chanting 'No War in Iraq' and beating on drums blocked entrances to the federal building after an all-night vigil. The protest came hours after Congress approved the use of U.S. military might against Iraq. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) - Oct 11 2:16 PM ET

[dixiechick2000]

My daughter and I recently had a conversation with an Iraqi friend of hers. My daughter inquired about her family that is still in Iraq. She stated that they were very afraid. My daughter asked, "Of us?" and she said, "No, of Saddam. We are afraid he's going to gas us, again!"

I now have no doubt that the Iraqis are less afraid of going to war with the USA than they are of their "leader", Saddam.

May God bless our troops and keep them safe!

[ladyinred]

Thanks for sharing that. It is amazing to read that the Iraqis were doing a support the war against Iraq rally. This is just proof that the administration knows what it is talking about. Too bad the mainstream media doesn't ask them their opinion instead of some democrat with an entirely different agenda!

Liberate Iraq!!!!

[dixiechick2000]

" This is just proof that the administration knows what it is talking about."

Agreed...in spades!

"Liberate Iraq!!!!"

ASAP!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you, yes ! I've been saying all along that once the operation is underway and deemed successful, we'll see in Iraq what we saw in Afghanistan......

http://www.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,8542,596125,00.html

Dancing in Herat
Afghans dance to celebrate the victory of the Northern Alliance in Herat, vacated by the Taliban on November 12.
Photo: Hasan Sarbakhshian, AP

November 16 2001: Afghanistan after the Taliban

Watching football
Afghans in their house in Herat watch the World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Ireland on satellite TV on November 15. Television was banned under the Taliban.
Photo: Hasan Sarbakhshian, AP

November 16 2001: Afghanistan after the Taliban

Showing their faces
An Afghan woman and her daughter visit Kabul zoo. Under the Taliban they were not allowed to visit the zoo or show their faces.
Photo: Marco Di Lauro, AP

November 16 2001: Afghanistan after the Taliban

And I also fear that once we begin the attack, SADdam will use the chemical weapons on his own folks and then say that the U.S. is the one using them......classic propaganda.

[Boxsford]

wow, interesting story. Thanks for sharing that. This kind of information needs to get out more. FOX news should interview that family. Do you think they would contact FOX and tell them what they told you?

[Skywalk]

Sad thing is this is the way it's always been. How many anti-Vietnam War protestors know Vietnamese refugees and have heard their stories about the Communist government, or even better, Cambodian refugees.

It's always that way, there're living eyewitnesses if they just take the time to look, yet they're much too busy condemning every move the US makes, as they march in LOCKSTEP toward their goal of a socialist USA.

[dixiechick2000]

" SADdam will use the chemical weapons on his own folks and then say that the U.S. is the one using them......classic propaganda."

Sadly, I fear you are right. Then, he will use them on our troops and claim self defense.

Pray mightily!

[oct11]

Seems like these poor people would be ethnic Kurds from Iraq.

[dixiechick2000]

"Do you think they would contact FOX and tell them what they told you?"

I wish they would; however, judging from her reaction, I think they would be deathly afraid of being recognized. They can get FNC in Iraq, as well as we can.

[dixiechick2000]

I've never discussed that with her, but it makes sense to conclude they are Kurds.

I do know, however, that she has family all over the world. Her mother refused to leave, though. Apparently, she has several siblings and their families still living there. Kosrat, her husband, and their oldest children left everything they had to come here after Gulf War I. They had a very nice house that they try to keep rented, and several cars. Her husband made a very good living there.

BTW, welcome to Free Republic!
;o)

[FlyVet]

I now have no doubt that the Iraqis are less afraid of going to war with the USA than they are of their "leader", Saddam.

That lines up with what the Iraqi interviewed by Oprah earlier this week said. He said the only reason Iraquis were mad at the US after Desert Storm was because we didn't go all the way to Baghdad. I don't doubt it. Ironic, but not surprising, that these people would back the war more than some of our own empty-headed twits. They been there, done that.

[dixiechick2000]

I saw Oprah (could you believe she did that show! Could'a knocked me over with a feather!). I think he was the head of the Iraqi National Congress. If I had not had this conversation with Kosrat before that show aired, I may have been a little skeptical of his claims. Sometimes, those guys can be a tad self-serving.;o) However, I believe every word he said.

I checked your profile page. Thank you for your service to our country. When did you serve? My husband flew in Viet Nam.

He's ex-Navy! ;o)

[FlyVet]

(could you believe she did that show! Could'a knocked me over with a feather!).

I bruised my chin when my jaw hit the floor, couldn't believe what I was seeing. That show was a slam-dunk for Bush. The only reason I watched it was because someone here on FR gave a heads-up that Oprah was doing the show. I served 1981-2001, thanks, and thanks more-so to your husband if he flew in VN. That had to be scary stuff. My next-door neighbor is an A-10 pilot, he's deployed right now.

[dixiechick2000]

My husband flew the A-7B and the A-7E (it was replaced with the FA-18). I understand the AF had the A-7D. On one hop, hubby, for some reason that I can't recall, had to land at the AFB in Korat(?), Thailand. Somehow, he ended up spending a week with your guys (his plane was down). He had a great time and really hated having to go back to the ship. At that time, they were on the ship for 30 days, and in port 3 days.

" My next-door neighbor is an A-10 pilot, he's deployed right now."

I think that's one of my favorite planes. It's a flying tank! God bless your neighbor...prayers will be said for him.

[FlyVet]

I think that's one of my favorite planes. It's a flying tank! God bless your neighbor...prayers will be said for him.

Thanks, he's a good guy. When I moved to this neighborhood he was the only one who stopped over and said hi. Most pilots I have known were very good people, down to earth. But they have that look in their eye, just a little extra going on in there than the average person "the right stuff". I never worked on A-7's although we had to study them for promotion. Some of my instructors were VN vets, and they told us A-7's were very accurate bomb delivery systems. Single-engine jet over Vietnam, they faced a lot of danger.

[dixiechick2000]

"...they have that look in their eye, just a little extra going on in there..."

ROFL They're cocky as he!!...and they swagger. But, they are good guys.

"...A-7's were very accurate bomb delivery systems. Single seat jets..."

This is why my husband wanted to fly them. The F-4 could dogfight, but their bombing accuracy was not as good as the A-7 (there were no MIGs left, so there was no point). The F-4 was the plane everyone wanted to fly back then, but #1 on his "dream sheet" was the A-7 "anywhere". As far as he was concerned, he lucked out and got WESTPAC. As you can guess, I wasn't as excited.;o)

What did you do in the AF?

[FlyVet]

Loaded F-15 C/D for 4 yrs at Holloman NM, then retrained into wideband/satellite comm. That took me all over the place, N. Maine and NY, Mississipi, Arizona, Korea,plus TDY's all over Europe, Saudi Arabia, Greenland. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Wasn't always a good time, but when it was, it was.