Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Marine Vet will be "Human Shield" in Iraq
capitolhillblue.com ^ | 2/12/03 | BILL STRAUB

Posted on 02/12/2003 5:32:07 AM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!

Ken Nichols O'Keefe doesn't fit easily into the stereotype of a peace activist. A decorated former United States marine and veteran of the Gulf War, he has the look and tattooed body of the infantryman he once was.

But it's O'Keefe - self-described "world citizen" with the word "expatriot" etched into his right hand - who is leading a campaign against United States policy in Iraq by becoming a "human shield." He hopes his presence, along with dozens of similarly-minded war protestors, will prevent President Bush from engaging in a conflict that seems inevitable.

O'Keefe and about 50 others left London in three red, double-decker buses on Jan. 25 en route to Baghdad. The project has grown larger than O'Keefe anticipated - additional volunteers have joined the convoy along its path. But he figures the more innocents that are placed in harm's way the better, making it less likely that the United States will proceed violently against Saddam Hussein.

"The fact is the world's most powerful nation would be stopped in its imperialist tracks if thousands of westerners might be killed by its oil-lust war," O'Keefe said. "Never has there been a greater need for people to stand up and demand a sane and peaceful world."

The peace activists have identified key infrastructure sites throughout Iraq likely to draw U.S. attention. They intend to station themselves around power plants, bridges and roads likely to serve as magnets for U.S. bombs. The group has sent to British Prime Minister Tony Blair a list of the human shields and the sites where they will be taking up positions.

"Officially, on the record, it is now known that Tony Blair has been notified that (United Kingdom) and U.S. citizens are going to be in harm's way and will be killed by our own governments if they go ahead with this war, as they appear determined to do," O'Keefe said. "Let it be on Tony Blair's hands if he decides to go ahead with this war."

Iraq is welcoming the volunteers. Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has referred to the shields as "civil defenders" and intends to deploy them around civilian facilities like hospitals.

Some glitches already have occurred. Last week, O'Keefe attempted to enter Turkey without a passport, holding documents that described him as a "citizen of the world." He was summarily returned to Rome where he is recruiting 30 additional volunteers to join him on a third bus bound for Baghdad. Other prospective human shields aboard the double-decker buses plowed ahead. They have received entry visas and are expected to arrive sometime later this week after crossing Syria.

Iraq has a history of utilizing human shields - though this marks the first time volunteers have been imported. During the Gulf War in 1990, hundreds of Iraqis were positioned around President Saddam Hussein's palace and at various key points throughout the countryside. They were not volunteers.

Four years ago, Saddam re-established the practice when U.N. weapons inspectors were banished and the United States and Great Britain responded with a series of air strikes.

The United States isn't amused by the effort. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said any nation that deploys human shields is guilty of a war crime.

"If death or serious injury to a noncombatant resulted from these efforts, the individuals responsible for deploying any innocent civilians as human shields would be guilty of grave breeches of the Geneva Conventions," Myers said.

Myers said the military will view the presence of human shields on a case-by-case basis. If coalition forces are engaged in combat and find themselves in danger, they "probably" will take action even if it threatens the lives of the volunteers. But the primary objective, he said, is to stay clear of noncombatants.

"We're not into killing," Myers said. "That's one thing that separates us from al Qaeda and the Iraqi regime - we don't want to take on civilian populations, we don't want to take on noncombatants, and we take every measure to avoid doing that."

The volunteers insist they're committed to their course despite the dangers.

We've been voiceless, helpless, passive for too long," said Andre Venter, of Cape Town, South Africa. "The time has come for action, to stand up for what we believe. To stand up and be counted. Let's take back our mother earth and live in kindness. It has to start somewhere."


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: appeaseappease; highwaytohell; humanshield; iniraq; marine; mcveighthis; osamasmymomma; remf; rollingblunder; traitor; treason; vet; whiteflagweenie; willbe; worthlessscum
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last

1 posted on 02/12/2003 5:32:07 AM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
I saw this freaks pictures not too long ago. His tatoos are more like prison tatoos than " Infantryman" tatoos. Of course if the writer had ever been in the military, they would know that.
3 posted on 02/12/2003 5:34:32 AM PST by judicial meanz (< socialism- its a mental disorder, not a political party!>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Just when I thought I had heard or seen it all. I am so appalled. I know that in war there is always protesters and various opinions but this man dares to still use the word "marine" (muchless affiliate himself to our country) by his name.
4 posted on 02/12/2003 5:34:58 AM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday! ( We Were Attacked, We Will Not Sit Like a Duck, Defenseless")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
I'd want to see proof of this joker's claimed history.
6 posted on 02/12/2003 5:35:28 AM PST by Tom Bombadil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: William Creel
"Some glitches already have occurred. Last week, O'Keefe attempted to enter Turkey without a passport, holding documents that described him as a "citizen of the world." He was summarily returned to Rome where he is recruiting 30 additional volunteers to join him on a third bus bound for Baghdad. Other prospective human shields aboard the double-decker buses plowed ahead. They have received entry visas and are expected to arrive sometime later this week after crossing Syria."
7 posted on 02/12/2003 5:36:45 AM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday! ( We Were Attacked, We Will Not Sit Like a Duck, Defenseless")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
The guy sounds like he didn't get an honorable discharge.

I can only hope that he's in the way of some real marines once the balloon goes up.
8 posted on 02/12/2003 5:37:05 AM PST by Republicanus_Tyrannus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
I agree, these human shields are more likely to become hostages, but whatever they are, they are going to be among the first to die. So much for their private protest.
9 posted on 02/12/2003 5:37:53 AM PST by KC_for_Freedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Tom Bombadil
Interview with the Traitor-O' Keefe
10 posted on 02/12/2003 5:39:40 AM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday! ( We Were Attacked, We Will Not Sit Like a Duck, Defenseless")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
Can you imagine human shields for Hiter? Being a "human shield" for Hussein is such a colossally stupid way to lose your life.
12 posted on 02/12/2003 5:40:14 AM PST by driftless ( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
I hope this freak becomes the pile of smoldering charcoal he deserves to become.
13 posted on 02/12/2003 5:41:16 AM PST by Hemingway's Ghost
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
JUST SHOOT HIM
15 posted on 02/12/2003 5:42:09 AM PST by chachacha
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
I think the 48 hr notice they said they would give Saddam is as much for him as it is for these people to get the heck out of dodge.

After that, they become collateral damage instead of innocent casulties.

16 posted on 02/12/2003 5:43:17 AM PST by cdefreese
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: judicial meanz
If he was ever a Marine, he was probably thrown out for being a rump ranger...
17 posted on 02/12/2003 5:43:47 AM PST by Poohbah (Beware the fury of a patient man -- John Dryden)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: KC_for_Freedom
Shields is the wrong term, it should be disposable human waste!
18 posted on 02/12/2003 5:43:57 AM PST by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: William Creel
Marine Vet will be "Human Shield" in Iraq

Being a vet is no guarantee of anything. There is the same proportion of liberals, a..holes, morons and complete flakes in the vet population as there is in the rest of the population. Look at McCain for example.

19 posted on 02/12/2003 5:44:20 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your enemy, and Bush is no conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
So much for the Marines.

Army Rangers lead better anyway.

20 posted on 02/12/2003 5:44:39 AM PST by Windsong
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson