Thousands Back Iraq War Near Ground Zero

Associated Press | Thu Apr 10, 3:43 PM ET | Michael Weissenstein

[Raymond Fabrizio]

NEW YORK - Thousands of construction workers and firefighters packed a noontime rally at ground zero Thursday in support of the war in Iraq (news - web sites) which, to many of them, began right there on Sept. 11, 2001.

The rally stretched for several blocks north from the World Trade Center site. Carpenters, electricians and firefighters carried American flags and homemade signs and chanted "USA! USA!"

Police and organizers estimated the crowd at more than 15,000. The rally was sponsored by the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York.

Many speakers and participants described the war as a natural outcome of the World Trade Center attack, drawing little distinction between the terrorist group al-Qaida and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).

"The war started right here on Sept. 11, 2001," Gov. George Pataki said.

Fire Lt. Kenny O'Brien, whose Harlem firehouse lost two members in the attack, agreed. "This is the most appropriate spot in the world to make this statement," he said.

Like many in the crowd, carpenter Jimmy Nolan said he saw the rally as a counterpoint to anti-war demonstrations that have drawn hundreds of thousands to the city's streets and parks.

"We got tired of those protesters always arguing against the war," he said. He said he spent 11 months excavating the trade center site and repairing shattered windows in surrounding buildings.

A sea of hard hats and red-white-and-blue bandanas stretched along West Street from the trade center site.

"There's more people here than in my home state of Kansas," former Republican Sen. Bob Dole said.

Many in the crowd were veterans or relatives of service members on duty in Iraq. Some carried pictures of their family members in uniform. Others carried military banners.

"I was in Vietnam, and we never had support like this," sheet metal worker Jim Pruitt said.

[Raymond Fabrizio]

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[Jim Robinson]

Blessed are the peacemakers! The Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marines! Never forget 9/11! USA! USA! USA!

[Conservateacher]

"Carpenters, electricians and firefighters carried American flags and homemadesigns and chanted "USA! USA!"

This is great but let's not forget who the Demorat presidential candidates were speaking to recently--Building trades unions. They need to reign in their union bosses who give overwhelmingly to the rats.

[Sacajaweau]

And the next Republican Convention will be held where?? :-)