Families of US toops in Iraq launch campaign for their return

French News Service | Aug. 14, 2003 | Pascal Barollier

[seamus]

WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (AFP) - The families of more than 600 US troops in Iraq have launched a campaign for their return, bitterly criticizing President George W. Bush's reasons for going to war and what they see as his belittlement of the risks.

"George Bush said, 'Bring them on,'" said Nancy Lessin, co-founder of Military Families Speak Out, referring to the president's response to post-war attacks on US troops occupying post-war Iraq.

"Those three words galvanized Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace and other veterans' organizations to initiate the campaign we are launching today," she said.

"We say, 'Bring them home now.' Bring them home because our troops should not have been in Iraq in the first place.

"Bring them home because there was no imminent danger to the United States. Bring them home because there were no weapons of mass destruction. Bring them home because there was no link between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein," said Lessin.

"We are here today to say it was wrong for the US to invade Iraq, it is wrong for the US to be occupying Iraq, and there is no right way to do a wrong thing."

Members of her group rallied in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the 82nd Airbourne Infantry. They stressed that most of them were Republicans, had voted for Bush and had supported the war based on intelligence presented early this year.

"From proud liberators in the great American tradition, our troops have become oppressors and occupiers in a hostile nation," said Susan Shuman, whose son is in the Massachusetts National Guard serving in Iraq.

"Our troops are stuck in a quagmire of urban desert guerrilla warfare for which they are not prepared or equipped," she said.

"My question to Mr. Bush is, 'How many more of our sons do you need to bring our children home?'" said Fernando Suarez de Solar, whose son, Jesus Alberto, was killed in action in Iraq.

"How many American lives are worth one gallon of oil?," he mused.

Stan Goff of Raleigh, North Carolina, a 26-year career soldier and retired Special Forces master Sergeant, was bitter about the war.

"You know, in all the administration's fictions of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear programs and ... the phony al-Qaeda connections that are being exposed as fabrications, this is not the rule of law," he said.

"This is the rule of bombs and bullets. These are rich men in very expensive suits conducting statecraft like gangsters.

"The US does have a responsibility to Iraq and to the people of Iraq to clean up the mess that we have made," said Charlie Richardson, co-founder of Military Families Speak Out.

But, he added, "It can't be done with US troops. In launching the 'Bring Them Home Now' campaign, we are calling on military families and others in the military and veterans communities to speak out against the use of our troops as cannon fodder ... against the reckless occupation of Iraq."

[seamus]

What a shock that this report was filed by the French wire service.

[Roughneck]

If it's french it's probably wrong, but, if not, Dont ya just bet that the troops in question are embarrassed by their families actions? I would be.

I mean, it's like these folks are talking about third graders or something, dont they understand that its MEN (and Women) at WAR?????

[Jorge]

This is of course nothing but the anti-war activists who opposed Bush before the war, tried to stop the war once it started and now have to find some way to oppose everything that has to do with our work in Iraq.

These people never give up.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

these whiners need to listen to this 11 year old gal.

such a sweetheart and true patroit.

http://www.harmsway4kids.com/html/candles.htm


http://www.harmsway4kids.com/

[sgtbono2002]

No--No---Those three words did nothing. the same old Bush Bashers are just using it to bash GWB agaion.

[Gumption]

How embarrassing this must be for the family member serving bravely in Iraq.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

see post 4

[CHICAGOFARMER]

old Bush Bashers

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Time for these un-Americans to get out of our country.

I wish all the gun-toting retards would just go create theirr own nation,

We did. Just who the hell let you into the USA?

[shamusotoole]

I wonder if there are checkable details that mighy debunk this probable fraud?

[EggsAckley]

So, send them home with dishonorable discharges, then see how they relate to their loving families. Not a pretty picture. Heheheh.

[Roughneck]

**I wouldn't be surprised if Answer, MoveOn or the WWP were behind this**

Viable theory.

[Gumption]

Thanks ... but you might as well have drove up to my house, got me to the front door, and then hooked a 4.5 horsepower suction pump directly up to my tear ducts. I just couldn't read anymore of them (I only read 3 or 4). But those that are less of a pu%%y than me should check out those links of yours. Wow!

[Roughneck]

"**Using their "children" to further their political cause**"

If they think these men and women are children, maybe they need to grow up themselves . . .

I believe you saw it on CNN for sure. So, it could still be wrong. Right?

[tbpiper]

You've got to understand what it's like for these military families. They don't have an agenda or a rabid, foaming hatred for George Bush. They are doing this for the children.....ok, so the children are technically aduts and have had 9 t 14 weeks of combat training and are carrying some very deadly weapons.....but they're still Momma's little baby and need protecting from that lying, unelected, conservative dufus. Nope, no agenda here./sarcasm

My son's in Mosul and I absolutely despise these loathsome pieces of fecal matter who claim to be military families. They just offer encouragement to the creeps that ambush our troops. I would like my son home soon and in good health and these whimpering fools make that more difficult.

[Roughneck]

"**But those that are less of a pu%%y than me should check out those links of yours***"

Well, ...Meow.

[Roughneck]

and there is no right way to do a wrong thing."

Tell me, just WHAT would any liberal-socialist RELEVETIST know about right and wrong anyway?

[Physicist]

How nice. It's the "My Son Is a Pussy" campaign. It just has "morale" written all over it.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

Thanks ... tear ducts. I just couldn't read anymore of them (I only read 3 or 4). But those that are less of a whimp than me should check out those links of yours. Wow!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Let's see who can read more that 4 stories.


these whiners need to listen to this 11 year old gal.

such a sweetheart and true patroit.

http://www.harmsway4kids.com/html/candles.htm


http://www.harmsway4kids.com/