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

Skip to comments.

Scientist Stephen Hawking Decries Iraq War
AP ^ | 11/2/04 | TIM ELFRINK

Posted on 11/02/2004 3:07:05 PM PST by anniegetyourgun

Britain's most famous scientist, Stephen Hawking, condemned the U.S. led invasion of Iraq as a "war crime" and said Tuesday it was based on lies.

The physicist spoke at an anti-war demonstration in London's Trafalgar Square timed to coincide with the U.S. election. Protesters read out the names of thousands of Iraqis and coalition troops killed since the March 2003 invasion.

"The war was based on two lies," said Hawking. "The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for Sept. 11.

"It has been a tragedy for all the families that have lost members. As many as 100,000 people have died, half of them women and children. If that is not a war crime, what is?"

Hawking, the best-selling author of "A Brief History Of Time," was joined by other public figures. Similar events were being held in Spain, Italy, Australia, the United States and Iraq.

"Our message to the U.S. is that the war is illegal and unnecessary, and we want our troops to come home," said Andrew Burgin, a spokesman for demonstration organizer Stop the War Coalition. "We also want to highlight the enormous number of Iraqis killed in this conflict who are so often ignored."

In Trafalgar Square, hundreds of spectators holding candles or placards opposing President Bush listened as speakers read the names of the dead while their images were projected onto a large screen.

One group of students from London's Imperial College waved anti-Bush signs, hoping to send a message to U.S. voters.

"If enough people show up tonight at the demonstration, I think a few more voters might notice what we're saying," said Emma Thomson, a student from Scotland who said she was able to cast a vote in Pennsylvania because she was born there.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: beepbawpbeepbeepbawp; beepbeep; beepbeepdroolbeep; blackholeadulterer; hawkingsquawking; squawkgurglegurgle
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-122 next last
To: Gumption

Actually, he's not stupid. Just because you disagree with him does not make him stupid. He has a brilliant mind.


21 posted on 11/02/2004 3:11:59 PM PST by Cathryn Crawford (¿Podemos ahora sonreír?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: WOSG

that should be "never any serious allegation"

speculation and scraps of evidence ...

but it IS interesting that Saddam offered Bin Laden safe haven in 1998. Had Osama accepted, the matter would have been simplified.


22 posted on 11/02/2004 3:12:04 PM PST by WOSG (George W Bush / Dick Cheney - Right for our Times!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

Britain's most famous scientist, Stephen Hawking, condemned the U.S. led invasion of Iraq as a "war crime"

Mr. Genius, I lost my brother in the Trade center...wheel chair or not I'd love to tell you about fu##in' war crimes...my sister-in-law and kids deal with it EVERY DAY--EVERY DAY.


23 posted on 11/02/2004 3:12:06 PM PST by sierrahome (Department of Redundancy Department)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
In "The Road to Serfdom", Hayek mentions that one of the saddest aspects of the Third Reich was the way the scientists lined up behind Hitler. I guess they felt that his ideas for a scientifically planned society sounded, well, scientific.
24 posted on 11/02/2004 3:12:13 PM PST by snarkpup (Kerry is to national security what Clinton was to morality.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
"The war was based on two lies," said Hawking. "The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for Sept. 11.

That statement itself contains 2 lies.

25 posted on 11/02/2004 3:12:19 PM PST by Defiant (Kerry was a useful idiot during the cold war. In the war on terror, he's just an idiot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

I don't believe that this story is true.

The AP is not to be trusted.


26 posted on 11/02/2004 3:12:28 PM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

Well, he did change his mind regarding black holes. Just wait until history and events prove him wrong. There is a profound difference between a smart man and an intellectual.

If anyone among us has not voted, get off your butt and do so.


27 posted on 11/02/2004 3:12:58 PM PST by psyop_man (If the enemy is within range, so are you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
Outside his field of expertise Einstein was catastrophically ill-informed, as a couple of books on philosophy and politics proved. Hawking is a brilliant physicist. Period.

The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for Sept. 11.

Bush did not use first statement to justify the Iraq intervention. By itself, it is a true statement. The second is simply false on both accounts.

28 posted on 11/02/2004 3:13:15 PM PST by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
Isn't that just amazing. Stevie didn't even mention the invasion on September 11th. Obviously, doesn't give a royal * about us. MSM wouldn't want that out, though.
29 posted on 11/02/2004 3:14:22 PM PST by fritzz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

Does anybody care what this guy thinks?

It's bad enough that we have to put up with the Hollywood types, do we now have to put up with celebrity scientists too?


30 posted on 11/02/2004 3:14:56 PM PST by Noachian (A Democrat, by definition, is a Socialist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

Yawn... :-|


31 posted on 11/02/2004 3:15:45 PM PST by dynamitehack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
"The war was based on two lies," said Hawking. "The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for Sept. 11."

The first was true. Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction programs even if he didn't have WMD on hand. He openly bragged about his nuclear muhjadeen.

The second was true also. Saddam was the most vocal state supporter of terrorism. Even if you ignore the many links and circumstantial evidence that pointed to a Saddam/Osama connection, just by openly supporting terrorism, Saddam was encouraging events like 9/11. He openly applauded 9/11 afterwards. That alone is reason enough to take Saddam out.

32 posted on 11/02/2004 3:15:58 PM PST by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cathryn Crawford
Just because you disagree with him does not make him stupid.

I disagree with you.

33 posted on 11/02/2004 3:17:14 PM PST by Gumption
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

I think he's bitter over losing his bet over the nature of black holes.


34 posted on 11/02/2004 3:17:18 PM PST by Terpfen (Looking for a live electoral vote map online. Please link me if you know of one!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
In Trafalgar Square, hundreds of spectators holding candles or placards opposing President Bush listened as speakers read the names of the dead while their images were projected onto a large screen.

I guess their view was obscured by the blinding cloud of dope smoke and the hallucinogenic colors seen as a result of consuming large quantities of mushrooms. What a bunch of f***ing freaks.

35 posted on 11/02/2004 3:17:51 PM PST by rickmichaels (Take the first two letters of "John" and the first two letters of "Kerry". Put them together.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cathryn Crawford

He may have a brilliant mind but he's still a
grit eatin',
scum suckin',
boot lickin',
drop kickin',
gut grindin',
nail bitin',
glue sniffin',
scab pickin',
butt scratchin',
egg hatchin',
sleezy,
smelly,
pepper bellied,
dirty, lousy, rotten, stinkin', freak.
Nothing but a pencil neck geek.


36 posted on 11/02/2004 3:18:12 PM PST by OB1kNOb (P. Diddy is what you do off the back porch late at night.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
If no one asked Saddam's opinion on Hawkings' theory of black holes, why should anyone ask Hawkings' opinion on brutal dictatorship and the liberation of an entire country from a madman?
37 posted on 11/02/2004 3:19:18 PM PST by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (I'm fresh out of tags. I'll pick some up tomorrow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

Hawking must be related to Chamberlain.


38 posted on 11/02/2004 3:20:26 PM PST by cynicom (<p)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gcruse
I think you mean... "PLE_SOD_OBB_STE_BEN."

(going straight to hell)

39 posted on 11/02/2004 3:20:30 PM PST by anonymous_user (JOhn KErry for President?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cathryn Crawford

he has a "beautiful mind"


40 posted on 11/02/2004 3:20:39 PM PST by Rakkasan1 (Justice of the Piece: Kill terrorist , not fetuses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-122 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