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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
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To: Ghost of Philip Marlowe

Excellent question....


41 posted on 11/02/2004 3:21:08 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: anniegetyourgun

Mr. Hawking,

With all due respect, you are on the wrong side of history, and on the wrong side of humanity.


42 posted on 11/02/2004 3:22:06 PM PST by dbehsman (NRA Life member and loving every minute of it!)
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To: WOSG

All these scientist smarty pants types are ALWAYS left wingers...remember Carl Sagan? Enviro-wacko.


43 posted on 11/02/2004 3:23:13 PM PST by ohioGOP
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To: anniegetyourgun

Stephen - go crawl back into your wormhole!


44 posted on 11/02/2004 3:23:26 PM PST by JaguarXKE
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To: Gumption

I sense a bitter mood moving over FR...


45 posted on 11/02/2004 3:27:22 PM PST by Cathryn Crawford (¿Podemos ahora sonreír?)
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To: anniegetyourgun
Don't worry Steve.

If Kerry wins you will be walking and talking in no time!

46 posted on 11/02/2004 3:28:56 PM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (Anybody but Kerry!!)
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To: dbehsman
With all due respect, you are on the wrong side of history, and on the wrong side of humanity

It's difficult to not be cast as the bully when one counters a technically brilliant man in a wheelchair. But, you are correct.

Mr. Hawking, for all of his knowledge and specialized intelligence is woefully incapable of making a call on this issue.

I recently checked out a copy of the SFWA Grand Masters Vol 2. and was reminded of how many of the writers I once enjoyed reading, were and are unrepentant lefty nutballs.

Asimov, Clarke, Bester, Aldiss, Dick, etc. are great creative minds but man...what idiots when it comes to right and wrong in the real world.

47 posted on 11/02/2004 3:34:00 PM PST by FatLoser
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To: anniegetyourgun
another reason to not support stem cell research (hee-hee)
48 posted on 11/02/2004 3:34:07 PM PST by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: anniegetyourgun

What does it matter if Iraq had or didn't have WMD? All of Islam is of a piece and is at war with Israel, the Jews, America, Americans and Western civilization. They want us dead and will do ANYTHING to kill us.

Shall we wait for the first Islamofascist nuke to go off in NYC and DC to be sure, or should we try to prevent it? If NY is nuked, the entire world economy will collapse overnight and for a very, very long time.


49 posted on 11/02/2004 3:35:54 PM PST by garyhope
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To: Cathryn Crawford

Take it easy. I don't really think he's stupid (just grossly ill-informed).


50 posted on 11/02/2004 3:36:26 PM PST by Gumption
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To: Billthedrill

Great analysis! The parts can never be the whole and can only be respected as parts. The whole can never be understood by the parts.


51 posted on 11/02/2004 3:37:21 PM PST by kipita (Rebel – the proletariat response to Aristocracy and Exploitation.)
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To: Soliton

Actually he's barely capable of speaking so he doesn't do it QUITE that often.

Just goes to show that being a Brit can detract from intellect.


52 posted on 11/02/2004 3:37:31 PM PST by WidowWind ("We'll look hard, we'll look through, we'll look hard... to see for real." Andrew Eldritch)
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To: anniegetyourgun

condemned the U.S. led invasion of Iraq as a "war crime"

Hawking has as much bussiness commenting on foreign policy as I do on partical physics.

Keep your ignorance to yourself Steven - I'm weary of zotting people I have respect for.


53 posted on 11/02/2004 3:37:54 PM PST by Fenris6 (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months w/o missing a day of work? He's either John Rambo or a Fraud)
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To: anniegetyourgun
Name me a single person who ever actually finished his book "A brief history of Time" and I'll consider taking him seriously. Whoever put his book on any best seller list anywhere committed a greater crime than the war on terror. What an ass.

The best work that guy ever done was a cameo on Star Trek.
54 posted on 11/02/2004 3:37:59 PM PST by Radix ( John Kerry will be spending this Christmas on a cruise to Cambodia.)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
I sense a bitter mood moving over FR...

Will it be a dark and stormy night?
55 posted on 11/02/2004 3:38:10 PM PST by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
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To: anniegetyourgun

Dear Stephen,

Stick to what you are good at - physics and cosmology. You are in over your head here.

B


56 posted on 11/02/2004 3:38:18 PM PST by Bobibutu
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To: anniegetyourgun

He ought to just keep on making his stupid mistakes on his interpretation of the universe


57 posted on 11/02/2004 3:38:30 PM PST by livinez
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To: Soliton
"... This guy talks too much."

Not really. He started typing this out on the day of the invasion back in 2003.

58 posted on 11/02/2004 3:38:48 PM PST by The KG9 Kid
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To: anniegetyourgun

I've always said the intelligence and wisdom are 2 quite different things, and should never be confused with each other.


59 posted on 11/02/2004 3:39:26 PM PST by Truthsearcher
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To: Gumption
He's stupid.

He's a physicist. If he were smart, he'd be a mathematician.

60 posted on 11/02/2004 3:39:51 PM PST by AmishDude
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