Protesters Gathering To Oppose War (Washington Post - HEAVY FreeRepublic Coverage!)

The Washington Post ^ | January 18, 2003 | Ann Marchand

[Timesink]

washingtonpost.com

Protesters Gathering To Oppose War

By Ann Marchand
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer

Saturday, January 18, 2003; 11:52 AM

Tens of thousands of people have converged on the National Mall this morning to rally against U.S. military operations in Iraq, and a smaller group also gathered to express support for military action.

[...]

Not everyone on the Mall today is opposing military involvement in Iraq. A group of counter-protesters assembled about 9 a.m. to demonstrate support for both U.S. troops abroad and Bush's policies toward Iraq.

Kristinn Taylor, a co-leader of Free Republic, a conservative news and activism Web site that helped organize the event, said that 200 to 400 people were expected to turn out for the counter-protest, which is also supported by the D.C. chapter of MOVEOUT (Marines and Other Veterans Engaging Outrageous Un-American Traitors).

Taylor said that the group supports the president's policies toward Iraq because to do nothing "is the enslavement of the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government having weapons of mass destruction."

Kathryn C. Wood, of Burke, Va., a co-leader of Free Republic, said, "We're out here to support the troops. They defend our freedom and our rights."

[...]

[norton]

Best segue of the day was moving from a clip showing night time bunker busting practice in Kuwait - noting that it was below freezing at the time - into a shot of the DC freaks that included a statement that they were 'braving the cold'.

Yeah, and I'll bet the closest Starbucks was blocks away.

[EGPWS]

Best segue of the day was moving from a clip showing night time bunker busting practice in Kuwait - noting that it was below freezing at the time - into a shot of the DC freaks that included a statement that they were 'braving the cold'.

Disgusting reporting IMHO. It's tantamount to comparing the protestors to our brave troops defending our freedom.

Yeah, and I'll bet the closest Starbucks was blocks away. LOL! No doubt there is!

[squarebarb]

Hang in, ex-texan. My suggestion is to just go yourself and stand in protest and sooner or later others will follow. Cheers and encouragement from a Texan.

[Vigilanteman]

I wonder what the reaction of these mental/emotional cripples will be when the whole nation of Iraq celebrates Saddam's ouster, and Iraqi children finally get medicine.

Afghanistan is a good guide. We're getting blamed because they are still impoverished.

[RonDog]

See also, from Yahoo! News:

	Leslie Montague holds a sign during a counter-demonstration in Washington, January 18, 2003. While thousands of anti-war protesters gathered on the National Mall, a counter-demonstration of war veterans, billed as a "Patriot's Rally" in support of U.S. troops, also began assembling near the Vietnam War memorial. REUTERS/Mannie Garcia - Jan 18 12:09 PM ET
	EDITORS: ADDING NAME OF SUBJECT U.S. Marine Corps veteran Joel Kernodoe salutes the Vietnam War memorial during a counter-demonstration in Washington January 18, 2003. While thousands of anti-war protesters gathered on the National Mall, a counter-demonstration of war veterans, billed as a "Patriot's Rally" in support of U.S. troops, also began assembling near the Vietnam War memorial. REUTERS/Mannie Garcia - Jan 18 12:09 PM ET
	With the Washington Monument in the background, a woman holds a sign during a counter-demonstration in Washington, January 18, 2003. While thousands of anti-war protesters gathered on the National Mall, a counter-demonstration of war veterans, billed as a "Patriot's Rally" in support of U.S. troops, also began assembling near the Vietnam War memorial. REUTERS/Molly Riley - Jan 18 11:22 AM ET
	A woman wrapped in a "Liberty" blanket battles the cold while Joanne Mel (R) of New Jersey holds a sign during a counter-demonstration in Washington, January 18, 2003. While thousands of anti-war protesters gathered on the National Mall, a counter-demonstration of war veterans, billed as a "Patriot's Rally" in support of U.S. troops, also began assembling near the Vietnam War memorial. REUTERS/Molly Riley - Jan 18 11:20 AM ET
	A U.S. Marine Corps veteran salutes the Vietnam War memorial during a counter-demonstration in Washington, January 18, 2003. While thousands of anti-war protesters gathered on the National Mall, the counter-demonstration billed as a "Patriot's Rally" in support of U.S. troops, also began assembling near the war memorial. REUTERS/Mannie Garcia - Jan 18 11:11 AM ET
	A woman battles the abnormally low temperatures while carrying a sign during a counter-demonstration in Washington, January 18, 2003. While thousands of anti-war protesters gathered on the national mall, a counter-demonstration of war veterans billed as a "Patriot's Rally," also began assembling near the Veitnam Vieteran's memrial. REUTERS/Mannie Garcia - Jan 18 10:57 AM ET

[Southack]

"Tens of thousands of people have converged on the National Mall this morning..."

Well, so much for the claims by the protestors that 200,000 to 400,000 would show up today...

[f.Christian]

.. .. .. 911 tribute // . . . retribution (( link )) !

[F.J. Mitchell]

BTTT!

[mewzilla]

I betcha the comPost didn't bother to ask where the groups paying for the buses to bring in the rent-a-crowds got their money from...

[FreeTheHostages]

Thanks for the ping to the Post coverage, Timesink!

I'm back from the Marine Barracks counterprotest. All went well. Lots of media. Lots of looneys.

[Brad’s Gramma]

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[ctnoell70]

Dude,

You have lit a conservative, pro-American wildfire that is raging out of control on the Marin County website! HOOOOOOOOOOOO-RAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Freee-dame]

Kristinn, I heard your interview on WMAL radio and was glad the full title of the rally was used. Patriot's Rally to Support our Troops certainly appeals to a different segment of the population than Anti-War Rally. Thanks for all that you do.

[antaresequity]

Pretty funny...after they get home from the rally and smoking dope, they are gonna find the sheets soiled a bit...LOL...

I knew you guys wouldnt let me down...

[jwalsh07]

There will be an order of magnitude greater number of marchers on Wednesday at the March for Life and an order of magnitude less coverage.

[Jim Robinson]

Wow! Great photos!!

Howdy, exit148! You're beautiful!!

Congratulations D.C.!!

[ctnoell70]

Looks like 90% of the comments are pro-Bush. Yep, I think they are in for a rude awakening when they get back from their flag-burning, dope-smoking, pro-terrorist rallies. The silent majority is speaking!

[Timesink]

The anti-America protesters have failed. From Fox News:

21. Do you support or oppose U.S. military action TO DISARM IRAQ AND REMOVE Iraqi President Saddam Hussein?

67% Support 25% Oppose

[ctnoell70]

I just added my comments to the Marin County website(see entry #61 from "John Q. Peacenik"). LOL!

[The Iceman Cometh]

I just posted a few nuggets for the unwashed one's to stew over. I wish I could have left a little emotional outrage like Savage did on Friday night. He was on fire.