International Weapons Inspections Team Heads to D.C. area to look for Weapons of Mass Destruction

prnewswire ^ | 2/20/03

[Brian Mosely]

Feb 20, 2003 15:38 ET

International Weapons Inspections Team Heads to D.C. area to look for Weapons of Mass Destruction

TORONTO, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- A delegation of parliamentarians, scientists, academics, faith and union leaders from Canada, the U.K., Italy, Denmark and the U.S. will head to the Washington D.C. area Saturday to attempt to inspect the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center in Maryland. Heading up the 13-person international team are UK Member of Parliament Alan Simpson who is head of "Labour Party Against the War", Canadian Member of Parliament Libby Davies and Ed Hammond, Director of the Sunshine Project and an American biological weapons expert.

On Monday February 17th, the team sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, requesting his full cooperation. The Defense Department has since confirmed receipt of the request but has yet to offer comment.

The team intends to draw attention to the hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy, particularly against Iraq. The group is organized by Rooting Out Evil, a Canadian-based coalition of international citizens, and is supported by American peace groups including International ANSWER and Global Exchange and by almost 25,000 honorary inspectors from 52 countries who have signed up on the group's website www.rootingoutevil.org.

Throughout the weekend, hourly updates can be attained via the following cell numbers: (416) 910-9779 and (416) 884-7053

Media are invited to attend any of the five following appearances by the team:

1. Inspections Team departure from Toronto - press conference ------------------------------------------------------------- Location: Group Departures area at Post 35, just outside of U.S. departures Terminal 2, Pearson International Airport, Toronto

Time: Saturday, February 22, 11:30 a.m. EST

2. Inspections Team arrival in D.C. ----------------------------------- Flight arrival: Reagan International Airport, Air Canada flight No. 534

Time: Saturday, February 22, 3:21 p.m. EST

3. Inspections Team as key speakers at public gathering in D.C. --------------------------------------------------------------- Location: First Congregational Church, 945 G St NW, Washington, D.C.

Time: Saturday, February 22, 7:30 p.m. EST

4. Inspections Team arrival at Edgewood Chemical Biological Center ------------------------------------------------------------------ Location: Edgewood Chemical Biological Facility Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (approximate drive time from D.C. - 1.5 hours)

Directions from D.C.: Take I-95 North to MD-24 South (Exit 77A) toward Edgewood. This leads you to the main gate of the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Time: Sunday, February 23, 10:30 a.m. EST

5. Post-inspection comments by the Inspections Team --------------------------------------------------- Location: Hotel Washington, 15th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Time: Sunday, February 23, 2:30 p.m. EST

Source: Rooting Out Evil

CONTACT: Rooting Out Evil - Media Relations (416) 927-0777

[ladyinred]

What other evil is this group of left wing RATS going to come up with next? Sheesh! I wish I knew how much a certain Senator from NY and her "hubby" have to do with all of this.

[Straight Vermonter]

When we are beaten on the battle field then they can impose the terms of surrender. Until then the INS should arrest and deport.

[sauropod]

You bringin' the booze?

[sauropod]

Well, it looks like they've arrived on my doorstep...

[sauropod]

About time for some good ol' fashioned TDY boondoggle...

[SLB]

At a duty location we used to have demonstrations against our presence on a regular basis. They were convinced we had chemical weapons stored somewhere. We always thought it would be fun to get some guys in MOP4, place someone a stretcher and carry him out of the gate while he was jerking around a little, while sounding a siren alarm back in the trees. Might even pop a smoke gernade for good effects. See if that got the crowd to disperse. Might be a good tactic for the folks at Edgewood. ;-)

[FreeTheHostages]

DC Chapter would not do *anything* that was a surprise and percussive, even a joke like that. I know you're just joking, but I'm uncomfortable even *reading* that joke! I know, I should lighten up, but seriously, no joking like that.

[FreeTheHostages]

Once again, I do NOT think it is helpful on the eve of war to suggest, let alone do, anything like these proposals about a smoke grenade. This is a horrible idea and we would never do anything like it.

[FreeTheHostages]

This is really weird, the leftists are coming to you! No more jokes about me living in Dupont Circle, K? :)

[Diddley]

Thanks for the clarification.

[boris]

How did they get visas? Deny them entry as 'undesirables' and ship their a$$es back where they came from.

--Boris

[Ches]

"The delegation that will be performing the inspection at Edgewood includes: Libby Davies, Member of Parliament (Canada - NDP); Alan Simpson, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom - Labour) and head of Labour Against the War; Christy Ferguson, Organizer and Spokesperson, Rooting Out Evil; Deborah Bourque, National President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers; Steven Staples, Defense Analyst, Polaris Institute; Mel Watkins, Professor Emeritus - Economics and Political Science, University of Toronto; Samaa Elibyari, Representative, Canadian Islamic Congress; Ed Hammond, Director, Sunshine Project; Peter Shorett, Director of Programmes, Council for Responsible Genetics; Francesco Martone, Senator (Italy - Green Party; Graziella Mascia, Member of Parliament (Italy - Rifondazione Communista); and Pernille Rosenkrantz, Member of Parliament (Denmark - Red-Green Alliance)."

LOL!

The French are not represented on this list! I demand French participation before recognizing it!

Mrs. Ches just walked in, glanced at the computer screen and asked if the article was from The Onion.

[Squantos]

The only thing I have seen that worked on protestors that crash a gate (not officially protesters anymore are they :o) is a water cannon filled with red dye. We used to have the flight line crash trucks just inside the base gates and fill em with colored dye. Then we would warn em that they will be arrested today or when they are encountered showing their red socialist commi-butts around town by the local LEO's. The stuff took a month to wear off......very effective for those who try and do damage under the guise of protesting..... Works even better when the temps are around zero......

Stay Safe !

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I believe that the idea behind our military campaign is to oust someone who could send these weapons our way, and not necessarily against WMDs in their own right. A more analogous action, for example, would be picketing John "Patriot Act II" Ashcroft's office (I acknowledge that Saddam is much worse than Ol' Beaver-Face).

[hellinahandcart]

DC Chapter would not do *anything* that was a surprise and percussive, even a joke like that.

I was thinking it would be great fun if the Army would, but I doubt they will either. Shame, really.

Imagine the "weapons inspectors" being presented with a skid full of...snakes-in-a-can!

[Publius]

DC Chapter would not do *anything* that was a surprise and percussive, even a joke like that.

Oh, come on now, FTH, you're ruining the fun. Back in the Sixties we called stuff like that "guerilla theater". It was just good harmless fun when dealing with the other side. It would scare the bejeezus out of them and make the network news.

[zeaal]

The video footage will sell big to the networks.

[Mudboy Slim]

"The Times They Are A'Changin'"
(To be sung to Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'"

Come gather round, Sheeple...in office and home...
And admit that corruption in DeeCee has grown!!
Then, demand that Slick's TREASON shall not be condoned!!
WE MUST FIGHT!! This Nation's worth savin'!!
Country, better stop sleepin' or yer souls Left will own...
Folks, the times they are a'changin'...

Come, blow-dried twit Networks who tyrannize with your "spin"...
Our Prez'dent has spied...WE MUST NOW INDICT HIM!!
And CONVICT Bill's goons...then WE'LL IMPRISON SLICK!!
Yes, Limbaugh's Sellin' TRUTH 'bout Slick's TREASON!!
Left's poltroons, y'know, we'll be FReepin' the Net!!
Press, the times they are a'changin'...

Come Senators, Congressmen, please heed our call...
Please stand up fer Justice...please tear down Slick's walls!!
Folks, watch how you vote...'cuz we're watchin' y'all!!
Battle fer Hearts and Minds rages...
We'll soon FReep yer meetings and clatter yer halls...
Pols, the times they are a'changin'...

Come mothers and fathers throughout the Land...
Look in yer kids' eyes...they are yer Scottish Clan...
Yer sons and yer daughters...look to you, MAKE YER STAND!!!
Left's Cold War has moved to this Nation!!
Please get out and help us...AIN'T PATRIOTISM GRAND?!!
Parents, the times they are a'changin'...

(Excellent harp jammin')

The line has been drawn...Foundation's been cast!!
WE'LL GIT T-Mack NOW...THEN IMPRISON SLICK LAST!!
Welcome Prez'dent Bush...Ashcroft, get off yer A$$...
New World Order is rapidly fadin'!!
And the People's Power'll be returned at last...
Ohhh, the times they are a'changin'!!

FReegards...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

Yes, I'm no fun. These are different times. A military installation near Washington is all about law and order nowadays. Different times. I'd even go to say that after 9/11 explosion in our community -- the Pentagon -- it's harder to take a light view of such stunts. 'Course, I was born old, ya know? LOL -- I took a dim view of such stunts in the late 1970s when I was in college.

[sauropod]

FTH, Stop being a stick in the mud!!

Excellent suggestion, SLB. Heh!