Tag Archives: iraq

Words from a U.S. Soldier

I know someone who has a friend working for the U.S. military in Iraq. I told her I would share on my blog some of the words the friend of my friend’s has written. I think they speak for themselves – I don’t need to provide my commentary. There are more comments from soldiers at: Fight to Survive

Day 1:
It was good to hear from you. I haven’t written anything on myspace for awhile because I just odon’t have the motivation or energy to do it. I”ve about hit rock bottom and am counting the days until I get to come back.

Day 2:
I think it’s great when people over here speak out for what they believe. They always give us ample warnings to watch our mouths and opinions when reporters or generals, or anyone important for that matter comes around. Apparently Condoleeze Rice was here last month, they didn’t bring her around any place like our barracks, they are so shitty. They have also started cracking down on us for our Myspace websites, they found out a lot of guys had them, that’s why I took my old blogs off (it was probably time to anyway) but it’s all censorship, no freedoms for the “liberators”. To hell with this, I am pretty upset about he current state of the world, but I know it’s out of my control, as well as the majority of the other people who know/care. I can’t wait untikl I can get out of the military for good, they have so many tricks like stop-loss and other BS though.

Day 3:
I am so frustrated and infuriated at all this political BS, especially if we start having problems with Iran, although I don’t think we will. Maybe I will move out of the U.S., become an ex-patriot like Hemmingway did, although I have nowhere near the literary sense that he did. I’m shocked and amazed at the amount of people over here who don’t see anything wrong with the Bush administration, and that’s the ones who can tell the difference between Republicans and Democrats. To hell with it, I served my time and I will never come back over here, under any circumstances. I am just too morally opposed to this BS. Anyway, it’s only two months so I will put up with it.

News Coverage of April 29 anti-war rallies – in Salt Lake and in the nation

Utah
Salt Lake Tribune: Over 200 in SLC protest Iraq war Akin to Germany? Rocky tells the crowd that a U.S. ‘culture of obedience’ is to blame
Deseret News:Utahns rally to cry of no more war: Rocky calls for end to incompetence, arrogance in D.C.
KSL Channel 5: Utah Crowd Calls for End to War in Iraq
KSL Channel 5: Tens of Thousands in NYC Protest War

Nationally and Globally
Islam Online: Americans Rally for Immediate Iraq Pullout
Australia Herald Sun: Critics make a meal of Bush
Chicago Tribune: NYC war protest attracts thousands
Boston Globe: Tens of thousands in New York march against the war in Iraq
News24.com (Africa): NY march draws 300 000
Washington Post: Thousands in New York March Against Iraq War
More links to posts at:Google News

Today’s Anti-War Rally

Today in Salt Lake a Peace and Justice Rally was held to demand an end to the Iraq War. About 300 people attended. I was there with three other of my fellow radical cheerleaders. Here are photos we were able to get of today’s event.









Orrin Hatch “questions courage” of opponents

April 29:
UPDATE: The article below appears in today’s paper with this headline:
Third-party candidates: Bring troops home
The incumbent: Hatch says an immediate Iraq pullout is irresponsible, and calls Bush’s decision to invade ‘wise’

The Salt Lake Tribune updated its online site this afternoon with an article about the debate tomorrow night: Leaving Iraq: Pros and Cons

Article Last Updated: 4/28/2006 02:59 PM
Update: Senate candidates’ Iraq views clash

By Matt Canham
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune

If Dave Starr Seely were to become Utah’s next U.S. senator he would vote to immediately end the war in Iraq and bring U.S. troops home.

“It is time to just bow out of it as quickly as possible,” said the Libertarian candidate. “This war has proven to be the biggest terrorist recruiting effort ever.”
Constitution Party candidate Scott Bradley also would vote for a complete troop withdrawal, as would Desert Greens candidate Julian Hatch and Roger Price of the Personal Choice party.
But none of these men are expected to become Utah’s next senator. And the man who will most likely retain that seat could not have a more contrary view.

“It is irresponsible to make any declaration of withdrawal,” said Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, who is seeking to win his sixth term in office this November. Hatch not only disagrees with these third-party candidates but questioned the courage of those who side with them. “If we just have the guts to continue we will be effective in establishing one of the only representative governments in the Middle
East,” Hatch said.
Continue reading

Upcoming rallies, marches – busy activist weekend

This weekend will be busy. As part of Pom Poms Not Bomb Bombs, I will be at the noon rally at the City County Building at Washington Square in Salt Lake City this Saturday, April 29, in solidarity with tens of thousands of demonstrations nationwide to demand an end to the Iraq War. The Radical Cheerleaders will be showing up as an uninvited group, but will be sure not to interfere with the planned program, instead demonstrating on the outskirts of the rally. Jen’s Green Journal has more about this at Poms Not Bombs.

Saturday night I will change roles to that of a Co-Coordinator of the Desert Greens Green Party of Utah and orgnaizer of the evening’s political debate, Leaving Iraq: Pros and Cons”, a debate between Utah U.S. Senate Candidates.

Monday, May 1, will find me back into my cheerleading attire and marching in solidarity in a “Walk for Liberty” with the Latino Community in Utah as people around the nation join in a day of boycott – “A Day Without an Immigrant”.

Political Debate April 29


Political Debate with U.S. Senate Candidates

U.S. Senate Candidates in Utah will debate the merits of leaving or staying in Iraq.
7pm Gore Auditorium, Westminster College

# Participating Candidates: Pete Ashdown, Democrat Party
# Scott Bradley, Constitution Party
# Julian Hatch, Desert Greens Party
# Roger I. Price, Personal Choice Party
# Dave Starr Seely, Libertarian Party
# Republican Candidate TBA
The program will be recorded by KCPW

Iraqi Women’s Radio Station spokeswoman to speak in SLC

I learned from today’s Deseret News that Salt Lake has a women’s radio station: KUTR AM-820. I never knew this! An article in today’s D-News about an Iraqui Women’s Radio Station revealed this.

The article is about the Iraqi women’s radio station seeking support. It’s spokeswoman, Bushra Jamil, a human rights officer in Baghdad, will speak the the Salt Lake City Main Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19; at the University of Utah’s Women’s Resource Center on Thursday, April 20, at noon; and on Friday at the university’s Hinckley Institute of Politics at noon.

There’s a sense of urgency on Radio Al-Mahaba, Baghdad’s “Voice of Iraqi Women.” The station, which debuted a year ago, wants to educate women about their rights in a country where those rights are in a state of flux. It also gives Iraqi women a chance to express their opinions on everything from husbands to politics.

“We tell about their dreams, their suffering, their hopes,” explained Radio Al-Mahaba spokeswoman Bushra Jamil in a phone call from Baghdad. Jamil will be in Salt Lake City next week, where Utah friends she has never met are hoping to raise enough money to replace Al-Mahaba’s transmitter, destroyed by a bomb last fall.
Continue reading

Oil Refinery Protest

Here are some photos of the protest on March 20th in front of the Grand America Hotel, where 1600 Oil Executives gathered for an annual convention. The Grand America is owned by Sinclair Oil owner Earl Holding. AAttending the conference were executives of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Conoco-Philips.

Orrin Hatch also attended the conference and was a speaker.





Park City Anti-War Demonstration

Rich Wyman, Utah musician and songwriter, participated in the planning for the September 24 Salt Lake Demonstration.
Recognizing a need for a peace group to become active in Park City, about 40 miles east of Salt Lake where he lives, Rich formed the Park City People for Peace and Justice.

The new PPJ organized a demonstration on Sunday, March 19 to protest the Iraq Occupation on the third anniversary of the Iraq Invasion. About 35 people demonstrated, according to the Park Record article.

Wyman quoted Dwight D. Eisenhower about freedoms, charged that the administration is hiding the costs of the war and claimed that the U.S. commits war crimes.
“It’s hard not to be angry and demand justice,” Wyman said.

Hugh O’Neill, who lives in Red Pine, was livid with the administration, telling the crowd that the war has been conducted with “dishonesty.”
“I’m so mad, I’m willing to die for it,” he said.
He indicated he comes from New Hampshire and said people there adhere to the ‘live free or die’ motto.
“I am mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” O’Neill said.

Paddy Wood, a clergy member, talked about religious underpinnings to the war and said “all the paths to God are good.”
“We need to think and pray with one mind and one heart for our country,” she said.

Kudos to Rich and the folks in Park City – keep going and never give up!

Coverage of Protest Yesterday Against Oil Conference – Julian Hatch is interviewed

I’ll be posting a few photos later today or tomorrow about the protest aginast the Oil Executives Annual Conference in Salt Lake yesterday.

KCPW, local public radio station, covered the event:

Peace Activists Protest Big Oil Conference – includes audio clip in which Julian Hatch, the Desert Greens Green Party of Utah U.S. Senate Candidate, is interviewed.