Today marks the 3rd anniversary of George W. Bush landing in a jet on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the California coast where, in a speech to the nation, he declared major combat in Iraq over. The banner his staff posted on the ship read “Mission Accomplished.”:
The irony is that since then approximately 2400 Americans and more than 30,000 Iraqis have lost their lives, in addition to the tens of thousand of others injured in the conflict.
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.
I took the day off from activism today since I was involved in two big events yesterday and will be involved in tomorrow’s immigration “Liberty Walk”.
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 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.
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.
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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”.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged anti-war, immigrant issues, iraq, peace, politics, Utah
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
Last night I helped show a film on war rax resistance. The film, “An Act of Conscience” is about a couple who in the 1990’s fought a battle against the IRS in proceedings that led to the confiscation and sale of their home. The story revolved around what happened next with the family that bought the home, the squatting and then eviction of the home by various community members, and the new homeowners settling with the community who owned a collective that actually owned the land on which the home sat. It is a very compelling story and really makes one think about where their taxes are spent.
Here is a pie chart, published by the War Resisters League that depicts the portion of your federal taxes that go towards the military and war efforts:
I am the state contact for the National War Tax REsistsnace Coordinating Committee. I help show this film each year and provide literature for people who may be interested in learning more about what they can do to divert their tax dollars away from war. You can view the NWTRCC’s Statement of Purpose. It is a coalition of groups dedicated to providing information and resources and support for those considering war tax resistance.
There are multiple ways to engage in war tax resistance.
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Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged anti-war, grassroots democracy, peace, politics, taxes
The Baltimore Sun published an article yesterday by William D. Hartung,No Military Solution. Hartung examines the Bush Administration’s continuing and increasing threats of military action against Iran for its development of nuclear weapons, as the best strategy for addressing the issue with Iran.
I just can’t understand, still, why it is acceptable for the U.S. to make such threats against some countries and not others. Why is it acceptable for Israel, for example, to develop nuclear arms and not Iran? Dick Cheney has been quoted as saying that Iran is engaging in “irresponsible conduct”. Yet the Bushites do not address other “irresponsible conduct” by other countries, not only in the development of nuclear arms, but in the violence that occurs against populations – the plight of Palestinians for example.
This smacks of racism to me. I cannot think of any other justification.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 