Protesters Gather to March on Capitol

[gonerail]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Thousands of protesters gathered Saturday outside the White House to demand an end to the Iraq war as counter-protesters rallied to meet them on a planned march to the Capitol.

The protesters gathered in Lafayette Park with signs saying "End the war now" and calling for President Bush's impeachment. The rally, organized by the ANSWER Coalition and other groups, was expected to conclude with a march to the Capitol.

Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance.

"We're occupying a people who do not want us there," Cliburn said of Iraq. "We're here to show that it isn't just a bunch of old hippies from the 60s who are against this war."

About 13 blocks away, nearly 1,000 counter-protesters gathered near the Washington Monument, frequently erupting in chants of "U-S-A" and waving American flags.

They planned to line both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue to confront anti-war protesters as they marched by and follow them to the Capitol.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson, speaking from a stage to crowds clad in camouflage, American flag bandanas and Harley Davidson jackets, said he wanted to send three messages.

"Congress, quit playing games with our troops. Terrorists, we will find you and kill you," he said. "And to our troops, we're here for you, and we support you."

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., made a surprise visit to the counter-protest, which was organized by the group Gathering of Eagles. The group was created this year by veterans who wanted to challenge war protesters.

"We're a people of faith, courage and fidelity," said Hunter, a 2008 presidential candidate. "It's for this generation that we will win this war on terror."

Live Washington radio link also at: http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=596&sid=1248790

[mesue]

...
About 13 blocks away, nearly 1,000 counter-protesters gathered near the Washington Monument, frequently erupting in chants of "U-S-A" and waving American flags.
...
Sweet!

[Bringthetruth]

I wonder how much they got paid:)

[mesue]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Thousands of protesters gathered Saturday outside the White House to demand an end to the Iraq war as counter-protesters rallied to meet them on a planned march to the Capitol.

...
160 were arrested.

[Dumbfounded]

The protests may have made the crowds feel better about being Americans and expressing their right to dissent and free speech but all the marchers, all the speeches & signs were ignored or laughed at by those who could end the U.S. occupation of Iraq;

Bush, Cheney, all the profiteering plundering thieving corporations, the power trips, the bigger-than-Vatican City embassy now built ($500 Mil+), the 15+ enormous U.S. bases in Iraq, the hidden-from-the public long-term business objectives for the middle east.

20 million protestors marching on D.C. wouldn't make a difference.


Yes. Our government listens to our concerns and cares about the families with troops stationed in Iraq. Sure. Of course.

When's it going to "sink in" that the United States has reached the point of "no return"
No politicians/leaders and their policies will do little more than perhaps buy a little extra time before the U.S. is bled dry by the bloodsuckers that "want to leave a better world behind for the children"

[gonerail]

When's it going to "sink in" that the United States has reached the point of "no return"
No politicians/leaders and their policies will do little more than perhaps buy a little extra time before the U.S. is bled dry by the bloodsuckers that "want to leave a better world behind for the children"

Please don't lose hope. Don't ever think that public dissent does no good. Try to avoid getting a defeatist attitude as it will affect those around you. If you do nothing then you can't be part of the solution. Citizen protest has had huge effects on government policy before and will continue to !!
:) :) :) :) :)

[Dumbfounded]

Please don't lose hope. Don't ever think that public dissent does no good. Try to avoid getting a defeatist attitude as it will affect those around you. If you do nothing then you can't be part of the solution. Citizen protest has had huge effects on government policy before and will continue to !!
:) :) :) :) :)

I watched "The Lives Of Others" last night.

I was STUNNED at the "Big Brother" state in which the citizens of East Berlin lived in.

The vast network of surveillence, the 300,000 citizens & government workers who WORKED for and with the "Stasi" or spying ba-tards.

Kinda like people turning in their friends & neighbors immediately following 9/11


What struck me was that ANYONE who dissented with the government's socialist regime was punished by losing their jobs, torture and sometimes assassination.

America. We're living in a fascist state in which the media is under direct control of the government, dissenters get all kinds of grief, the executive branch wields most "state" power, ruling the "masses" by fear, severe censorship-
Hell. I'll just post the signs of a fascist state (legitimate, of course).

So I have NO intention of "fighting the system."
As I've posted on this blog in the past, I, a total peon HAVE been harassed for expressing opinions contrary to the Bush adminstration, albeit "privately"

The spy-techonology of today, from the telephone, computer surveillence to the laser-listening devices, to satellites that can see a dime, public cameras nearly ubiquitous and yes, tracking devices of all kinds;We've come a "long way" invading the "privacy" of the "common citizen."

and

The more I learn about U.S. foreign & domesitic policies, historical & current the limitless cruelty we are capable of as a species, the more discouraged I become.

I don't believe in "miracles" and protests do jack, I've given up caring about "making the world a better place."

[govtchecker]

Its funny. I thought that since the people spoke at the last national election and the democrats were elected, they were going to get us out of Iraq. Not one bill has been passed trying to do this. Why?
The democrats control both houses of Congress and still no bills? Why?
Maybe, because the people of this country truely understand that we can't leave.
If it is so important to get out asap, then why do we still have troops in Germany? How long ago did WWII end. We still have troops in Korea. You people, just like to complain and believe the spoon feed garble that the media tries to feed us.
Understand the problem and then a soulution can be found.

[raoul duke]

Its funny. I thought that since the people spoke at the last national election and the democrats were elected, they were going to get us out of Iraq. Not one bill has been passed trying to do this. Why?
The democrats control both houses of Congress and still no bills? Why?
Maybe, because the people of this country truely understand that we can't leave.
If it is so important to get out asap, then why do we still have troops in Germany? How long ago did WWII end. We still have troops in Korea. You people, just like to complain and believe the spoon feed garble that the media tries to feed us.

huh? "the people of this country truely [sic] understand that we can't leave"? then could you explain the majority of people in this country that want the war to end and america to be out of iraq (with differences in how soon and how rapidly)?

Understand the problem and then a soulution can be found.

yeah, take your own advice.

[run4it]

Its funny. I thought that since the people spoke at the last national election and the democrats were elected, they were going to get us out of Iraq. Not one bill has been passed trying to do this.
This is untrue. Congress sent a funding bill to the President in April, providing funds only for withdrawal. The President vetoed it.