Soldiers families to hold anti-war rally at Ft. Bragg (Thousands may show)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-03-17-bragg--rally_x.htm

the first term it could have been argued as a freak, but the second term people knew or should have known better. 50% of the people who could have voted DIDN'T. Not only did they re-elect the nazi, but they also gave him a majority in congress

I saw this crap during viet nam, and it is the re-run of a bad movie

I am afraid that the only way that we will get out of iraq is when we have lost a lot more both in lives and economically

people who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and unfortuately the ones who didn't vote for the bastards will pay also

my conservative coworkers tell me "we have to finish what we started" - I remind them that I heard that for DECADES about Viet Nam.

we didn't understand the history of Viet Nam, and we don't understand the middle east

In Iraq we are in the middle of a civil war, and do not even realize it

I have asked my conservative coworkers what would you do if a foreign power occupied our country, and the answer is resist, yet that cannot relate to what we are doing in Iraq

those neocon assholes didn't even bother consulting experts on Middle East history and culture - and declined when such advice was offered. What a bunch of arrogant dicks. I feel terribly sorry for the Iraqi people and our soldiers in Iraq - I send care packages for both the soldiers and the children. I care more about them than our disgrace of a government ever will.

May I add, I go ballistic when my coworkers speak of "we" - YOU NEVER SPENT ONE G.D. DAY IN THE MILITARY SO SHUT THE F*** UP I TELL THEM. Yes, I am a veteran. :)

...its going to take a whole lot more blood and a whole lot more treasure before America as a whole, wakes up.

"How did that happen?"

to these families.
I will be protesting in ABQ, but without the risk of these families.

Special Forces are trained there. So if a major Anti-War protest is taking place there, that's a real "pulse" of where the Military community (and their families) stands right now. Wow...

i've heard that the military (the actual military, not the brass in the pentagon) is really really pissed off about this whole thing. so it doesn't surprise me that they're having an antiwar rally.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1309989

I plan to go and will probably post about it.

of the Wake Up call to Amerika?

What happens factually, and what your impressions were. I will be protesting in New Orleans that day, but will be very interested in reading your post....I would imagine, that particular demonstration will be the most contentious, dangerous demostration to attend. Please be careful, take your camera, and please post pics too. Good luck.

I live in Oz and i have an 18 year old child. As Europe leaves the "Quagmire" that is Iraq, the holes and gaps are going to appear. The US will become more desperate, as it will not bring up a "Draft" until it is on their own in Iraq. Unfortunately for us, we are also Anglo-Saxon's like the British. We are also under a very conservative government, although not as Neo-Crazy as the US government. "The Bush Gang" is going to press both OZ and Britian for more and more "Troops", as Europe withdraws. Under our current government's, it is highly likely that "The Bush Gang" will get thousands and thousands of Anglo-Saxon replacements. Bliar has a 160 seat majority, although it will be very few when their election is over, but he knows that the Liberal Democrats will still take several elections before they can defeat the "First past the post" election system that runs in Britian as "Democracy"!. In OZ our Conservative government still has 2.5 years to run. Don't worry American's, Oz and British forces will ride to your "Rescue". We both have "Volunteer" forces. They are small, but we are told that they could take on the American's "any time"! OZ and British politicians still have an "inferiority complex". However your "Draft" will lead to us "Drafting", which we call "National Service". If this happens, my son will be going to live in New Zealand. I have some connection's to "Volunteer" Oz forces already in Iraq and their version of Iraq is enough to make sure that my son is not an Anglo-Saxon" patriot. He and his friend's are already hoping for "The Bush Gang" to go over the "Edge"! Has anyone been to New Zealand???

--another indicator of how parents of teenagers are getting desperate. Whether here or in Australia, it's always the parents of young soldiers (or potential draftees) who care the most about how a war is going on the ground. Gotta believe in the cause to fight a war. The voice of the military families is powerful. It's the voice of reality.

Whether here or in Australia, it's always the parents of young soldiers (or potential draftees) who care the most about how a war is going on the ground.

One one level, I suppose it can only be true -- but there ARE plenty of parents of potential draftees who don't get it, and there ARE plenty of us who DO get it even tho we don't have draft-age children. I think you minimize and treat dismissively the suffering -- literally, the SUFFERING -- that some of us have done over this war.

And I rather resent it.

but also your automatic conclusion that I must be someone who has not suffered over this war...hits me wrong too, eloriel. I'm planning to go to a demonstration tomorrow and have been meditating on that often today. Tell me...WHAT would be the motive in minimizing or dismissing the suffering of ANYBODY who opposes this war? The person who would do that would be an insensitive dolt in my book. I assure you I am quite the opposite.

I meant the phrase in the most literal way possible, since I was speaking to the raw fear expressed by the mother. It affected me very much to read her words, and actually I do have a draft-age Aussie-American nephew living over there so it was easy to get in her shoes. I was also very moved today by a discussion on Will Pitt's blog, in which Will stated how hard it is to feel the pain of those who have actually lost a family member, even though our hearts may be full with the loss and injury of all who are caught up in this unspeakable fiasco. Will's words, in response to Cindy Sheehan who lost her son: "We dig into the facts and theories and possibilities and potential ramifications of this or that, and sometimes get away from the flesh-and-bone realities of what we are dealing with." I know I am guilty of this disconnect at times. Funny, today I was feeling MORE connected to what's going on over there in Iraq emotionally, and I am called out for being dismissive and unfeeling on the subject by you. Yikes. Sorry.

I protested the first Gulf War as well. Did a lot of writing connected with that and some art installations. Am not the warmest of writers as I've spent too much time churning out dry analytical material. But believe me I care, I'm there. More than you know. I appreciate your input but before you pounce, could you please entertain the idea that one line in a public forum does not define a person's full intentions, and perhaps ask for a clarification? Others of us may be equally stressed and depressed.

Peace, mg

Reference: "Mother of Fallen Soldier Responds to Iraq Withdrawal Debate" By WilliamPitt, Fri Mar 11th, 2005 at 09:37:30 AM EST
http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/3/11/93730/3285

... and righteously angry for their losses.

May the Goddess sustain and bless them all, for She is a Mother who has also known the loss of sons and daughters.

Hekate

There is "No Way" my son is going to Iraq. He of course treats this like a "joke". He's only 18. I lived in Pittsburgh in 1971 and i saw the "Death counter" in the top Left hand corner, whenever the 1970,s news was on in America. My son will never "fight" unvoluntarily unless its in the "defence of OZ". If that was the case, then we are all in. OZ will make Iraq look like a "nightmare" for 19 year old American's!

"OZ will make Iraq look like a "nightmare" for 19 year old American's! "
Hey? And as to your earlier comment about taking on Americans, I think you are seriously mixed up. We are on the same side. BTW refresh my memory- what happened in Australia in WWII?

My son won't be going to fight in Iraq either, we are going to stay here and fight to get our democracy back. Impeach in 06!

My family attended a gathering this week to hear a member of IVAW speak.
He was an amazing young man...scheduled to return to Iraq soon...

Present in the audience were two Viet Nam vets- both men spoke eloquently and drew much applause.

Also in attendance were local high schoolers gaining information for a meeting they were to have with their district superintendent the next day in an effort to restrict recruiters' access to their school.

There is NO mandate.

when I read the following article.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0124-20.htm

I became so angry after reading it... all I could do was weep as I thought of my own two grown sons.

She and the others could not get past the Pentagon parking lot after calling, faxing and sending emails to let officials know that they were coming! We taxpayers paid for the Pentagon, and of all the people who should have been allowed in there, she certainly had a right!

I don't know. It's just beyond me.

there was always more support for differing opinions by military folk then the propaganda factory would have you believe.
Many long time military folks I know are heartbroken by the b*shit.

They are just reluctant to talk about it.