“Get this war over with,” he said. “They are too young to be soldiers. They’re killing the cream of the crop. He [Bush] told us the war was over a while back and it’s not over.”
– <a href="WWII Navy veteran Thomas Foeorene of Virginia who said “too many soldiers are dying and that the cost of the war is reeling out of control and hurting the U.S. economy.”
I just checked the Salt Lake Tribune for the latest on SL City mayor Rocky Anderson’s call for an anti-war demonstration today during Bush’s appearance at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention. Instead, I found this:
Visiting vets want troops to come home
The Salt Lake Tribune, Aug. 22, 2005
Veterans from World War II through Desert Storm have varied opinions on the Iraq war, but many attending a national convention today … agree that the United States should bring its troops home soon – but only after completing their mission. MORE BELOW:
Update [2005-8-22 11:36:49 by susanhu]: Bush speaks at 1:30pm ET, CNN. Demonstration details below:
… Korean War Air Force veteran Cartatl Parrott said he wants to hear from President Bush today during his address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
“I’d like to see him get it over with and get our veterans back home,” Parrott said. “I don’t want to see it drag out like Vietnam or Korea.”
[Parrott, a Heber Springs, Ark., resident,] said he was unsure about the war after the U.S. government failed to produce evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But, now that troops are committed, Parrott said he believes the country should finish what it started.
“They ought to not leave there until the new government is in place,” Parrott said. “But it seems like it’s dragging on a little slow.”
In his speech, Bush is expected to reaffirm his plan for Iraq and try to bolster flagging support for the 2 1/2 -year-old war.
Desert Storm veteran James Stewart, of Ohio, said he supports the troops serving in Iraq now, but “I don’t necessarily support the war.”
Stewart said the main difference between the first Gulf War and this one is that Desert Storm had a clear objective: To get Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. “And in my opinion we had a true coalition of forces,” he said.
Other veterans attending the convention favored the president’s war plan. …
“War is not the answer.
“Only love can conquer hate.
“If Bush is right, then Marvin [Gaye] was wrong.
“If Bush is right, then Mohandas Gandhi was wrong.
“If Bush is right, Henry David Thoreau was wrong.
“If Bush is right, Martin Luther King Jr. was wrong.
“If Bush is right, Jesus of Nazareth was wrong.”
– Rev. Peter Johnson, former head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), speaking on August 20, 2005 in Crawford, Texas at Camp Casey. (Audio.)
Update [2005-8-22 12:5:18 by susanhu]:
[UDPATE]
From Utah IndyMedia.org:
Reminder of Rally in SLC on Monday!
by utahpeace Sunday August 21, 2005 at 07:08 AM
info@utahpeace.org
801-502-8556END THE UNJUST WAR!
Monday, August 22nd, 11:30am, Pioneer Park
During his visit to Salt Lake City, let George Bush know that we want answers to the questions: “Why are our sons and daughters dying and killing in Iraq?” and “Why is this a just war?”
Join people from Utah and mothers from all over the country to ask Mr. Bush these questions and demand answers!
Participating organizations planning the program are:
Local:
People for Peace and Justice of Utah
Salt Lake CodePink Women for Peace
Utah Veterans for Peace
Utah Military Families Speak Out
Shundahai Network
Utah IWW
M19 Mobilization Committee
Green Party of Utah
Rowland Hall School Student Socialists
Utah Progressive Democrats
Stonewall Democrats
Davis Democrats
National:
Gold Star Moms
Veterans for Peace
Military Families Speak Out
True Majority
Quarter Page Flyer ~ opens as a word document.
Full Page Flyer ~ opens as a word document.
Info:
801-502-8556
info@utahpeace.org
www.utahpeace.org/NewsEvents.html
GO HERE for all embedded links from above announcement at Utah’s Indymedia.org
DKos link: VFW Vets Visiting Salt Lake City Want Troops Home
it’s carrying Bush’s speech at 10:30 am PT / 1:30 pm ET.
There’s also this telling speech — from today’s Democracy Now:
I still feel frustrated though with the vets who say that our soldiers need to come home soon after they complete the mission! Has it occurred to them yet that there really hasn’t been a clear mission in Iraq for quite some time? I know this because soldiers are always on mission, but as an Iraq War Veteran even my husband will tell you that there isn’t a clear mission concerning Iraq any longer, and they changed the mission several times when he was there. If those Vets can give me the mission that they are speaking of (because I seem to have missed what it was somewhere) and have that BE THE MISSION….Fucking Great! Even my husband said yesterday that if someone came up with a six month firm plan of action that would get it done and have us out, he would go back right now even fighting this anxiety. He would almost volunteer to go for a firm this is it 6 month mission to hell!
Tracy, I admire you and your husband’s courage to this madness.
I have to agree with him, however, when the administration is planning on 14 permanent bases, that sends a signal that there is not returning for us ever. When the largest embassy ever is being erected for us there, there is no return, ever. I think I can see it going on and on for as long as there are neocons around and the type of republicans and some democrats that agree with this madness. It just blows my mind how the government can not understand the simple premise of do the job and get out. But you know, it really has never been defined as that, now has it….
A very cool wife speaks today on Amy Goodman’s show, and she mentions how few spouses have been able to come to Camp Casey although, she said, there were some last week … and I BET she was thinkin’ of you!
Her speech is VERY VERY good:
Scenes we’d like to see:
BushCo gives his rah-rah speech to the vets in Salt Lake City. Said vets–the folks who have been there, done that–ask pointed, sharp, probing questions, expressing doubts that the mission has been accomplished and asking what the hell Dim Son’s exit strategy is.
Dim Son melts down, shouts at them, curses, all on live TV.
Well, a girl can dream . . .
fyi . i just added all the demonstration info from Utah’s Indymedia … they have quite a coalition!
P.S. to W…..A mission is a specific task with which a person or a group is charged. Stay the Course is an unspecified direction because we don’t even know what “the Course” is, but it sounds snappy. It isn’t a mission though…..it isn’t a plan of action to be completed so I don’t think anybody can call it a task. I suppose it could be called a lifestyle. A lifestyle from hell if one is a military family! Now run along and play with Lance, you’re giving me a headache.
Good morning boys and girls. Cindy Sheehan has started the movement and the momentum is picking up. Pretzelnitwit will have no q&a after his rah rah speech. But boy would it be nice to be a Vet there and they all turned their backs on him as he spoke. They owe this asshole nothing. We will continue to make headlines as each group grows a little bigger, a little stronger, a little louder. I have a really big mouth too!!! LOL
The bozo is on my teevee. Same old shit.
“She’s (Cindy Sheehan) become a logo … for the leftist anti-war movement which does seem to be growing,” Crawford said. “She’s sort of become what Howard Dean was back in the presidential campaign, just a face and a voice for a lot of Americans who disagree with this war.”-CBS News political analyst Craig Crawford on “The Early Show,” from CBS News.
– from Howie in Seattle
Craig Crawford is such an ass sometimes.