03/18/05

It's important to understand that the War Party is not interested in debate, but only in demonization, and Schwartz is a perfect example of this method. Opponents of the war aren't just wrong, in their view -- they're 'Nazis!' Nor does it matter what one writes about them, since it's all for a 'good' cause. Schwartz just makes stuff up and flings it at his opponents: and naturally, David Horowitz, who has absolutely no moral or journalistic standards (some things never change), has no compunctions about providing a platform for outright fabrications. In this holy war against those they deem their political enemies, these two old commies haven't changed their spots one iota: for them, the ends still justify the means...

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=5226

from AntiWar.Com, by Justin Raimondo


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

03/18/05

The coalition of the willing is losing its will. Italy just announced it will withdraw its 3,000 troops from Iraq by the fall. The Netherlands, Poland, and Ukraine are also in the process of pulling out or preparing to pull out an additional 4,750 troops. When Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, says, 'We have to have an exit strategy,' he is not kidding. With the departure of those nations, the coalition will be down to 21 countries. That is a massive cut from the days when the administration boasted the window dressing of 38 fighting countries and nearly 50 total allies (even as the United States accounted for 85 percent of the troops). President Bush downplayed Italy's imminent abandonment in a press conference this week. Bush said Berlusconi reassured him in a phone call 'that there was no change in his policy ...

http://tinyurl.com/4j4t3

from Boston Globe, by Derrick Z. Jackson


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

03/18/05

This weekend marks the second anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. Over 1,500 US soldiers have been killed, more than 100,000 Iraqis have lost their lives, violence continues unabated, and we -- the US taxpayers -- have sunk over $200 billion into invading and occupying the oil-rich nation. Many Americans feel this war has been a monumental disaster; others feel the US has brought democracy to the Iraqi people. But despite these opposite perceptions, according to the latest Harris poll, a larger majority than ever before -- 59% -- believe the US troops should come home in the next year. The anti-war movement, which now represents the sentiment of the majority of the American people, is poised to mark this second anniversary by launching a new peace offensive. Here are several ways you can help...

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0318-28.htm

from Common Dreams, by Medea Benjamin


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Website lists anti-war activities for students: "On the week of the second anniversary of the U.S. led invasion of Iraq, we the students and youth believe it is time we make our presence felt within the greater antiwar movement. During the fifties and sixties, students led powerful civil rights struggles. We were amongst the leadership of the anti-Vietnam War struggles during the sixties and seventies as well. In this spirit, we are again standing up against the unjust and illegal wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere...

http://www.campusresistance.org/

from Campus Resistance -- Hat Tip to CounterPunch


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

03/20/05

The second anniversary of the war was the impetus for major demonstrations throughout the world. In the United States, over 800 communities held events calling for an end to the occupation. CNN, however, reported that in the United States 'barely a ripple was made while large protests took place in Europe.' The New York Times reported that protests in the United States ranged from 350 people in Times Square to thousands in San Francisco. Later in the same story, the Times reported that several thousand marched from Harlem to Central Park. If thousands marched in New York, why did the Times highlight the 350 in Times Square? CNN's report was worse -- nothing about US protests. ... If CNN had been in Fayetteville, North Carolina, they would have seen what could be a major turning point in the anti-war movement. The largest Anti-war protest ever in this heavily military town took place...

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032005A.shtml


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

from TruthOut, by Scott Galindez

03/21/05

One day in the next two weeks, a uniformed colonel from the U.S. Army is expected to pay a visit to William Cala, the superintendent of the Fairport Central School District in Fairport, N.Y., east of Rochester. While Cala has not been told exactly what's on the agenda, he knows why the colonel is coming: To try to talk some sense into him about how he's handled the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. It might seem strange that the Pentagon is sending an emissary to a school district, but it's actually the law." [subscription or ad view required]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/03/21/schools_recruiters/

from Salon, by Aimee Molloy


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

03/19/05

Not only did he use false pretenses to get Congress to rush into his invasion, not only did he send our men and women into battle without the protective gear they need to save their lives, not only did he grossly understate the depth of opposition our troops would face during the ongoing occupation, not only did he completely miscalculate the number of troops required to pursue his ideologically-motivated mission -- but now we learn that he rushed America into the hell of war without preparing for the medical needs of thousands of soldiers who are coming home with severe wounds...

http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/21549/

from Alternet, by Jim Hightower


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp