No two wars are ever the same any more than you can step on the same banana peel twice. That said, Napoleon's invasion and occupation of Spain, from 1808 to 1814 -- the war that gave us the word 'guerrilla' and was immortalized in Goya's 'Third of May,' the war that drained France's army, smashed Napoleon's reputation for invincibility, and left Spain thrashing like a broken-backed snake for decades -- has striking similarities to our invasion and occupation of Iraq. Both wars started under the influence of similar delusions. Napoleon thought that the Spanish would roll over and play dead as so many other European states had; he thought marching to Madrid and placing his brother Joseph on the throne would complete the subjugation of Spain. We pretty much thought the same: crushing Saddam's army would be easy; we would then install a pro-American government (Ahmad the Thief) and have most of our Army home by fall... (for publication 03/28/05)

http://www.amconmag.com/2005_03_28/article.html

from The American Conservative, by Gregory Cochran


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

03/19/05

Thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets of San Francisco and other American cities Saturday, chanting slogans, stopping traffic and carrying cardboard coffins to commemorate the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. In San Francisco, hundreds of protesters rallied in Dolores Park in the city's Mission district ... 'This is a war of aggression,' said Ed McManus, 54, a Marin County resident who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War but only recently began protesting the Iraq War. ... The San Francisco march was one of hundreds of anti-war demontrations around the country on Saturday -- two years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein...

http://tinyurl.com/6p39s

from Mercury News
posted by Mary Lou Seymour on 19 Mar '05 19:49


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

UK: In pictures: London's stop the war march

03/19/05

The sun shone brightly as marchers gathered at Hyde Park on Saturday morning, helping themselves to the thousands of banners and placards provided ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4364857.stm

from BBC News [UK]
posted by Mary Lou Seymour on 19 Mar '05 21:42


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

North Carolina: Peace Rally attracts about 3,000

03/19/05

An anti-war rally organized in part by veterans and military families drew about 3,000 people to a park near Fort Bragg -- home to more than 40,000 soldiers and thousands of other dependents. ... 'I can't remain silent on these issues, slap a yellow ribbon on my car and call it supporting our troops,' said Kara Hollingsworth, the wife of a soldier serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. 'I support our troops by making sure they are not put in harm's way unless absolutely necessary.' ... The demonstration in a town where life revolves around the sprawling Army base, home to the Army's Green Berets and the elite 82nd Airborne Division, was met by about 100 opponents waving American flags and banners...

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/031905_APlocal_peacerally.html



from ABC 11 News
posted by Mary Lou Seymour on 20 Mar '05 12:25



Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

UK: British troops "were supplied with blank ammunition"

03/20/05

British troops in Iraq have been supplied with blank rounds instead of live ammunition, one of a catalogue of failures during the occupation that have put their lives at risk, according to a hard-hitting report to be published this week. Inability to provide body armour and medical supplies in sufficient quantities are also understood to be among logistical shortcomings identified by the influential Commons Defence Select Committee. News of its findings came as tens of thousands of protesters marched through central London yesterday on the second anniversary of the invasion, calling for the Government to withdraw British troops from Iraq...

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=621880

from Independent [UK]
posted by Mary Lou Seymour on 20 Mar '05 16:35


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

03/20/05

Crowds of anti-war demonstrators gathered in communities scattered across the nation Sunday to protest the war in Iraq, a day after larger protests in dozens of other cities on the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion. In Boston, Shalom Keller told about 2,000 protesters that he celebrated his 21st birthday in Iraq a day before his Army unit joined the first wave of the invasion. 'Instead of getting drunk, I was invading a country that had done me no wrong,' Keller told the crowd on the Boston Common...

http://tinyurl.com/3mdzf

from Detroit Free Press
posted by R. Lee Wrights on 20 Mar '05 22:08



Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

03/19/05

Anti-war activists marched in the streets of U.S. and European cities Saturday, stopping traffic and lying down alongside flag-draped cardboard coffins to mark the second anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. Some demonstrators were arrested in New York City as they demanded U.S. troops be brought home. 'This country was founded by acts of civil disobedience,' said David McReynolds, 75, of New York, as he marched along 42nd Street. 'We have an obligation to make our resistance public and to say as clearly as we can that the war is illegal...

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050319/w031956.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

We've posted 60 photos from the march - see the homepage first with photos of IVAW, CAN and MFSO reps. Rally photos and audio of the rally are coming.

http://www.traprockpeace.org

Charlie


Charles Jenks
Traprock Peace Center
103A Keet Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
413-773-7427 (Traprock office line)


From ufpj-news

***Media Coverage:

http://www.ny1.com/ny/TopStories/SubTopic/index.html?topicintid=1&subtopicintid=1&contentintid=49185
http://nyc.indymedia.org/usermedia/video/13/MOV04379.MPG
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/newyork/nyc-nywar204183840mar20,0,6296219.story?coll=nyc-nynews-print

***March 19 - A global day of protest

March 19, 2005- Today, tens of thousands of people converged on New York City to oppose an illegal war of aggression against the people of Iraq. People drove from as far away as Florida and Minnesota to demand an immediate end to the occupation.

The day began with a rally in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park. Speakers included Brenda Stokely, President of DC 1707, Nellie Bailey of the Harlem Tenant's Council, and Carl Webb, a member of the Army National Guard who has refused to deploy to Iraq.

After the opening rally, more than 15,000 marched to join thousands already gathered in Central Park. As they marched through Harlem, they were greeted by cheers and applause from the community. People came out of stores and apartments to join the march. Others hung out of their windows and flashed the peace sign or raised their fists.

Speakers at the Central Park Rally included Representative Charles Rangel, New York City Council Members Margarita Lopez and Charles Barron, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, and attorney Lynne Stewart.

After the Central Park Rally, thousands marched to the Upper East Side mansion of billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg with the slogan, "Fund Cities, Not War!"

The turnout for this demonstration confirms that the antiwar movement has entered into a new phase of organizing against the war. It confirms that the greatest attention must be paid to reaching out to communities most impacted by the war and by the policies of the Bush Administration. These communities are the targets of the budget cuts. They are also targeted by military recruiters, who exploit economic hardship with false promises of opportunity. As a result, the children of these communities are dying disproportionately in Iraq, paying the ultimate price for a policy of greed and empire.

Organizers with the Troops Out Now Coalition plan to continue to protest the war and occupation. On May 1, the Troops Out Now Coalition will join the Million Worker March on the streets of New York City in a rally and march to demand, “Jobs, Not War! Bring the Troops Home Now!”

In addition to the Troops Out Now Demonstration in New York City, there were demonstrations in more than 700 cities throughout the U.S., including major regional demonstrations in Fayetteville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.

This weekend saw protests all over the globe. There were demonstrations in Argentina, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Australia, Vietnam, South Korea, Pakistan, Iceland, Ireland, Germany, Cyprus, and many other countries.

Tens of thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday, calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair to get British troops out of Iraq. Protesters marched from Hyde Park Corner past the US embassy to a rally in central London’s Trafalgar Square.

The protesters placed a black cardboard coffin with the slogan “100,000 dead” scrawled across the daffodil-strewn lid against a tree outside the US embassy. As the coffin was laid down, the crowd chanted: “George Bush ... Uncle Sam. Iraq will be your Vietnam.”

In Sweden, protesters filled up Sergel square in downtown Stockholm, chanting: "USA, out of Iraq!"

In Istanbul, an estimated 15,000 people marched, some carrying signs reading "Murderer Bush, get out."

In Poland, which has 1,700 troops in Iraq, more than 1,000 marched to the US Embassy in Warsaw, holding banners reading "Pull out from Iraq now" and "Poles back to Poland."

In Athens, about 3,000 trade unionists, members of peace groups, and students brought the city center to a standstill for about three hours as they marched to the US Embassy.


***Next Step: May 1

May 1: May Day Rally for Jobs, Not War - Bring the Troops Home Now!

On May 1 the Troops Out Now Coalition and the NYC Million Worker March are calling for a JOBS NOT WAR - Bring the Troops Home Now rally in Union Square, NYC.

MAY DAY -- International Workers Day -- grew out of the struggle of working people in this country more than 100 years ago for an 8 work day with a full day's pay. All over the world, working and poor people march on May Day to send the message that workers are united and have the right to a job, a living wage, health care, housing and education. Workers have a right to pensions and social security. Immigrant workers and the unemployed should have the same rights. On May Day 2005, let's bring back that fighting spirit.

Download the May 1 Flyer: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/flyers/maydayleaflet.pdf

Endorse: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/may1endorse.html


***Help Build a Movement to Stop the War!

1) Endorse May 1: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/may1endorse.html

2) Download leaflets and help get the word out! http://www.troopsoutnow.org/flyers/maydayleaflet.pdf

3) Organize transportation from your city to NYC on May 1: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/orgcentsignup.html

4) Donate! http://www.troopsoutnow.org/donate.html


http://www.TroopsOutNow.org

http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr001=f06abi50z2.app8a&abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=6026&security=1023&news_iv_ctrl=1521


Informant: Hopedance