Today marks the second anniversary of George Bush's invasion of Iraq, a war based on lies and vast distortions. A war which has taken the lives of 1,500 American soldiers, grievously wounded tens of thousands more and destroyed the homes, towns, livelihoods and lives of unknown numbers of innocent Iraqi civilians. The latest lie given to justify this criminal enterprise is that our military forces are helping to spread democracy. Proof of this, says Bush, is the election held a month ago under the barrels of U.S. guns. But the dictator Hussein, was, once upon a time, our man. We supported him. We armed him. We financed him. Just as we have with countless other tyrants in the past and in the present today. The purpose? To make the region safe for U.S. style democracy. Used this way, the word "democracy" is nothing more than code. The real purpose of U.S. intervention is to make the world safe for U.S. corporations to do their dirty work and extract maximum profits. After all, it is no secret that Iraq sits on top of world's second largest oil reserves. Second after that other bastion of "democracy" and friend, (thus far), of American interests , Saudi Arabia.
Some 700-plus cities and towns around our country are the site this weekend of protests against Bush's war. Last year, on the first anniversary of the invastion, people in about 300 cities and towns took part. The explosive doubling in locations for anti-war activity is clear evidence that increasing numbers of Americans are beginning to understand the true nature of this war and are rejecting it. They are repulsed by an Administration and Congress that are cutting taxes for the wealthiest at the same time they are spending billions and billions on an illegal war; that are cutting taxes for the richest Americans while they cut services for those least able to afford it. Eighty-two billion dolars for the war and no money to be found for schools and health care. In their search for ever-increasing oil profits they will tear up and despoil every little last inch of pristine and natural land in Alaska in order to take the oil from beneath that soil.
Every American should be rising up in anger at the sight of such bankrupt morality and greed of those in power today. The only reason this has not come to pass is the complete control of the media by the corporate elite that Bush serves so well. Thus, while other people around the world shake their fists in anger at the arrogance and aggression of the Bush Administration, our people are blinded by the endless lies fed to them by the media. Lies which are used to cover the true nature of the extremists who have usurped power in Washington and the evil deeds on which they have embarked. But lies cannot fly forever. Eventually, the truth will out. The day will come when the majority of Americans will stand up and say no to this war, just as they did some 30 or so years ago during the Vietnam war. They will still the hand of Bush and his cronies and turn our country around from the path of war and destruction that it is headed down today.
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We joined Brooklyn Parents For Peace, our local peace and justice organization. They had called on local residents to meet at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade at 10:30 a.m. From there, to march down the Fulton Street shopping street to the military recruiting center on Flatbush Avenue near Schermerhorn Street.
It was a relatively small group that was standing around as we arrived with our upstairs neighbors, Paul and Rock. But spirits were high and as we stood there, more and more people arrived. We would be carrying mock coffins, draped with American and Iraqi flags. This, to symbolize the needless deaths of so many young Americans, mostly poor and working class, sent to kill so many innocent Iraqis in a country that had never been a threat to our country and that had no connection, whatsoever, to the terror attacks of September 11th.
Brooklynites gather at the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights at the foot of Montague Street.
A spirited group of hundreds of Brooklynites, marching up Montague Street.
A flag-draped coffin is carried as we mourn the needless lives lost.
Flyers were handed to Saturday shoppers.
Most people were friendly and supported the marchers as they passed.
Demanding peace. Streaming down Montague Street.
When we marchers reached Flatbush Avenue, the police shepherded us into the omnipresent barricades across the street from the recruiting station. In line with the Republican mayor's icy attitude toward peace demonstrators there were an enormous number of cops present, despite the obviously peaceful demeanor of the demonstrators. Many wondered why so many police. Was this just more intimidation of legitimate protest? If so, it didn't work. Songs were sung, joyously and chants were shouted: "Money for jobs, not for war. Bring the troops home now!" And then, one by one, people would ascend a platform and solemnly read the names of those Americans and Iraqis who had lost their lives in this most obscene of wars.
Hundreds gathered on Flatbush Avenue, across from the Armed Forces Recruiting Center.
Singing and playing for peace - Congressional candidate Chris Owens and his kids.
Stop the lying. Stop the killing.
Solemnly reading the names of the dead.
Why so many dead? For what? Who profits? More and more people want to know.
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