Replies

That "dude" on the bike is a professional at these rallies. He has been approaching us as we counter-protest for years. He usually rides close on his bike and tries to engage us in questions to distract us from what we are doing and change the subject so that we are put on the spot, he thinks, by his questions. A compatriot of his is off at an angle filming the encounter.

He showed up last month when the anti-American, anti-war groups marched from Dover to Walter Reed Army Hospital to LaFayette Park supposedly to honor the dead and wounded, support our troops and bring them home. We were at the outskirts of Lafayette Park in a designated place that Park Police gave us. We had also just been told not to engage any of the anti-war protesters because they might become violent. So, when this "dud" (sorry, "dude") arrived to shout his questions and bash Bush, we told him we were not allowed to talk to him. He and his videographer slunk away.

Kudos to Nafel and the other Iraqis who routed the ANSWER rally yesterday. And kudos to the fellow who documented the event so well. He wrote a great report. If only the Washington Post or CBS would report on the rally like this -- sigh.