Posted on 08/22/2006 7:21:30 AM PDT by Beckwith
When CODEPINK launched our hunger strike, called Troops Home Fast on July 4, our goal was to push forward a peace process in Iraq that included the withdrawal of US troops. Our efforts were rewarded when Iraqi Parliamentarians, expressing sympathy for the hunger strikers, invited us to Amman, Jordan, to break our 30-day fast and discuss how we could work together to promote a comprehensive Reconciliation Plan.
On Wednesday, August 2, a 14-person delegation, including "peace mom" Cindy Sheehan, former Colonel Ann Wright, Iraq war veteran Geoffrey Millard, writer/politician Tom Hayden, Iraqi analyst Raed Jarrar and CODEPINK co-founders Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans, Gael Murphy and Diane Wilson, traveled to Jordan to meet with official representatives of the largest Shiite coalition, the minority Sunni bloc, the secular parliamentary coalition, the Muslim Scholars Association and torture victims from Abu Ghraib. The Iraqis were delighted to find Americans who, like them, were passionate about ending the occupation and the violence that has wracked their country. "We have found a voice inside the U.S. that backs us," Salman al-Jumaili, speaker of the largest Sunni Parliamentary coalition, told reporters at our closing press conference (click here for AP story)
The common thread among this diverse group of Iraqis and Americans was a desire to set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, ensure no permanent bases in Iraq, and secure a U.S. commitment to pay for rebuilding Iraq. Other issues that emerged in two-days of intensive talks include the need to dismantle militias, provide amnesty for prisoners and the various armed groups, compensate victims of the violence, revise the Constitution and preserve the unity of Iraq, and reverse US-imposed de-Baathification and economic policies. We left this historic meeting with a commitment to make sure that the voices of these Iraqi parliamentarians are heard here in the US, and we will bring a group of them to the U.S. in the Fall.
On the heels of these meetings in Jordan, a part of our delegation traveled on to Lebanon while the fighting was still raging. After a harrowing ride from Syria over freshly bombed roads and bridges, we were greeted in Beirut to the booms of Israeli bombardments. We visited the devastated neighborhoods of Southern Beirut. We provided aid to traumatized children in improvised refugee camps. We heard from angry Lebanese residents who condemned the Bush administration for providing Israel with the green light -- and the weapons -- to kill over 1,000 civilians and destroy their airport, ports, bridges, roads, factories, and worst of all, entire towns and residential neighborhoods.
Now that there is a ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese need help returning home. While our government has given Israel billions for bombs and guns that have killed and maimed over 1,000 Lebanese, it has pledged a mere $50 million for rebuilding. We -- US Citizens -- should push our government to provide more funds. Now more than ever we should show the Lebanese people that we care about peace not only by continuing to oppose our military policies in the Middle East but also by supporting and joining their peace efforts. With your help we can send delegations of US women peace activists to Lebanon, we can help fund a peace walk to the Lebanese-Israeli border and we can support efforts to clear unexploded cluster bombs in southern Lebanon. We have made wonderful new friends among the Lebanese peace groups. Let's show them we want peace as badly as they do (click here to donate now).
If we in the US show the same compassion for all victims -- be they Israelis, Iraqis or Lebanese -- and put our efforts into negotiations instead of war, we would have a greater chance of ending the violence that is consuming the Middle East as well as the blowback that threatens the security of Americans.
With hope for peace,
Allison, Anedra, Dana, Erin, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Katie, Laura, Medea, Meredith, Nancy, Rae, Samantha and Tiffany
The common thread among this diverse group of Iraqis and Americans was a desire to set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, ensure no permanent bases in Iraq, and secure a U.S. commitment to pay for rebuilding Iraq...
Sorry but we need more bases in that part of the world and who the hell are these kooks to speak for America?
How's that fast coming along? Why has Cindy gained 18 pounds?
"The Muslim Scholars Association."
Sounds like some real friends of Truth, Freedom, and the American way, eh?
DC Chapter ping needed
Code Fink.
I once interviewed Tom Hayden back in 1981 up on Capitol Hill in DC. This is one self-centered jerk who has been dining out on his hatred of our country for years.
This sumbitch should get a real job. Not likely, though.
STFU.
Sincerely,
VR
Klan Pink
A shame they arrived after the bombing.
we can help fund a peace walk to the Lebanese-Israeli border
We can always hope.
During the Vietnam war leftest groups met with the enemy in secret. Now they do it right in the open and brag about it.
Useful Idiots!!
The enemy within will kill us as surely as the enemy without. Sedition and treason. It has crossed the line on dissent and protest. Line em up. Shoot em. Give em a nice trial. Trial by fire.
Tom Hayden & Hanoi JaneHayden was one of the "Chicago 7" defendants charged with
instigating the anti-US/pro-communist riots during the 1968
Democrat Party Convention in Chicago.
These guys from Abu got addicted to ugly though licentious Western women...
I guess they will finally give all of the names this fall. There have only been a couple of the parliamentarians formally named so far.
It would be nice if for once Code Stink protested the violence of Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Qaeda, etc. Or protested the UN's uselessness. I won't hold my breath.
This guy is a scumbag.
Please excuse my harsh word, but this creep is a disgrace to America...as are all of Code Pink's pals.
Between the lot of them, they couldn't find water if they fell out of a boat.
What could possibly be intesive? These people are in complete agreeement with one another. In fact Code Pinkos don't have the stamina for anything "intensive". The probably spent two days telling Bush jokes. Clowns.
Ping Diana Irey's list.
Just a little blurb about John Murtha's friends.
The fool did much to elect Richard Nixon and defeat Humphrey. Of course George Wallace had a big hand in that too.
FBI and DHS have been notified.
Ping Diana Irey's list.
Just a little blurb about John Murtha's friends.
Except for smoothies, milk shakes and pureed canned hams.
our goal was to push forward a peace process in Iraq that included the withdrawal of US troops.
And to grow our butts to enormous proportions.
I don't suppose this group included any torture victims from the days when Saddam ran the place.
Hunger strike? Has anyone seen these butt ugly, Code Pink cows? They look like they eat at Wendy's about 3 times a day.
I hope you're serious.
And I believe... Murtha & Dean have alligned themselves with Code Pink. It's all getting clear now.
"...we can help fund a peace walk to the Lebanese-Israeli border".
Yeah, right through a minefield, hopefully.
yes
Does anybody know who provided security for this 'delegation'?
As Mencken said when asked why he thinks Chamberlain went to Germany to meet with Hitler, " You can't kiss someone's ass over the telephone".
I wonder if they were able to come up with another $600,000. for the terrorists in Lebanon?
I do know my enemy. Their hope for "peace" is a catchphrase for their hope for the destruction of Israel.
al-Murthawi's friends are at it again!
They want the voices of the Iraqi Parlement heard here? Didn't Medea PROTEST the Prime Minister and try to silence his voice?
War takes attention away from the commie class struggle. A strong America will make it more difficult to achieve victory for the masses. A strong America will make it harder to have a one world socialist, humanist government.
I'd have more respect for a 5 dollar crack whore then these pieces of human excrement.
I will not be satisfied until direct military action is taken against these people.
He was no fool, but a calculating, committed, Marxist terrorist.
They didn't want Humphrey to win (too moderate).
They wanted to create havoc and disruption.
Hayden was part of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) which was behind what they called the "Days of Rage."
Believe it or not, Nixon played into their twisted plans.
As devoted, thoroughly brainwashed Marxists, they believed that as the country became more polarized, they could mobilize widespread unrest, and usher in the revolution their drug-addled minds dreamed about. As their "anti-war" placards proclaimed, they wanted to "Bring the War Home." They wanted to see bloodshed in the street all across America. The MSM played into their hands,as they are being played into the hands of the anti-US terrorists today, calling it the "Peace Movement," when in actuality, radicals like Hayden were all for violence and bloodshed against America. If you ever went to one of their massive "peace" rallies, you'd hear 'em chanting, "Ho, Ho, Ho-Chi-Minh - NLF is gonna win!" (The NLF being the National Liberation Front, the communist guerillas our troops were fighting in Viet Nam, which often were featured prominently on SDS posters.)
HF
Come on down to Walter Reed on Fridays. No hand guns allowed (It's DC).
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