Flight of the Desert Eagle - Gathering of Eagles - Tucson After Action Report 3/17/2007

AmericanProtest.net ^ | 03/23/2007 | Wayne Boettcher

[\/\/ayne]

Flight of the Desert Eagle

Day was breaking with another beautiful Arizona sunrise as I pulled out of my driveway with a pickup truck loaded down with signs, flags, pavilions, sidewalk cleaning kit and a generator to help set up "Gathering of Eagles - Tucson" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The emails were sent, the flyers handed out and posted, the cross-country caravan encouraged, the radio stations called and AmericanProtest.net had even given a local Fox News TV interview. Now we just had to set up and have a rally!

It all started when Jane Fonda returned to "anti-war" activism in Washington DC this January at a protest in which the Capital Building steps were spray-painted. Her next protest was scheduled to be near the Vietnam Memorial wall. It seems like these actions were a serious mistake for her side and indeed, I certainly can't think of any better way to get Americans roused to action. Vietnam Veterans started the "Gathering of Eagles" to protect the Vietnam wall from spray paint and counter "Hanoi" Jane.

Tucson has a short history of protests on this Spring weekend, which is the anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2005, President Bush visited the same weekend and 500 liberal protesters turned out. In 2006, their plan was to march from a park to the Military Recruiting Center and trash it. However, 100 Pro-Americans occupied the center against their 200 marchers and the scheme was foiled. This year, their wacky action included demonstrating at one gate of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, then marching to another and picketing it, in spite of the fact that the Air Force does not dictate foreign policy.

Since Fonda's protest was marching on the Pentagon in Washington DC, it seemed to fit in with what they were doing here. I contacted Gathering of Eagles and received permission to join them and call our counter-action "Gathering of Eagles - Tucson." Here the left wing activists probably only planned to chalk up the sidewalk for vandalism, since they knew the Tucson Police Department would stop any spray painting. I pre-empted the strike by planting the story here and there that we would wash off any sidewalk chalking immediately and assembled a cleaning kit of a large water container, dish soap and hard bristle push broom.

I got to the Craycroft gate at 7:00 am to meet about twenty stalwart veterans, military family members and patriotic citizens who began to set up the 100 or so "River of Flags" consisting of American, military branch and patriotic flags. My friend Jeff from previous protests came early to help set up and wore his AmericanProtest.net Christian T-shirt to remind himself not to yell uncouth slogans at what retired Marine Colonel Frank called the 'Gathering of Turkeys." Many Tucson Eagles wore black "Infidel" t-shirts with white lettering. It takes a lot of work to set up so many flags and banners, but it's done on a weekly basis here in Tucson to support the troops. It's worth it just to see one smile on a soldier's face.

As we set up, many entrants to the Davis-Monthan Air Show and people driving by honked, smiled and waved to show their support for the troops. This year DM didn't advertise much, perhaps for security reasons. The normal traffic jams that usually accompany the show were not so bad this time. More "Gathering of Eagles - Tucson attendees showed up, especially at the announced time of 10:00 am. Soon we reached about 90 people at both gates. They received an armband and either took a sign or had their own. Some held flags; I noted one vet who waved his Army flag proudly. Time passed. We wondered if anyone would show up on the moonbat side for their scheduled time of 11:00 am with march at 11:30 am to another gate at Swan and Golf Links.

Finally two liberals from World Can't Wait appeared, looking very puzzled at our display. After a few minutes more showed up in a big way. The other moonbats must have met at the park and come over in a group. Even though we occupied all four corners of the intersection and the protest permit rules of Tucson are on a "first come, first served" basis, we decided to concede the NW corner. This would not only avoid trouble but also allow a contrast so passing people could tell which side to root for. We had the other three corners after I led a team to the NE to flank them and sign the Golf Links traffic before it got to them. The moonbats numbered about 50 and swelled to 70 by the time of the march.

I was on the NW corner when they arrived and noted a few familiar faces. In the minds of the left wing, there's just no way to support the military like showing them flag draped coffins but this time they had a new wrinkle. Perhaps stung by AmericanProtest.net's constant calling out of their casket displays in previous columns, this year's flag draped boxes used a "clever" ruse. One cardboard coffin had Constitution painted on the side, the other displayed the number 600,000 to bolster their false accusations that American military personnel kill Iraqi civilians on purpose.

While the flags are draped, the letters and numbers written on the "coffins" are obscured so moonbats can present their usual theatrics in front of military bases, hospitals or recruiting centers. However, if anyone were to point out how disgusting this sort of thing is, they can piously raise the flag and say "See, it's not soldiers in that coffin but the Constitution! You can see how patriotic we are." Yes, we do see. Ironically, almost every "anti-war" liberal supports the Roe V. Wade decision that violates Constitutional principles. The approximately 47,000,000 abortions that have occurred since that court case far outnumber their "600,000" fraud.

Last year's rally included a Protest Warrior secret action called Operation Signpost where small posters were placed along the march route. When they tore the poster down another was underneath. This year a new Secret Weapon of the Pro-Americans was revealed. It was an antique Army truck festooned with flags and sporting a powerful bullhorn wielded from the turret. Every few minutes it would drive by; a mobile podium. The moonbats heard a lot of speeches that day.

At 11:30 am, some people from their side crossed over to the SW corner to cause trouble and try to start a fight. Some from our side sought to "block" them with flags and yelled at them to go back! However, it was all a bluff. We had to let them stand there and we knew it. The Tucson Police Department Motorcycle Squad zoomed over to make sure there was no trouble as several moonbats stood on the SW corner tightly surrounded by patriots. Immediately I crossed over from the NE side to their NW corner in another flanking maneuver, causing an uproar in their midst.

Many demanded to know why I was protesting Communism but I just laughed, asking if they knew who organized the rally they were attending. The usual group were yelling, screaming and cursing so I laughed again.

"You don't want to debate, you just want to yell. Look at you, all yelling at the same time. You know I would win any discussion so you just shout at me." Either my beatific smile or my words caused them to calm down long enough for me to relate that Communism killed over 100,000,000 people in the 20th Century while all the wars put together killed 35,000,000. One man tried to respond but his torrent of angry words became so laced with profanity that his conversation grew meaningless.

"Come on, let's march," ordered the Organizational Secretary for Communist Party USA in Arizona who was the organizer of the protest through the "Tucson Peace Action Coalition" front group. He took off quickly Westward on Golf Links and the others followed in a random fashion, trudging wearily through the hot desert sand. I had drunk a lot of water but now was out. However, I took off after their march, trailing them by 100 feet with my "Say No To Communism" sign warning cars of the march ahead. The traffic was extremely light, reminding me of a Sunday morning.

One liberal stayed back and discussed politics with me on the march. I was able to explain that WMD were found in Iraq and others moved to Syria, there was a prewar terrorist connection, that the troops are successful in Iraq and there is no reason to protest military bases because they don't make foreign policy. I gave him some articles to back up my statements. He was a nice guy but a sneering moonbat also came back who was more abrasive. Refusing any articles, he boasted he could debate any right wingers and win, but failed to demonstrate his professed ability.

Some Eagles marched on the South Side as well. When the liberals got to the Swan Gate they found another Gathering of Eagles team holding the SE and SW corners so the liberals took mostly the NE corner. The truck continued to circle the area and give speeches. I stayed 100 feet East of the protest and handed out articles to those who would take them as protesters straggled away slowly. The "Organizational Secretary" of Communist Party USA in Arizona berated me for mistaking him for the "District Leader" of Communist Party USA in Arizona so I agreed to correct that in my columns.

I met three other Communists who denied they were protesting the military when I challenged them on why they were in front of the military base. One related how they were only protesting the military's "actions," however; I explained their claim that the military should all just lay down their arms and quit showed they were indeed protesting the troops. Strangely, they insisted the phrase "From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need" is not a Communist concept, although they also said they were highly educated and smarter than me. One young Communist gave me some water for which I was grateful.

Finally all the liberals were gone except a 9/11 conspiracy theorist waiting for a ride. A badly spray painted peace sign leaned against a low concrete wall like some kind of demented pop art parody. I hitched a ride back to the Craycroft gate on the Army truck and thrilled to the patriotic honks and yells we got from the cars around us. People love America, and as long as they do, we can successfully stand against despicable left wing attempts to demoralize our troops and nation. In Washington DC, Fonda was a no show while at least 30,000 Eagles countered a few thousand moonbats who found themselves unable to desecrate the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Click to this column next week to read how 10 remnants of the Gathering of Eagles - Tucson countered 150 Moveon.org members in a valiant move to stand up for the troops - and America!

Related Links:

"Something I hold so dear" - AmericanProtest.net 03/18/2006

Speed of Thought Blog

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

[\/\/ayne]

Freeper \/\/ayne is interviewed for local Fox News TV about Gathering of Eagles and Gathering of Eagles - Tucson on Friday.		(Above) One of Tucson's Eagle flags.
(Above) Arizonans have a special place in our hearts for Native American Troops		(Above) Gathering of Eagles - Tucson arrived early and got set up fast.
(Above) The extremely logical Radio Host Charles Heller (with bicycle) has three shows, Swap Shop, Liberty Watch and America, Armed and Free. His website has archives.		(Above) Let's take a closer look at that folding bicycle!
(Above) Eagles gather, moonbats scatter!		(Above) These kids have some great signs and helped out a lot.
(Above) It's good for serving troops to know that veterans are proud of them. Gathering of Eagles told them in a big way.		(Above) A determined veteran Eagle will let nothing stop him from supporting the troops!
(Above) These Eagles are talking about "making a run."		(Above) Two moonbats arrive and are shocked to find Eagles have built a nest! Drive out the Bush Regime, Saddam can't wait! On second thought...
(Above) The Gathering of Eagles - Tucson Army truck was a mobile speech platform.		(Above) Another 9/11 Conspiracy Anti-Imperialist next to a Honk Peace lady.
(Above) Coffin to be shown to troops at military installations with flag draped. If someone is disgusted they can pull the flag back, show the lettering and pretend it's all about the Constitution. A "clever" ruse.		(Above) Down at the Swan Gate. There were no UN Flags this year and little of last year's big production. The Tucson Police Department Bicycle Squad kept order with their usual non-biased professionalism.
(Above) This sign was accidently held upside down for a long time and then they left it sideways. After I mentioned in internet postings and on a radio call-in that the moonbat side could be recognized by their UN flags and ours by American flags, they didn't bring any. Coincidence?		(Above) Meanwhile, back at the Craycroft Gate, things were just fine in the shady section.
(Above) I sang the Marine song many times and all the other military branch theme songs, too.		(Above) A very nice family of Eagles. The man on the right is joining the Army.

You have to click this photo below and go to the Speed of Thought Blog to see the rest of his pictures. I had no idea this was going on because I was invading the moonbat corner from their left flank while they were attacking here! Also there is a video from local news.

You have to click this photo below and go to the Speed of Thought Blog to see the rest of his pictures. I had no idea this was going on because I was invading the moonbat corner from their left flank while they were attacking here! Also there is a video from local news.

Here are some extra things for FReep report:

1. We had the Downtown Plaza and Recruiting center covered so in case they tried to go there we would know it.

2. It was really great to be part of Gathering of Eagles and hear the news from DC about the great victory there. We all cheered.

3. I called a radio station after GOE-T and corrected the title of the Communist Party USA leader.

4. FReepers attending were Superman-Z, \/\/ayne and Lurker Pat. Protest Warrior attendees were harmsninjagirl and Speed of Thought blog.

5. I was astounded when the three Stooges Communists told me that the phrase "From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need" is not a Communist concept. Turns out they were the ones that went across the street.

6. We policed the area before we left and the moonbats cleaned up their area, too. Possibly that's because in some internet postings about Gathering of Eagles I called for volunteers to clean up their area and scrub sidewalks after they left. "See, we didn't chalk the sidewalks!" boasted a moonbat who reads my columns as they left.

7. A young lady refused an article on Communism and cursed me out as she left. 8. Another young lady said her father was a Retired Colonel and he was against the war as if that should settle everying.

"That doesn't make any difference to me," I replied casually.

"What was your rank in the military?" the young person pouted.

"Specialist," I noted with pride. Not many make E-4 in a two year enlistment.

"You realize how much higher in rank a Colonel is?" she sniffed haughtily.

"Benedict Arnold was a General. That's even higher than your Dad!" I laughed.

She had to go so I didnt get to tell her we had 3 or 4 retired Colonels on our side.

9. If I remember or get any other info I'll add to this but I'm posting it now!

10. Some people want to know about the Infidel T-shirts, they are totally non-profit, some Pro-Americans made them and just sell for cost. We have some left if you call (520) 514-5839.

11. The Eagle flags you see came from UnCommon USA

[mdittmar]

Thanks for the report,great job.

[wastedyears]

***Click to this column next week to read how 10 remnants of the Gathering of Eagles - Tucson countered 150 Moveon.org members in a valiant move to stand up for the troops - and America!***

Appreciated if would post this in a week's time.

[jokar]

BTTP

[\/\/ayne]

Appreciated if would post this in a week's time.

It's quite a story. Move-on said to bring a candle. I thought they said bullhorn. So... I promise it will be here next week!

[Earthdweller]

Wow!! Great job!

I want one of those Eagle's flags!

[WVNan]

I intend to have 2 of them.

[tgslTakoma]

Thank you to all Tucsonians (?) who stood out in the hot sun on March 17th for the Tucson GOE. I love reading your After Action Reports, Wayne. Thanks for all you do!

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

HOOAH!

[MonTinaGirl]

"Benedict Arnold was a General. That's even higher than your Dad!" I laughed.

Excellent. :)

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

OUTSTANDING!

And thanks for "extra things" number 11. You read my mind as I covet that flag.

[freema]

GOE-T PING! Wonderful report, wonderful pictures.

[bmwcyle]

Great job with the commies. Love it and keep it up.

[AliVeritas]

Outstanding \/\/ayne, Eagles Up!

It looks as if all of us will have to get together again soon all over the country... after Brother Ho and Pol Pot's gang porked up the funds for our troops.

[AZamericonnie]

Simply outstanding! Thank You for the AAR & the ping!

[Mr. Silverback]

"Benedict Arnold was a General. That's even higher than your Dad!" I laughed.

Beautiful! Great minds think alike...this was the end of a column I wrote on Kerry in '04:

Kerry’s post-service activities remind me of another officer, a man who left wealth to fight for our country.
He was wounded on foreign soil while defending American liberty, and wounded again in a death-defying action that saved the lives of American fighting men.

His name? Benedict Arnold.

[Mr. Silverback]

Oops, forgot to mention...Outstanding action and AAR, and thanks from an Air Force vet for defending our base from the moonbats. Eagles up!

[El Gato]

The Tucson Police Department Motorcycle Squad zoomed over to make sure there was no trouble as several moonbats stood on the SW corner tightly surrounded by patriots

If they were on the corner which you had a permit for, and you'd already allowed them to have another corner you had a permit for, why did the police not arrest their sorry a$$es? Or at least force them back to the corner you lent them.

[trooprally]

Once again you all outwitted the moonbats and made them change their plans. Your enthusiastic crew is a model for all FReeps.

Thanks for extending GoE beyond the D.C. event. There were so many that wanted to make it to D.C. but couldn't. You showed them how to participate.

And great pics!

[Mr] T

[\/\/ayne]

If they were on the corner which you had a permit for, and you'd already allowed them to have another corner you had a permit for, why did the police not arrest their sorry a$$es? Or at least force them back to the corner you lent them.

There is no permit system in Tucson so we didn't actually have one. Whoever gets there first usually "has" the area and often a side will "concede" a section in the interests of contrasting the two sides.

Otherwise, the other side just mixes in! For instance, on Monday 150 Moveon activists conceded a corner to us for an intersection action, although some invaded anyway. I used peaceful means to get most to leave. (singing)

So yes, they were allowed to come to our corner. However, we were also allowed to go to theirs! That's why, when they crossed from NW to SW corner on Saturday, I crossed from NE to NW in a flanking maneuver and stood amongst them with giant "Say No To Communism" sign.

When we got to the other gate, the Bicycle Police Squad there has more experience with protests and just ordered the two sides to stay apart. Nobody minded me being on their side because I stayed 100 feet before them and didn't cause trouble. Some people on our side thought that was unfair because we couldn't "invade" them after they did it to us. But a lot of them didn't know that I had invaded on the other corner. It was just two different police squads who tried different ways of dealing with protests.

[\/\/ayne]

Maybe this color coded chart will help:

[trooprally]

Once again you showed your Mastery with your map and time line. Great stuff.

Keep up the good work.

[Mr] T

[oneamericanvoice]

God bless you all for this courageous stand against those who aid and abett our enemies!

There are a number of us who stand against EMU (Evil Moonbat Union) weekly, and did so in Hollywood that Saturday. ANSWER claims they had 50,000 people, which is a complete lie. They might have had 3,000 to 5,000 at the most. But what do you expect from the Commies. We had far fewer than even you did, but what we lacked in bodies was made up for in spirit! We will continue on Friday and Sunday as has been our tradition since the war began. We will continue as long as the troops continue! Our Sunday rally just celebrated its fourth year! And the moonbats have been defeated! The Friday rally has gone on for about 3 1/2 years, but the moonbats continue across the street. So if you are ever in LA, please come out and help!

Again, GOD BLESS!

[\/\/ayne]

Appreciated if would post this in a week's time.

Click here for the story of how 10 Pro-Americans stood against 150 Moveon moonbats!