Posted on 03/19/2005 9:45:51 AM PST by neverdem
Filed at 10:45 a.m. ET
LONDON (AP) -- Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters demonstrated across Europe on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, with 45,000 marching from London's Hyde Park past the American Embassy.
In Istanbul, Turkey, about 15,000 people protested in the Kadikoy neighborhood against the U.S. presence in Iraq.
But the rallies were nowhere near as big as those in February 2003, just before the war, when millions marched in cities around the world to urge President Bush and his allies not to attack Iraq.
With international forces still facing violent opposition in Iraq, protesters were divided about what to demand from leaders now. While some wanted a full troop withdrawal, others argued that would leave Iraqis in a worse position than before the invasion.
``We got the Iraqis into this mess, we need to help them out of it,'' said Kit MacLean, 29, waiting near Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner before the London march began.
Police estimated about 45,000 demonstrators marched from the park past the American Embassy and on to Trafalgar Square.
Some worried Bush might be planning another war in the Middle East or elsewhere.
``After Iraq -- Iran? Syria? Cuba?'' read one placard. ``Stop This Man'' said another, alongside a picture showing Bush with devil's horns.
One man carried fake bombs with American flags painted on them and a dartboard map of the world showed a U.S. missile sticking out of Iraq.
Security was heavy as the demonstrators moved past the U.S. Embassy. Cement barricades and metal fences blocked the building, as they have since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Two former British soldiers placed a cardboard coffin bearing the words ``100,000 dead'' outside the embassy.
``George Bush, Uncle Sam, Iraq will be your Vietnam,'' marchers chanted.
At the demonstration in Istanbul, two marchers dressed like U.S. soldiers pretended to rough up another, who was dressed as a detainee with a sack on his head, in a mimed criticism of prisoner abuse cases.
``Murderer Bush, get out,'' read one sign.
In the southern city of Adana, home to a Turkish military base used by American forces, protesters laid a black wreath in front of the U.S. Consulate to protest the war, the Anatolia news agency reported.
In Athens, Greece, about 3,000 protesters brought the city center to a standstill for three hours and painted outlines of bodies outside the U.S. Embassy.
Hundreds also turned out in Sweden and Norway.
``I think it's important to show that we still care about this,'' said Linn Majuri, 15, a member of the environmental organization Green Youth in Stockholm, Sweden. ``People have become apathetic about this, it's no longer something they walk around thinking about every day.''
With music and banners, marchers in Rome demanded the withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq. ``Iraq to the Iraqis!'' read one banner.
Demonstrations also were planned in nine Spanish cities including Madrid, Barcelona and the Basque seaside resort of San Sebastian.
British elections expected in May added a charge to the London protest. Prime Minister Tony Blair has been Bush's staunchest ally in Iraq, despite strong domestic opposition to the war, especially among members of his Labour Party.
Some at the London protest said they could not support Blair but did not know whom else to vote for. The opposition Conservatives strongly backed the war while the third-largest party, the Liberal Democrats, opposed it. Several smaller parties are fielding anti-war candidates in hopes of loosening Blair's hold on power.
``I think it's outrageous what Blair and Bush think they can get away with,'' said retiree John Salway, 59. ``I'd like to think we can put a dent in their arrogance.''
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Did thousands protest the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis by Sadaam?
For that matter, are they protesting Darfur, or starvation in N. Korea?
Unreal, these people think Saddam should still be in power and democracy in the Middle East is wrong.
While they may not say so, by their actions, this is what they believe.
When 10% of your population is unemployed and your economy is growing at a raging .03%, I suppose staging large street protests against a country that is actually DOING something to improve the world isn't that surprising.
While we have no problem with this, we wonder which Iraqis these protestors support. Iraq for the elected government, or for the terrorists?
I can't find anything about the protest that are supposed to be going on in NC. The media has been pretty mum about the whole thing.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Supporters of Jihad, doing their best to curry favor with Allah and his thugs.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Gosh! Golly! in fact, heavy on the Oh! No!
I am an American. America is the most powerful and most significant nation on Earth. All other nations are inferior; not because we are inherently better, but because of what we as a nation, culture, and society have accomplished. That being said, Europe can go stuff themselves. They are irrelevant.
Can't say I'm surprised. It wouldn't surprise me, however, if it was the old media in old Europe that orchestrated the protests.
UUuhhhhhhhhhh....
Someone should let these loonies know that the war is over.
Their side lost.
Go to this link to see pictures of Castro's Cuba. From the looks of it, a few missiles might do about a million dollars worth of improvements!
http://www.therealcuba.com/index.htm
WOW! looks like it's a worldwide flop. :-)
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