Smaller Group Sees Inaction as a Greater Danger (Patriots Rally For America III)

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, January 19, 2003 | Carol Morello

[kristinn]

SNIP

The counter-demonstration that drew fewer than 50 people began with a morning rally near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and regrouped along the route used by the antiwar contingent. It was organized by Free Republic, which was formed to protest President Bill Clinton's actions, and another group called MOVE OUT, an acronym for Marines and Other Veterans Against Outrageous Un-American Traitors.

Many predicted dire consequences for the United States if Saddam Hussein is not ousted from power. Joel Kernodle, a retired Marine from Indianapolis who organized MOVE OUT, conjured up images of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol in rubble.

"If we don't stop Saddam Hussein today, tomorrow it might not be a plane, but it might be a mushroom cloud," said Kevin Martin of Baltimore, a former Navy sailor.

Aziz Al-Taee, a spokesman for the Iraqi-American Council, talked about fleeing Iraq in the 1980s after several members of his Shiite Muslim family were killed by Hussein's forces. His aunt was ordered to pay for the bullet that killed her son.

[kristinn]

I recommend reading the whole article. IIRC, this is the first time The Washington Post has devoted an entire article to a Free Republic related demonstration since the March For Justice, October 31, 1998.

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[Humidston]

This is amazing, Kristinn. Sorely outnumbered, yet getting all this publicity for our side!

And I'd like to add, all the people interviewed gave clear concise and thoughtful answers.

Good job, guys!

[freepersup]

I tip my hat to each and every one of you. Bully ! Bump'n it for the evening. Lights out... Great job Kristinn, and thanks for your effort today. Best wishes Washington DC FR chapter.

[Southack]

My, what an interesting flag that is that the protestors are waving (left of the Capitol building)...

Lenin shows up on the Red signs of several protestors here...

[kristinn]

Thanks. I wish our numbers were a bit better, but we're grateful to all who stood with us today. They did a good job on all fronts--especially with the media.

[Cindy]

LINKS OF INTEREST:

FREEREPUBLIC.com- Discussion Thread - Topic: "PATRIOTS RALLY FOR AMERICA" (011803)

***TALIBAN ONLINE - Posted by "She Taliban": "HAMAS WILL TAKE WAR OUTSIDE PALESTINE IF US ATTACKS IRAQ" by Nidal al-Mughrabi (January 18, 2003)

***WorldNetDaily.com: "INS READMITTING ARAB SCOFFLAWS High Risk Visitors Who Fail to Comply With New Anti-Terror Rules Let Back In" by Paul Sperry (January 17, 2003)

***ISLAM-ONLINE.net - News: "...TALIBAN REGROUPS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In a related development, Afghan government took steps Friday to tackle a reported regrouping of Taliban and al-Qaeda factions in the south of the country. Around 5,000 police have been sent to the southern town of Spin Boldak, near the border with Pakistan. Sources have told the BBC news online that some former Taliban activists are trying to re-group in the region. On Thursday, January 16, a humanitarian official said Taliban fighters are returning from Pakistan and regrouping around Spin Boldak. A growing number of Taliban fighters or former Taliban are gathering in the small frontier city, 600 kilometers southwest of the capital Kabul in the province of Kandahar, said the source, requesting anonymity. They were taking advantage of the porous border there.") (January 17, 2003)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "TWO U.S. PARATROOPERS HURT BY EXPLOSIVE-PACKED BICYCLE IN EASTER AFGHANISTAN" (January 18, 2003)

FOX NEWS (AP): "PAKISTAN ACCUSES AMERICAN DOCTOR, HIS FAMILY OF AL-QAEDA LINKS" (January 15, 2003)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "U.S. SOLDIER SHOT IN LEG IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN" (January 17, 2003)

[Marylander]

Nice work, kristinn and Angelwood. I'm sorry I didn't make a greater effort to be there this time to add one more rational voice to the effort.

The article in WP is truly amazing, but I guess they agree with Freepers on the Iraq question, so suddenly the DC Chapter has popped into existence. Amazing.

[kristinn]

One of our chants was, "Your Red Roots are Showing." The commies scowled at that one, hehe.

[kristinn]

We are at the mercy of assignment and managing editors for press. I guess we got lucky this time.

Earlier this week, I had to explain to an incredulous reporter that we don't do what we do for the press--we do it to send a message directly to the subjects of our complaints and any media coverage is gravy.

[timestax]

keep up the excellent work.

[kristinn]

Will do. This morning, actually ;-)

[WaterDragon]

The headline to the article is straight (almost) from President Reagan's first inaugural address. He said something to the effect that the sky won't fall on us if we do something, but it definitely will if we do nothing. Now, I'll go read this fascinating-sounding article!

[skinkinthegrass]

GOOD WORK :)

[FreedomPoster]

You and all the DC FReepers ROCK! bump.

My hat is off to you.

[Notforprophet]

Some of us have family and job responsibilities that preclude traveling halfway across the country for a rally, rabidone. Kudos to you for making the trip.

[lorrainer]

Earlier this week, I had to explain to an incredulous reporter that we don't do what we do for the press--we do it to send a message directly to the subjects of our complaints and any media coverage is gravy.

This is one of the most telling quotes of the whole affair, kristinn--that their side was mostly there for a FASHION STATMENT. Do you think it sunk in?

[CARepubGal]

John Armour = B1Bob? When did that happen? :-)

[Humidston]

Rabidone, I'm afraid there are many reasons more of us couldn't stand with you guys yesterday.

Some of us are ill, some of us can't afford to travel much, some of us have obligations at home, but that never means our hearts aren't with all of you who take the time and effort to stand on the line. Thank you for being there and thank you for supporting FR!

And now a Big Bump for excellent news from the press (for a change).

[Humidston]

BTTT for excellent news EVERY FReeper should read!

[Humidston]

ONE MORE TIME....

[Humidston]

No. TWICE more!

[Humidston]

I probably would've been upset as well, rabidone, if I'd had the chance to be there. Alas, the only DC event I got to attend was the glorious and fantastic March for Justice - which inspired me like nothing in my political life.

If I had a bucket of money and time to go, I guarantee you I'd have been standing next to you!

I suspect countless others would say the same. As it is, many of us are merely reduced to watching on TV and hammering on our keyboards at the trash commie pacifists who blighted our capitol yesterday.

Thanks for being there!

[jwalsh07]

We are going to DC on Tuesday night to attend the MArch for Life. Rest assured we will also be carrying signs supporting the troops and the President in his war on terrorist's wherever they may be slithering.

[Freee-dame]

bump for freedom and truth

[Taxman]

Thank you for your support yesterday. Glad you thought it worthwhile.

[Taxman]

BTW, chant of the day:

"We gave peace a chance, and all we got was 9-11!"

Shutem down every time we used it -- and we used it a lot!

[FreeTheHostages]

Yeah, that was good. The fact that they carried signs saying "This is not about 911" -- LOL, that said it's all. It's like when someone says "This is not about money." Well, of course it is.

[Taxman]

You were wise to leave 8th & I when you did -- the Communists began to circle the block -- LOL! -- to "Swell their numbers!"

Missed you Sunday -- it was a lot warmer! And we did have some phun!

[Fred Mertz]

Howzabout a DC Chapter ping to this nearly neglected thread? TIA

[FreeTheHostages]

"You were wise to leave 8th & I when you did -- the Communists began to circle the block -- LOL! -- to "Swell their numbers!"

Yeah, but I'm looking forward to the after action report to see if I missed anything Saturday. There have been some tantalizing hints at a battle of sound systems between ours and theirs.

[firebrand]

This was actually a good turnout.

Come up to NYC on Feb. 15th if you can. We'll try to get some numbers out for this one too.

[RonDog]

One of our chants was, "Your Red Roots are Showing."
The commies scowled at that one, hehe.

LOL!

I plan to steal THAT one, as well as THIS one, the next time we FReep the A.N.S.W.E.R. RATs out here in L.A.:

"We gave peace a chance, and all we got was 9-1-1"

[El Gato]

Bump for later reading. Keep on FReeping!

[FreeTheHostages]

Taxman, where here on FR is that JPG of you with the "war" symbol. I'll be needing that ;)

[KneelBeforeZod]

[FreeTheHostages]

Never mind, I found it.

[LiberalBuster]

>>One of our chants was, "Your Red Roots are Showing." The
>>commies scowled at that one, hehe.

ANSWER is indeed a Commie organization. But, there are others (e.g. military veterans and conservatives) who do not support a pre-emptive war. They are neither traitors nor commies.

This broadbrush approach to labeling people is not only pointless, but it's ineffective. Maybe even worse. It lets the left invoke charges of McCarthyism, as right-wingers once again label anyone who disagrees with them as "Red."

[FreeTheHostages]

"This broadbrush approach to labeling people is not only pointless, but it's ineffective" I disagree with both points. First of all, I agree that there is a principled opposition to this war. One of our DC Chapter Freepers is sitting this out because he's opposed to the war. But second of all, ANSWER *is* communist. We're not making this up! Christopher Hitchens wrote a long piece shaming the mainstream media for ignoring this point. It's not "pointless" to point this out. You can't understand the CSPAN broadcast of their rally and their speakers if you don't understand who their parent organization is. They get involved in all these "hard left" issues -- such as freeing a convicted cop-killer -- that have nothing to do with Iraq. They implore from the microphone for a socialist revolution. No one has called everyone who opposes the war a traitor -- that would be an innaccurate slur against us to suggest we did so. We don't accuse everyone who marches of being a communist, but we remind the lemming liberals that follow under the Communist flag that they march under flags of violence. They know it and they're embarrassed about it. Hence, it's not "ineffective." Liberals who don't appreciate who ANSWER is may well think twice about marching with them again. Jewish people who note their anti-Semitic stands have in fact said they're not going to march with this organization again. The only reason ANSWER has been able to organize such big rallies is because people are keeping who they are a secret. But the secret's getting out. In fact, if you go to DU, there's a lot of hemming and hawing about whether people should go to ANSWER marches because, well, they're communists. Also, check out this this site. I think it's highly effective in persuading well-meaning fuzzy-thinking liberals to avoid ANSWER. By the way, I appreciate your comment. I'm not one of those who believe that people who actually attend Freeps have more say in what's said at them. That may de facto happen. But I know our signs have the FR URL posted prominently on them and I'll listen to anyone here. I just think in this case that you're wrong in thinking we should be silent on this point. ANSWER is avowedly, verifiably anti-American. So when the mainstream press says that the anti-war protests weren't, we surely surely should be pointing out that, well, the organizers ARE anti-American.

[Taxman]

My "mock hippie" necklace?

This heah's WAH!

ROFL!

[Taxman]

They were very loud, very profane and very obnoxious Anti-American Traitors. And, they smella bad!

What else do you need to know?

Oh, I forgot. They are very evil.

[Mudboy Slim]

"one of the organizers"

Which one of the organizers mistook John Armour fer Bob Dornan?!

MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"she was standing at the table on the side, handing out press packages and handouts."

Sounds like FTH...hey FTH, you tellin' stories that ain't true again?! Thought I broke ya of that...MUD

BTW...I still haven't heard the explanation why Bob Dornan didn't show, but FTH knew he wasn't there yet...LOL!!

[FreeTheHostages]

Mudboy, I think I was confused. Rabidone, not trying to trick you -- just I speak too fast or whatever. But yup I was handing out press packages. Sorry if I confused you to. Welcome to my world!

[Mudboy Slim]

"Welcome to my world!"

A confusing one it is...LOL!!

FReegards...MUD

BTW...rabidone, did you see me standing in between Dubyuh and Cheney?! I was trickin' you, that wasn't really them.

[FreeTheHostages]

"BTW...rabidone, did you see me standing in between Dubyuh and Cheney?! I was trickin' you, that wasn't really them."

That's not EVEN funny!