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A Terrible Milestone Today
Anti-War Protesters Mark '2000 Soldiers Dead' Milestone
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
October 24, 2005
(CNSNews.com) - Anti-war, anti-Bush protester Cindy Sheehan reportedly plans to tie herself to the White House fence to protest the death of the 2000th U.S. soldier in Iraq -- when the 2000th soldier dies, that is. It could happen any day.
"I'm going to go to Washington, D.C. and I'm going to give a speech at the White House, and after I do, I'm going to tie myself to the fence and refuse to leave until they agree to bring our troops home," Reuters quoted Sheehan as saying. She expects to get arrested -- "and when I get out, I'll go back and do the same thing," she said.
As of Sunday, 1,996 American soldiers had died in Iraq, four shy of the number that protesters apparently have been waiting for.
Already, several protest groups have announced a "nationwide day of action" to mark the "grim milestone."
A group called Peace Action said it would join with other anti-war groups, holding hundreds of vigils, rallies and protests across the country the day after the 2000th soldier dies in Iraq.
"Participants will call for U.S. troops to be brought home from Iraq and specifically for Congress to provide leadership to bring our troops home," the group said in a press release.
Peace Action denounced President Bush's promise to stay the course in Iraq as an "empty platitude." The group says the continued "military occupation" of Iraq is feeding the insurgency, and they complain that the "quagmire shows no signs of abating."
"Bush and his administration are responsible for each and every death that occurred due to their invasion," Peace Action said in a press release. "We cannot sit and wait for Bush to change his mind -- that will never happen. And Congress will be culpable for the continuing loss of life to the extent that they allow Bush to sullenly cling to his fantasy of a Hollywood ending to his war."
Peace Action said the 2,000th death "marks a terrible milestone, one that should never have occurred," and it insists that "no more Americans shall die because of Bush's lie."
The American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, is among the groups urging immediate withdrawal from Iraq. The AFSC announced it has launched a campaign called "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar."
The campaign calls on Congress to stop the Iraq War by ending funding for it.
AFSC also plans to take part in protests across the country the day after the 2000th soldier dies.
Events range from candlelight vigils to the ceremonial ringing of the bells in memory of the U.S. service people, it said.
"The events will begin a push to urge Congress to use the power of the purse to end the war, bring the troops home, close U.S. bases in Iraq, and instead fund the human needs laid bare by Hurricane Katrina," AFSC said.
The latest Zogby America poll, conducted Oct. 19-21, says only 36 percent of likely voters favor an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq -- the solution the anti-war protesters are advocating.
According to the poll, 55 percent of likely voters want U.S. troops to remain in Iraq until the country is stable and can protect itself or as long as Iraq's government asks the U.S. to stay.
However, the Zogby poll showed that just 7 percent of likely voters are committed to remaining in Iraq "for a few more years."
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
October 24, 2005
(CNSNews.com) - Anti-war, anti-Bush protester Cindy Sheehan reportedly plans to tie herself to the White House fence to protest the death of the 2000th U.S. soldier in Iraq -- when the 2000th soldier dies, that is. It could happen any day.
"I'm going to go to Washington, D.C. and I'm going to give a speech at the White House, and after I do, I'm going to tie myself to the fence and refuse to leave until they agree to bring our troops home," Reuters quoted Sheehan as saying. She expects to get arrested -- "and when I get out, I'll go back and do the same thing," she said.
As of Sunday, 1,996 American soldiers had died in Iraq, four shy of the number that protesters apparently have been waiting for.
Already, several protest groups have announced a "nationwide day of action" to mark the "grim milestone."
A group called Peace Action said it would join with other anti-war groups, holding hundreds of vigils, rallies and protests across the country the day after the 2000th soldier dies in Iraq.
"Participants will call for U.S. troops to be brought home from Iraq and specifically for Congress to provide leadership to bring our troops home," the group said in a press release.
Peace Action denounced President Bush's promise to stay the course in Iraq as an "empty platitude." The group says the continued "military occupation" of Iraq is feeding the insurgency, and they complain that the "quagmire shows no signs of abating."
"Bush and his administration are responsible for each and every death that occurred due to their invasion," Peace Action said in a press release. "We cannot sit and wait for Bush to change his mind -- that will never happen. And Congress will be culpable for the continuing loss of life to the extent that they allow Bush to sullenly cling to his fantasy of a Hollywood ending to his war."
Peace Action said the 2,000th death "marks a terrible milestone, one that should never have occurred," and it insists that "no more Americans shall die because of Bush's lie."
The American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, is among the groups urging immediate withdrawal from Iraq. The AFSC announced it has launched a campaign called "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar."
The campaign calls on Congress to stop the Iraq War by ending funding for it.
AFSC also plans to take part in protests across the country the day after the 2000th soldier dies.
Events range from candlelight vigils to the ceremonial ringing of the bells in memory of the U.S. service people, it said.
"The events will begin a push to urge Congress to use the power of the purse to end the war, bring the troops home, close U.S. bases in Iraq, and instead fund the human needs laid bare by Hurricane Katrina," AFSC said.
The latest Zogby America poll, conducted Oct. 19-21, says only 36 percent of likely voters favor an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq -- the solution the anti-war protesters are advocating.
According to the poll, 55 percent of likely voters want U.S. troops to remain in Iraq until the country is stable and can protect itself or as long as Iraq's government asks the U.S. to stay.
However, the Zogby poll showed that just 7 percent of likely voters are committed to remaining in Iraq "for a few more years."
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