Former soldiers begin anti-Bush demonstration in Washington

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former soldiers and parents of Americans fighting in Iraq opened anti-war, anti-Bush "Camp Democracy" in the heart of Washington, a demonstration planned to last several weeks.

After spending early August near President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, and the end of the month at his family retreat in Kennebunkport, Maine, the protesters set up camp in the US capital between the Congress building and the White House.

Started by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, "Camp Democracy" will welcome pacifists, Democratic lawmakers, union leaders, environmentalists, feminists and those fighting for immigrants' rights.

Five tents will be open until at least September 21 for panels, protests and press conferences.

"We're told all the time we're out there fighting for democracy. No one knows more than we do that this war has nothing to do with democracy," Michael McPhearson, a member of Veterans for Peace, told reporters. McPhearson fought in Iraq in 1991 and has a son who has just returned from there.

"This administration does not want to have a discussion, especially with those of use who have lived the nightmare of what this war is really about," said Charlie Anderson, who fought in Iraq in 2003.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060905/pl_afp/usiraqdemopolitics

[deutsey]

1. Why do they hate the troops, er, I mean, themselves?

:evilgrin:

[saigon68]

2. Go get em Boys and Girls-- 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4

WE WON'T FIGHT THE RICH MAN'S WAR

[Monkeyman]

3. Dam we were young and dirty LOL

[Benhurst]

4. . . . and right on target!

[SpiralHawk]

5. Bush goes AWOL on the real Vets

As usual, Bush is AWOL.

[bluerum]

6. Now that is bravery. That makes me proud. Courage to speak out.

[gratuitous]

7. Gee, I'm sure the major media would love to cover this, but . . .

You know, it's awfully difficult to get a camera crew all the way out to Washington DC, and particularly to such a remote location as the street between the White House and the Capitol.

But let us know if a cute blonde girl is missing in Aruba. That we can send two or three full crews out for!

[rodeodance]

9. all the major media should have their satelitte trucks down there --day

after day.

[rodeodance]

8. Go Camp Go. Stay in their faces!

[proud patriot]

10. we must support this

:-)

[Xenotime]

11. It sounds like these boys have finally seen the light...

Good work, men. I support you.

[Blue State Bandit]

12. I'll be stopping down

later this month. Anyone with the time and the means should make a point of putting "boots on the ground", if even for an afternoon.

SoapBox4Truth.org

[jbane]

13. Too many causes represented there, that causes problems.

If you have people making speaches about every cause under the sun, the anti-war message gets lost.
I went to a rally against the war and it turned into a forum for all kinds of shit, they lost me.
Unemployed, disenfranchised anarchists that look like they belong at the "Burning Man" festival do
the cause more harm than good.

[Miss Chybil]

15. I agree. nt

[samsingh]

14. anybody who accuses these soldiers of being anything but

great patriotic Americans should be tried for treason.

[kainah]

16. could they have written a shorter article? n/t