Thousands rally to pull troops from 2 war zones

WASHINGTON – Thousands of protesters — many directing their anger squarely at President Barack Obama — marched through the nation's capital Saturday to urge immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

At least eight people, including activist Cindy Sheehan, were arrested by U.S. Park Police at the end of the march, after laying coffins at a fence outside the White House. Friday marked the seventh anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"Arrest that war criminal!" Sheehan shouted outside the White House before her arrest, referring to Obama.

At a rally before the march, Sheehan asked whether "the honeymoon was over with that war criminal in the White House" — an apparent reference to Obama — prompting moderate applause. The protesters defied orders to clear the sidewalk on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House and park police say they face charges of failure to obey a lawful order.

Activist Ralph Nader told thousands who gathered in Lafayette Park across from the White House that Obama has essentially continued the policies of the Bush administration, and it was foolish to have thought otherwise.

"He's kept Guantanamo open, he's continued to use indefinite detention," Nader said. The only real difference, he said is that "Obama's speeches are better."

news.yahoo.com...

I had heard there was going to be anti-war protests...which IMO is a very good thing as it waned after Obama went into office.

Everyone screams about the social programs bankrupting us when it is THE WAR and our massive expansive military "empire" that is spread across the entire world that is truly breaking us.

reply to post by David9176

Everyone screams about the social programs bankrupting us when it is THE WAR and our massive expansive military "empire" that is spread across the entire world that is truly breaking us.

What's your price tag on the above?

Originally posted by jam321
reply to post by David9176

 

Everyone screams about the social programs bankrupting us when it is THE WAR and our massive expansive military "empire" that is spread across the entire world that is truly breaking us.

What's your price tag on the above?

$973,350,462,659 dollars?

costofwar.com...



[edit on 20-3-2010 by star in a jar]

reply to post by star in a jar


And not only that, some are estimating that the war in Afghanistan could last 10 years and the situation in the middle east is getting worse...not better.

Our servicemen are doing 4 and 5 trip tours....how long can we keep making them do this?

Suicide rates are the highest ever in our history for soldiers.

We've lost over 6000 soldiers...and who knows how many innocent people have died because of both sides...whether intentional or not.


I also think the reason Obama set a deadline to pull troops back was because he knows that our country cannot sustain this much longer....but I could be wrong. (Wouldn't be the first time that has happened nor the last!)





[edit on 20-3-2010 by David9176]

Over 1,366,000 Iraqi men, women and children and many thousands of Afghan civilians have been killed and that blood is on all of our hands for our gross inaction against the Bush regime and now Obama's. Over a million dead...no matter how the hawks slice it, is disgraceful.