Danes rally against Iraq war

[cal04]

About 1,500 people demonstrated in Copenhagen on Saturday against the US-led occupation of Iraq and called for the withdrawal of Denmark's 525 troops deployed there.

At the protest rally, held three days before Denmark goes to the polls in a general election expected to return the centre-right coalition government to power, demonstrators waved US flags featuring skulls-and-crossbones instead of stars, and banners reading "No More War" and "Bring the Troops Home".

They called on the government of Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a staunch ally of the United States, to withdraw Danish troops from Iraq. "Denmark is part of the US-led occupation forces. It must pull out immediately and stop being Washington's lackey in this illegal and bloody war," the head of the opposition Socialist People's Party, Holger Nielsen, told the protesters.

"The debate on this illegal war ... has been stifled by the government in this campaign for the February 8 election because Anders Fogh know that it is a controversial and unpopular issue where he risks losing votes," he said. "This occupation has created even more terrorists," Nielsen said. According to a poll published last week, 69% of Danes think that the war in Iraq has made the world a less safe place and increased the threat of terrorism.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1658012,00.html

[merwin]

1. Why can't we rally as well as the Great Danes?

We say we want the US out of Iraq, but all we do is whine and complain.

History has shown that if we want something done, we need to gather EVERYONE together and publically hold our government accountable.

[shraby]

2. Possibly the difference is in the size of

the respective countries. Their country is approximately equal to one of our states. If our protests were limited to A state and it's population, you would probably see a similar demonstration. In this country, the demonstrations are less apt to make an impact because of the distance in miles between them.

[hector459]

3. Possibly the difference is the size of their "backbone."

Because we are bigger, we should be more effective with our protests.

[struggle4progress]

4. kick

[autorank]

5. With 69% against the war and Rasmussen expected to be re-elected

the Danes are a bunch of dumb shits. Oh, the war is so wrong but lets vote for the perpetrator, Rasmussen because.... They no different than the British. We don't need to look up to them if they put this bastard back in power.

[Pachamama]

6. "Danes are a bunch of dumb shits"? Excuse me, but nothing could

be further from that description of Danes....I am also offended by it, since I'm half Danish....

Ever been there? Know much about the Danish people? Let me tell you something - the Danish people are a kind and wise and peaceful people and they know more about democracy and what is right then any of us here in the US seem to know. My family in Denmark are no dumb shits....I'm also proud to say that in WWII they helped bring Jews to safety in Sweden when the Nazi's were trying to round up the Jews.

Trust me - if you need someone to turn to and even a country to seek asylum when the Bush Neo-cons are rounding people up here, Denmark is going to be a place you will happily go want to know and its people.

[Vidar]

7. Thank you, Denmark.

[croat]

8. Danish election

I still hope the Danes will put the boot to the Bush lackey in power, just as the Spaniards did in their last election.