A scary kind of anger...picture and article from WP..pro-war does not want free speech.

[madfloridian]

This kind of anger, both in the comments and the picture are overwhelming.

Veteran, others denounce marchers

As war protesters marched toward Arlington Memorial Bridge en route to the Pentagon yesterday, they were flanked by long lines of military veterans and others who stood in solidarity with U.S. troops and the Bush administration's cause in Iraq. Many booed loudly as the protesters passed, turned their backs to them or yelled, "If you don't like America, get out!"

The vets turned both sides of Constitution into a bitter, charged gantlet for the war protesters. "Jihadists!" some vets screamed. "You're brain-dead!" Others chanted, "Workers World traitors must hang!" -- a reference to the Communist newspaper. Some broke into "The Star-Spangled Banner" as war protesters sought to hand out pamphlets.

They are fighting for our freedom of speech, but they don't want us to have it. They are intolerant of our free speech. Jihadists, brain-dead...the culture of Coulter, I fear.

This picture actually is scary.



A U.S. Marine who served in Iraq yells at passing war protesters. Counter-demonstrators, who came from across the country, lined the route that antiwar marchers followed to the Pentagon. (By Marvin Joseph -- The Washington Post)

[babylonsister]

1. Thanks, madfloridian, for showing the other side of the story.

I don't agree, but will defend his right to say what he wants. I wish I knew what his pins said (yeah, I know, they don't talk).

[qnr]

4. "Support Our Troops & President Bush" and "Freedom Is Not Free" (Not looking at them

as I type this, so possibly not verbatim (as far as case goes, "and" vice an ampersand, for example).

[madfloridian]

39. We defend his rights, but he doesn't want to defend ours.

They say they are fighting for our freedoms, but they are the first to say shut up.

[MissMarple]

2. Does anyone know who organized this? And...

How focused is the anti-war movement, are there people working to sabotage it?

[bluedog]

36. Move America Forward...started this pro-war march

Move America Forward invites you to join us as we launch a national caravan leaving from San Francisco, California on Thursday, March 8, 2007 to Washington, D.C. where we will join "The Gathering of Eagles" for a giant pro-troop rally on Saturday March 17, 2007. We look forward to seeing you starting at around 9:30 to 9:45 AM on Saturday March 17, 2007 at Constitution Gardens.

[Catchawave]

38. Here's another group:

This was (FWD:fwd:fwd!) sent out to thousands of veterans' email groups, including my husband's old Viet Nam group...which I plucked out of the pile:

To: [e-mail] (HOG)

Subject: HANOI JANE/PEACE MOM CINDY PROTEST



All,



As most of you know, I'm a Rolling Thunder@ member. As some of you may know, there will be an anti-war protest on March 17th led by the subject named individuals starting at the VIETNAM WALL and ending at the Pentagon. Now, I'm hoping that the Pentagon can protect itself, but there have been threats of desecration of the Wall. I'm going for the counter-protest...I've had it to here (think up to my eyeballs) with the hate America first crowd. Nobody will lay a hand on that Wall. This is not a political thing for me but I am a Vietnam vet and I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!! Please note the call to action below, it's from the president of Tennessee One. If anyone else wants to help, let me know...I'm goin'...that's a fact. I've blocked out Bulldog's phone number down below, but if anyone is interested in contacting him, just shoot me an email. Sorry if this doesn't meet the standards of our group's email...



Doc Hal



2/12/2007



Okay, here is the latest. The plan is to be in Washington DC by 8AM on 17 March, 2007 to stand between the Hate America First bunch (Jane Fonda, Cindy Sheehan and the American Socialist and Liberation Party) and the Vietnam Memorial. They will not deface our memorial like they did the capital steps a few weeks ago. We'll be there to show the patriot side of America.



Tennessee Chapter One of Rolling Thunder is working on bus transportation to Washington DC leaving Friday March 16, dropping Eagles at the Vietnam Memorial by 8AM on Saturday, 17 March, and returning to Nashville on the 18th. Grey lines has quoted $4200 round trip for a 47 passenger bus. The only additional charge is for a room for the two drivers to get about 8 hours sleep before the return trip. We are going with a bare bones approach. Sleeping bags, ice chests with sandwiches etc.



We are talking with local banks to explore setting up a system to accept donations from the public to help fund the trip. Bus riders would make up the difference. Approximate cost per person for transportation would be $100 or less. We may be able to find a few folks willing to underwrite a portion of the cost. We have about 10 days to pull the plan together and reserve the bus/buses. We are making calls to members, veterans and patriots to get commitments and deposits for the trip.



We think we should be able to get 470 vets from Tennessee. That is a 10 bus convoy. We may need to charter buses from several different locations to make it easy for everyone to board and get going.



If anyone has other useful information or alternate plan please get it out there so we can sort this out and make it happen. Anyone who wants to discuss this with me can call me at (XXX)XXX-XXXX after 5PM central any day of the week. This is a call for all Veterans and patriots of America. America can not afford to let those who would destroy our country stick another knife in our heart like they did a little over thirty years ago. It's time to stand up.



Bob "Bulldog" Ousley

Pres. TN-1, Rolling Thunder Inc.



Helen XXXXXXXXX

Executive Secretary

Keystone Foods - LLC

Direct: (256) xxxxxxx

Fax: (256) xxxxxxxx

[e-mail]

[Labors of Hercules]

58. Twisting to make Anti-War = Anti-Our Troops, are they???

Fine, if they are such brainwashed morons that they want to go kill themselves to keep Repuglicans rich on Oil and foreign contracts, let them.

It won't keep me from protesting on their behalf, to keep them from being sent into harms way for the wrong cause.

[lutefisk]

3. Odd how they all look alike, except for the old guy in the beret

No doubt the vets have seen some bad things and really feel invested in the Iraq invasion for obvious reasons, but that's no excuse for missing the absurdity and criminality of this debacle. Their Commander in Chief is a fool and possibly a war criminal- deal with it.

[tblue]

5. They don't 'get' that we are on their side more than * & co. ever were or will be

This makes me very sad. I really think they don't understand what this war is all about at all. This country is so divided because our media lies and lies and lies. There's no Walter Cronkite to tell everybody 'the way it is.' And so people like this do not ever even hear the truth. Sad sad sad.

[babylonsister]

9. So true. If they are pals of Rush, Hannity, et al, they will never get the

truth.

[tblue]

11. These young soldiers are being played like a cheap violin

[Ninja Jordan]

6. I thought this was a Hillary thread

[tblue]

12. oh stop

[IChing]

7. His buttons say:

"Freedom isn't free"

"Support our troops
and President Bush"

I wonder if he is one of the paid ones
(I'm not kidding it is within the military budget for psy-op operations to promote violence on both sides)
I saw this during the Vietnam protest many times
Vets against vets and also psy-op operations.

[babylonsister]

10. No shit? WOW! He could be a plant? nt

[IChing]

16. He might be a citizen that thinks he is acting under

his own consciousness and volition, a plant, or he might actually being used by a psy-op operation.

I'm just saying the financing, organization of any far left or far right organization
should be held in reservation and scrutiny when anger and violence are used.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. You'd think CONTRIELPRO never happened from some

of the posts tonight

People cannot even fathom that we have taht shit going on right now.

[madfloridian]

8. I notice the right wing often refers to hanging those on our side.

I think Mike Reagan wanted to hang Howard Dean as a traitor.

I think Glenn Beck has wanted to hang people, or was it other means.

Coulter wouldn't have minded if the NYT got blown up, if I remember that correctly.

That kind of anger is not healthy for a country.

[tblue]

14. One of the Republic party's most reliable constituencies is the Sadist vote

[grannylib]

13. It's always mind-boggling to me how much hatred those on the right have

for the very freedoms they claim to revere and defend.
Of course, in many cases, it seems that we have the typical reThug response: freedom of speech is FINE as long as you are agreeing with me, and if you don't agree with me, you are with the enemy.

Some freedom, morans...
Yikes. The level of unintelligence is frightening.

[Virginian]

17. Assumptions were made.

Just because some of the pro-war counter protesters were dressed in cammies does not necessarily mean they are vets. They weren't even wearing Desert Cammies.

[tblue]

21. Actually, that's a great call! They could just be local yokels with nothing better to do than

cheer on a war they know they don't have to fight. Hard to imagine our enlisted would be so passionate in defending *'s war such a short time after the Walter Reed Bldg 18 story broke. Are we sure these aren't just some of T*m Del*y's staffers?

[Eurobabe]

18. Obviously the VA isn't doing their job, allowing these Vets to

come home with all this rage. PTSD anyone?

[fooj]

23. Scares the hell out of me.

Intense.

[Greyhound]

46. That is their goal, don't fall into the trap. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

57. Once more we share a brain, 48%er

See my post below.

[Contrary1]

19. They all seem to be able-bodied.

Maybe they should enlist, or re-enlist if they really are veterans.

The guy front and center needs a shrink to help him cope with his anger.
That's the look of someone who's gonna snap any minute.

[Auntie Bush]

50. I'd sure hate to run into that guy alone at night or any other time.

I don't think I ever saw such an angry person. Obviously he needs mental help in anger management. Looks like he's already a goner.
I wish someone knew if he had been been to Iraq or if he's just an angry person in general...due to the likes of Republican propaganda.

[CrispyQ]

53. It scares me to think about these types working for the police force when they return.

Yikes.

[Auntie Bush]

54. Can you imagine being tortured by someone like that? Horrors!

They are probably the type that raped that girl and killed her and her family. You must have to be pretty angry/deranged to do something like that. Republicans in general give me the creeps. Just listen to their angry nasty voices in call-ins on Washington Journal. They had a few on just today. :scary:

[nytemare]

20. Well, not sure, but if he was a Marine, why is he wearing an Army field jacket?

And, the guy in back with the BDU shirt, has no name tag on the shirt. The shirt looked like it never had name tags.

I thought the Marine's uniforms have the digital camo, and have been different for a few years than the Army's. Those are the same field jacket/bdu tops I wore when I was in the Army in 94.

[Skittles]

24. YES

Marines don't just wear anything :o

[Jai4WKC08]

35. No Marine would wear an Army uniform

Besides, it isn't a field jacket that he wore while on active duty. There's no name tape over the pocket.

I don't think many military service members would go out and buy a field jacket after they got out of the military. Most would already have one. The rest would just wear a civilian coat.

[nytemare]

40. Just seems like these guys hit the local Army/Navy store.

Honestly, field jackets like the guy in the picture were wearing were not really a loved item when I was in. Everyone was starting to buy goretex jackets. The field jackets were bulky, and not rain-proofed like the goretex. I don't see a Marine buying an Army item that wasn't loved. Especially the guy in the back with no name tag on his BDU shirt.

[orleans]

22. if these fucking republicans hate the freedoms our founding fathers

bestowed on us why don't they just get the hell out of this country?

who isn't proud to be an american? the patriots who ask questions, demand answers from our government, and want the truth? the patriots who continue to fight for our country and freedom in the courts, in congress, in protest? those who want this country to be the best it can possibly be?

or the mindless assholes who never question authority, believe everything they are told, and continue their attempt to erase american's freedoms?

to those pukes i say: FUCK OFF!

[VOX]

25. Why wouldn't this raging "U.S. Marine" give his name to the press?

If he indeed served his country in uniform, wouldn't he at least identify himself and his rank, and give a shout out to his unit, etc.? Wouldn't it make sense for him to to legitimize his cause by saying where he served? Wouldn't he be proud of his service and the Corps?

The Washington Post adds to the photo caption:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/070317/GAL-07Mar17-68493/index.html
"...A U.S. Marine, who said he served in Iraq but would not give his name , yells at an anti-war protester. His button shows support for U.S. troops and President Bush..."

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Good point

giving credencce to the post above about psy ops

[MsMagnificent]

59. Busted!

Oh look, it's another Yellow Elephant!
Such patriots! :puke:

[xchrom]

27. he's getting ready for his gay porno debut.

[bowens43]

28. This is the kind of raving lunatic that is representing the US?

No wonder we're hated everywhere go.

[Carolina]

45. I thought the same thing

If these lunatics demonstrate such hate toward fellow Americans, imagine the horror of the unrestrained hatred they heaped on innocent Iraqis, falsely blaming them for 9/11.

This nation is going to have hell to pay for generations because of Bush and bushbots like those depicted.

[depakid]

29. Send 'em right back over

Seeing as how they like it so much.

[Blue_Tires]

47. sums it up perfectly

[spooky3]

30. K&R for both the OP and the great replies to it.

[Vickers]

31. My guess: NONE of those guys are war veterans, and the beret guy

is the organizer.

These are just some freeper basement commandos who are picking up an extra 25 bucks for "supporting" Murca.

:eyes:

Let's see some names of these yahoos, and some DD-214s already.

[no_hypocrisy]

32. Children of Joe McCarthy obviously. Replace Communist with Jihadist

and you have the good ole days today.

[indythinker1776]

33. An Anti War Iraq Vet was spat on

yesterday by the pro war demonstrators. He was interviewed on CNN during the 7 pm hour by Rick Sanchez. I didn’t get his name. By any chance did anyone else see the interview and get his name. Spitting on a war vet is despicable and I want to let everyone I know exactly how these “Patriotic Americans” treat our vets but I want to have my facts right.

[Paladin]

34. Nothing New About This

These are the same sort of people who turned out to jeer at anti-war protests against the Viet Nam conflict in the late 60's. The same sort of people who, 10 or 20 years after the war in Viet Nam ended, admitted that they had been wrong. This bunch, at least those with a little intelligence, will end up doing the same about Iraq.

[Golden Raisin]

37. Sieg Heil!

[madfloridian]

41. Great post by someone who saw the pro-war group in action.

I found this at HEP by Holly J. I am sure she won't mind if I share some of it. This anger toward the protestors is worrisome. It is part of the culture of hate here now I fear.

http://howardempowered.blogspot.com/2007/03/meeting-other-reality-face-to-face-part.html

"We asked the overwhelmed policeman where to go and he directed us to the left. WRONG—we later found out the gait was only a half block to the right. We progressed slowly through the crowd of angry leathered flag-wavers. We tried to ignore signs like, PEACE SUCKS, TRAITORS and THERE NOT HERE (do they really believe that propaganda?). Where are our people? Our peace sign, still folded inside our bag, did not give us away to this crowd. My typically talkative children walked big-eyed following their Dad. We knew our way to safety was to run between the police, cross the street and step on the friendly turf on the far side. Police-sticked men could not slow us. As we ran across the street we could hear, "traitor-b!tch" shouted at us. I suddenly understood the police were there to protect us!

On the other side it was a completely different world. A river of people, 20 flowed between the leather-clad row and us. The sound of can drums, shouts of "Peace Now" and "NO MORE WAR" almost drowned out the shouters across the street. Numb from cold and fear, we decided we could best support the peace movement by staying on the grassy bank and cheering on the marchers while holding our "Pray for Peace, Act for Peace" sign.

...."The "anti-antis" continued to shout at the marchers, "Faggot", "Mother F**ers" giving the finger and adding. "We hate you". The young protesters sang back, "We love YOU" repeating it again and again. The green leprechaun for peace ignored the man spewing hate directly in her face."

[LaPera]

42. Pro war clowns, completely brain dead idiots...Total fucking sissies!

[kineneb]

43. looks like a bunch of misplaced soccer hooligans

complete with the dude in face paint. Losers, one and all. So sad, that they carry so much misdirected anger; perhaps their bodies will retaliate with an aneurysm or two.

[madfloridian]

44. Just posted this picture from Fox News in another thread.

I found it at FDL.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/03/19/late-nite-fdl-anatomy-of-a-conservative-sissy-attack/



It reads:

"Counter protestors outnumber anti-war protestors 3-to-1 at rally"

Yep, Fair and Balanced.

[Beacho]

48. Phony Vet

Why are there no insignia, name tags, or patches on his jacket? the guy next to him is wearing similar gear. I think Gathering Of Chickenhawks bought up some old BDU jackets at the surplus store and handed them out to give the impression that the protesters were vets.

[Beacho]

49. Here's another link to more info about this group

Bodyguard of Lies: Mobilizing the Militant Right

[madfloridian]

51. Also this link from Fire Dog Lake.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/03/19/late-nite-fdl-anatomy-of-a-conservative-sissy-attack

All this info should be shared with the WP.

[Beacho]

52. I guess you've heard about the DDOS attack at SadlyNo!

Such great defenders of our liberties, doncha know?

[madfloridian]

63. They are still doing the DOS attack today. Link. Maybe

http://feeds.feedburner.com/SadlyNo

[PresidentObama]

55. That boy in the picture looks brainwashed.

With such anger and that silly Freedom is not free button. And the even worse one above that says support our troops and President Bush. Doesn't he know George W. is the reason his friends had to die for a mistake?

:scared:

And since when is protesting a war make you un-American? Like John Kerry said in 2004...patriotism includes protest.

[Blue_In_AK]

56. The "U.S. Marine who served in Iraq"

probably has PTSD and doesn't even know it. I wonder how well he sleeps at night. (Maybe I'm just feeling cynical after watching The Ground Truth last night. I fear they'll all come back damaged.)

[AX10]

60. I want to see his papers.

That is not a real military jacket.

[MsMagnificent]

61. "Protecting" the Memorial?

Under guise of "protecting" the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, these people (cannot link to picture alone, photo *inside* the top post -- not referring to the the poster!)
actually prevented people (of which were at least 2 actual Vietnam Vets who were in Washington protesting and wanted to see it but were unable to) from visiting it? How 'free' is it that a group of civilians (not authorized for anything much less protection) can virtually surround, hence bar access to, a piece of public property?
If there were credible threats (of which I doubt) why wasn't official authorized security stationed and this vigilante-in-the-wrong mob disbanded and sent on their way?

Maybe I'm wrong, but this thing bothers the living heck outta me... I wish I had the ability to express it better and more fully.

[madfloridian]

62. Try the Firedoglake link.

They say it well.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/03/19/late-nite-fdl-anatomy-of-a-conservative-sissy-attack

""Step One: Invent a phony threat — for instance, to the Vietnam War Memorial

Step Two: Create a fake-nonpartisan campaign to 'protect' the memorial from the vile and vicious spitters-on and desecrators-of, who are converging on DC in a mammoth hippie tidal wave

Step Three: Declare victory! The Vietnam Memorial was saved!

"Say guys, I heard some hippies are threatening to desecrate various locations in and around Baghdad. Why don’t the 30,000 of y’all surge on over?

…Hey wait, where did everybody go?

Update: No such Park Service, ‘Parks Service,’ or ‘Parks and Service’ estimate has appeared in any form, apparently because the National Park Service no longer estimates the size of crowds at public events. No publicly available photo on the Web — although please correct us if we’re wrong — shows more than a couple of hundred pro-war demonstrators in any place at any time."

[madfloridian]

64. Only 1826 signed up for Gathering of Eagles?

"One would have to say that 1,826 doesn’t seem very close at all to the figure the right-wing noisemakers have been cheering about.

Then again, another petition for people who pledged to ‘be there in spirit’ has 4155 signatures, so maybe there was also a big pro-war demonstration in Second Life or something."

http://feeds.feedburner.com/SadlyNo

Read all of this, including the letter from the park service denying they gave out a number.

The site is down due to DOS attacks, but up for a little while.