May 1: a solemn anniversary

[ProSense]

Published on Thursday, October 30, 2003 by Agence France Presse

Bush Remarks on "Mission Accomplished" Banner Embarrass White House

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1030-06.htm

"Mission Accomplished", a military phrase associated with completing a mission, is in recent years most associated with the sign over the USS Abraham Lincoln as President George W. Bush addressed the United States on May 1, 2003. He claimed at the time that this was the end to major combat operations in Iraq. The sign became controversial after conflict in Iraq continued during the Iraqi insurgency and U.S. casualties mounted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Accomplished

Thirty-eigth deadly months (three years and two months) of the Iraq occupation (last twelve months in red):

Nov-04 137
Apr-04 135
Jan-05 107
Oct-05 96
Aug-05 85
Nov-05 84
Nov-03 82
May-05 80
Sep-04 80
May-04 80
Jun-05 78
Apr-03 74
Dec-04 72
Apr-06 70
Dec-05 68
Aug-04 66
Mar-03 65
Oct-04 63
Jan-06 62
Feb-05 58
Feb-06 55
Jul-05 54
Jul-04 54
Apr-05 52
Mar-04 52
Sep-05 49
Jul-03 48
Jan-04 47
Oct-03 44
Jun-04 42
Dec-03 40
May-03 37
Mar-05 35
Aug-03 35
Mar-06 31
Sep-03 31
Jun-03 30
Feb-04 20
Total 2398

http://www.icasualties.org/oif

http://www.johnkerry.com/action/deadline/?sc=e.20060418

[kath]

1. Kick - 3 years since "Mission Accomplished". So many senseless deaths

since then...

[havocmom]

2. Kick again

America, here's a good reason for a general strike among ALL of us, no matter where you stand on the immigration issue.

[ProSense]

3. The NYT on prewar coverage

The Times and Iraq
From The Editors
New York Times
Wednesday 26 May 2004
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/9/4621


THE PUBLIC EDITOR
Weapons of Mass Destruction? Or Mass Distraction?
By DANIEL OKRENT
Published: May 30, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/30/weekinreview/30bott.html?

[ProSense]

4. Thousands in NYC March Against Iraq War

Thousands in NYC March Against Iraq War

By DESMOND BUTLER, Associated Press Writer
Sat Apr 29, 2:01 PM ET

NEW YORK - A day after the military announced that April was the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Iraq this year, thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched Saturday through lower Manhattan to demand an immediate withdrawal of troops.

Cindy Sheehan, a vociferous critic of the war whose soldier son also died in Iraq, joined in the march, as did actress Susan Sarandon and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Snip...

One group marched under the banner "Veterans for Peace."

"We are here today because the war is illegal, immoral and unethical," said the Rev. Al Sharpton.

"We must bring the troops home."

Organizers said the march was also meant to oppose any military action against Iran, which is facing international criticism over its nuclear program. The event was organized by the group United for Peace and Justice.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060429/ap_on_re_us/anti_war_protest_5

[ProSense]

5. We can end this war!

We can end this war!

To end the war and occupation in Iraq, the peace movement must continue to press Congress to bring the troops home and support every effort to move them to act. Congressional Democrats under pressure from the peace movement have introduced various bills and resolutions that begin to move us in this direction.

The introduction of Sen. John Kerry’s Senate Joint Resolution 33 is the latest illustration of the power of the peace movement. It marks a significant advance in the movement to end the occupation despite its many flaws and assumptions.

The resolution calls on Bush to immediately convene a summit of Iraqi leaders, representatives of the United Nations, the Arab League and neighboring countries to reach a political solution for Iraq that will include forming a unity government. It further calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops. The resolution sets May 15 as the deadline for notifying the Iraqis of the beginning of troop withdrawal if Iraq is unable to form a unity government. The deadline will be December 2006 otherwise.

Snip...

If our goal is truly to end this occupation as soon as possible, we must use every available tool to build broad unity and divide the support for the war. To refuse support for the Kerry resolution or other measures that fall short of our ultimate goal is to put the goal on indefinite hold.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/9046/1/319