Military Families will speak out all over the US Tommorrow /Here's Why!

[KoKo]

Dear Members of Congress:

My father's name is Staff Sgt. Charles Pollard with the 307th Military Police Reservist Company out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a 22-year veteran and has been serving his country in Iraq for almost a year now. Ever since he went over there, I live in fear for his life. He writes to me every chance he gets and we try to send letters to him once or twice a week. I understand when he enlisted there would be a chance that he would have to go to war. He's done that and President Bush has called an end to the war in Iraq some months ago. When the tragedy of 9-11 happened I was scared, but I am more afraid now than ever. I am afraid that my dad will not come home on his own two feet but in a body bag. I'm afraid that he will not live to see me grow up, see me graduate from middle school, high school, and college and see my dreams and his hopes for me come to pass.

Allow me to tell you a little about our relationship. When I'm with my dad, he makes me laugh. We talk about what I want to be when I grow up. He gives me advise about boys and life. We talk about what we want to do and we spend a lot of time together just enjoying each other's company. He's a loving and caring father that is very attentive to my needs. What makes him unique to me is that, he is interested in every part of my life. I prayed that he would get a closer relationship with God and a few months before he was called to active duty he began to go to church more and got baptized. I was so proud of him. We need each other for strength and support as we learn the Word of God.

Since the beginning of the war President Bush has told the American people that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. He sent inspectors to investigate but they came up with nothing. President Bush stated that Iraq had links with terrorists like those who bombed the World Trade Center. But no proof has been found. President Bush had Americans afraid that we would have to protect ourselves from chemical warfare. My mom bought first aid kits and flashlights. She planned and drilled with us escapes routes and safe spots in our home. But, no chemical warfare. President Bush stated that Saddam Hussein lied about these weapons, but now that my dad, and other children's dads, moms, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters have died, were injured, and are over in Iraq, we find out that President Bush didn't tell the truth during his State of the Union Address and on other occasions as well. What this is telling me is that my dad may lose his life for a lie.

Many other children like myself, across our great nation, want their parents and family members home. When our forefathers developed this nation they stated that all people had a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I feel that my right to pursue happiness has been taken away from me, because having my dad in my life and with me brings me happiness. Please send our troops home to their families so they can be happy.

Sincerely,
Robin Tamara Ponton
Age 13

http://nc.indymedia.org/

[handywork]

1. What do people in the military itself think...

I have seen a few interviews, but do people in the military as a whole believe the war in Iraq was a good idea? and what is the overall feeling towards bush?

[KoKo]

2. Here's a good site showing what some Military families think. If you want

to check it out:

http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/


S t a t e m e n t o f P u r p o s e

BRING THEM HOME NOW! is a campaign of military families, veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and others opposed to the ongoing war in Iraq and galvanized to action by George W. Bush's inane and reckless challenge to armed Iraqis resisting occupation to "Bring 'em on."

Our mission is to mobilize military families, veterans, and GIs themselves to demand: an end to the occupation of Iraq and other misguided military adventures; and an immediate return of all US troops to their home duty stations.

The truth is coming out. The American public was deceived by the Bush administration about the motivation for and intent of the invasion of Iraq. It is equally apparent that the administration is stubbornly and incompetently adhering to a destructive course. Many Americans do not want our troops there. Many military families do not want our troops there. Many troops themselves do not want to be there. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis do not want US troops there.

[Mari333]

3. we are furious with Bu$h...the Vets, the military families

he has sent hundreds of our children to die in a fraudulent war, killed thousands of people, and wounded thousands of our kids and other people in his quest to fill the coffers of his wealthy friends...and cut vet benefits, sent our kids to a fraudulent occupation of another country in inadequate Humvees, lousy or no body armour, and provides little or no adequate health care when they return, blacks out the media coverage of the bodies returning at Dover, blacks out the media of walter Reed wounded, and then lies about the casualty rate, the suicides, the PTSD, and we are outraged..My sons unit says they all hate the SOB and his whole lot
read more here

http://www.mfso.org
http://www.vaiw.org

[DinahMoeHum]

4. A whole bunch of links for ya. . .

Military Families Speak Out: www.mfso.org

Veterans Against Iraq War: www.vaiw.org

Bring Them Home Now: www.bringthemhomenow.org

Soldiers For The Truth: www.sftt.org

Veterans For Peace: www.veteransforpeace.org

Veterans For Common Sense: www.veteransforcommonsense.org


and there's plenty more within those links.

The general consensus is: They are very unhappy with Bush & Co. over the conduct of this war, and their vote is up for grabs.


:kick:

[BeatleBoot]

5. sftt site doesn't work for me

FYI

on edit: meaning I can't access the site.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. OK, try it now. I had to correct it to "dot-org"

Silly me.

www.sftt.org


:silly:

[BeatleBoot]

8. Got it!

Thanks!!!

Is that Colonel Hackworth's site?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

10. if they didn't want to kill people

then they wouldn't have joined the amerikan military.

I feel sorry for the kids, though. Must be rough having a thug for a daddy.

[KoKo]

11. Kick

[Kimber Scott]

12. You're almost as heartless as Bush

n/t

[Mari333]

13. wrong...many are guard and reservists who signed up to help

in this country..not to be sent to a fraudulent war overseas based on lies.

[roguevalley]

14. remember that, boy, when you get drafted next year

[Qanisqineq]

16. WTF!?!?!

Apparently you don't personally know any soldiers. If not, you have no fucking clue what you are talking about.

[Qanisqineq]

15. My husband hates him

and claims he is going AWOL and moving to Canada if Dubya is re-elected. I know a bunch of other soldiers that think we should pull out ASAP and despise Dubya.

[G_j]

7. "largest demonstration in Fayetteville since the Vietnam War."

http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/what/campaign_news.html#fayetteville04...

Fayetteville March 20—All Systems "Go!"

Preparations for the March 20 demonstration in Fayetteville, NC--the home of Fort Bragg--are nearly complete, local veteran and activist Lou Plummer reports. The permits for the march and rally are in hand, the sound system is rented and so are the porta-potties. A series of small vigils in Fayetteville and a large billboard announcing the demo right next to Frot Bragg itself have helped spread the word.

Buses are coming from all over North Carolina and elsewhere in the South. Organizers are expecting as many as 2000 demonstrators, which will make it the largest demonstration in Fayetteville since the Vietnam War. Rally planners have set up a program which will include strong voices from veterans and military families, as well as a range of NC musical talent.

Local organizers have been doing outreach in communities, schools union halls and churches (the North Carolina Council of Churches is an endorser). Media coveraqe has been extensive, with Plummer from Military Families Speak Out, Chuck Fager from Quaker House and other activists appearing on talk radio programs and in televised soundbites. A long article on the plans just appeared on the front page of the March 11 Fayetteville Observer. It is posted below.
----

Demonstrators mobilize for anti-war rally
By Greg Barnes
Fayetteville Observer Staff writer

Anti-war demonstrators from throughout the Southeast plan to hold a rally in Fayetteville on March 20, the first anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. The rally — and a march beforehand — is being billed as the largest anti-war protest in Fayetteville since the Vietnam War.

Organizers include activist groups from across the state. They say they expect at least 2,000 people to attend the rally at Rowan Park, the site of a 1970 anti-war protest led by actress Jane Fonda.

Three days after that rally, someone set fire to Fayetteville's Quaker House, a resource center for soldiers looking for ways to get out of the military. The Quaker House helped sponsor that rally, as well as this one. Although the organization's director, Chuck Fager, expects a peaceful rally next week, he said he is concerned about the potential for violence.

A group called Free Republic may be planning a counter demonstration at the park on the same day. Free Republic has approached Fayetteville police for a permit, police Capt. Bill Simons said.

...more..
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/what/campaign_news.html#fayetteville04...

[KoKo]

9. Fayetteville is Key! If there's a great turnout it has to get coverage

because of Ft. Bragg..I've got my fingers crossed that THIS TIME there will be coverage by the media. Even if they only do it because it's a political season and they may sense "blood in the water" for Bush.

So much hangs on what happens tomorrow...