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San Francisco Candlelight Vigil Commemorates 3000 Who Died in Iraq
While hundreds lined up across the street to pay $60 each to hear the Flaming Lips perform at the Graham Auditoreum this evening, about two dozen veterans and anti-war activists gathered in front of San Francisco's City Hall to pay their respects to the 3000 U.S. military personnel who have now died while serving in Iraq.
San Francisco
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Perhaps it's unfair to suggest that the mostly young men and women who were celebrating the last weekend of 2006 by attending a rock concert should have better spent their time honoring their counterparts: the ones who put on a uniform, followed orders, and finally failed to avoid that which they dreaded in their last waking days... a sudden or horrible death.
"After all," some in line across the street might say, "that was really their choice, wasn't it?" And, "what can we really do to change the way things are?"
What can we do to change things? Indeed.
Here is what a few people did:
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Perhaps it's unfair to suggest that the mostly young men and women who were celebrating the last weekend of 2006 by attending a rock concert should have better spent their time honoring their counterparts: the ones who put on a uniform, followed orders, and finally failed to avoid that which they dreaded in their last waking days... a sudden or horrible death.
"After all," some in line across the street might say, "that was really their choice, wasn't it?" And, "what can we really do to change the way things are?"
What can we do to change things? Indeed.
Here is what a few people did:
For more information:
http://www.afsc.org/3000
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Reuters repost for educational purposes
By Jeremy Pelofsky
CRAWFORD, Texas, Dec 31 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush mourned the death of the 3,000th U.S. soldier in Iraq, the White House said on Sunday, but cautioned war weary Americans that no quick end was in sight to the fight against terrorism.
Bush has been under pressure to change course in Iraq amid widespread public and political discontent. He is expected to unveil his new strategy, which could include more U.S. troops sent into battle, early next month.
"The president believes that every life is precious and grieves for each one that is lost," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. "He will ensure their sacrifice was not made in vain."
In addition to reaching the new milestone, December is the deadliest month for U.S. forces in the past two years, with 111 dead, according to the Web site icasualties.org. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have died in the almost 4-year-old war.
Bush, who is spending a weeklong holiday break at his Texas ranch, has been considering a range of options that includes a short-term increase in forces, but he has rejected the idea of a timetable for withdrawing the 134,000 troops now in Iraq.
Nonetheless, Bush has shown little desire to make dramatic changes to his policies despite voters giving control of Congress to Democrats next year, which was widely seen as a reflection of dissatisfaction with the Republican president's handling of the war.
Despite the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Bush warned that violence in Iraq would not end, and was quickly proven correct when suspected insurgents loyal to Saddam set off car bombs killing more than 70 on Saturday.
"Many difficult choices and further sacrifices lie ahead," Bush said in a statement after the hanging. "Yet the safety and security of the American people require that we not relent in ensuring that Iraq's young democracy continues to progress."
The Bush administration has argued that establishing a free Iraq that can govern and sustain itself is critical to winning a broader war on terrorism and preventing attacks from being conducted on American soil.
"We will be fighting violent jihadists for peace and security of the civilized world for years to come," Stanzel said.
By Jeremy Pelofsky
CRAWFORD, Texas, Dec 31 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush mourned the death of the 3,000th U.S. soldier in Iraq, the White House said on Sunday, but cautioned war weary Americans that no quick end was in sight to the fight against terrorism.
Bush has been under pressure to change course in Iraq amid widespread public and political discontent. He is expected to unveil his new strategy, which could include more U.S. troops sent into battle, early next month.
"The president believes that every life is precious and grieves for each one that is lost," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. "He will ensure their sacrifice was not made in vain."
In addition to reaching the new milestone, December is the deadliest month for U.S. forces in the past two years, with 111 dead, according to the Web site icasualties.org. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have died in the almost 4-year-old war.
Bush, who is spending a weeklong holiday break at his Texas ranch, has been considering a range of options that includes a short-term increase in forces, but he has rejected the idea of a timetable for withdrawing the 134,000 troops now in Iraq.
Nonetheless, Bush has shown little desire to make dramatic changes to his policies despite voters giving control of Congress to Democrats next year, which was widely seen as a reflection of dissatisfaction with the Republican president's handling of the war.
Despite the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Bush warned that violence in Iraq would not end, and was quickly proven correct when suspected insurgents loyal to Saddam set off car bombs killing more than 70 on Saturday.
"Many difficult choices and further sacrifices lie ahead," Bush said in a statement after the hanging. "Yet the safety and security of the American people require that we not relent in ensuring that Iraq's young democracy continues to progress."
The Bush administration has argued that establishing a free Iraq that can govern and sustain itself is critical to winning a broader war on terrorism and preventing attacks from being conducted on American soil.
"We will be fighting violent jihadists for peace and security of the civilized world for years to come," Stanzel said.
For more information:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N...
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