Dozens rally against war in Iraq
Dozens rally against war in Iraq
By SARAH COOKE / Associated Press Writer
HELENA (AP) — A handful of Democratic state lawmakers joined dozens of anti-war activists on the steps of the state Capitol Saturday to protest President Bush’s plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.
Escalation of the war is “a Hail Mary pass, not a real strategy,” Sen. Steve Gallus, D-Butte, told a crowd of more than three dozen people.
He said sending more troops will only inflame the violence in Iraq and do nothing to end the four-year-old conflict, urging Bush to consider a new approach.
“Even here in Montana, about as far as we can get from Washington, D.C., we know that this war is costing America,” Rep. Michele Reinhart, D-Missoula, said. “This escalation will impose higher costs, more debt and more trade-offs for America.”
Gallus said he planned to introduce a legislative resolution in coming weeks opposing escalation of the Iraq war. A draft of the resolution is currently under legal review.
If adopted, copies would be sent to Congress and the White House. Similar resolutions are being considered in other states.
Though such measures merely express an opinion, Gallus said it’s important to send national leaders a message from their constituents.
“Military experts are warning that escalation will break the National Guard and reserves,” Rep. Art Noonan, D-Butte, said. “We simply cannot afford to have that happen. This resolution will make it plain that Congress needs to rein in this escalation and find a real resolution to the conflict in Iraq.”
Noonan said it’s “foolish” to think that “more troops dying” will make things right in the region, particularly given its history of violence over the centuries.
Dana Boruch of Missoula, one of the rally organizers, said she’d like to see a gradual removal of troops and criticized Bush for not listening to the growing discord over his plan.
“What are people dying for over there? For lies,” she said. “It’s plain not right.”
Nationally, tens of thousands of people demanded a withdrawal of U.S. troops in a demonstration Saturday on the Walking Mall in Washington, D.C., that drew Jane Fonda and a sampling of other celebrities. About 40 people staged a counter-protest nearby.
Democratic Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester sent written statements supporting Montana’s demonstrators, calling on President Bush to change course and end the conflict in Iraq.
“It’s time for U.S. troops to stand down, so the Iraqi government can stand up,” Baucus wrote.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070127/NEWS01/70127016
By SARAH COOKE / Associated Press Writer
HELENA (AP) — A handful of Democratic state lawmakers joined dozens of anti-war activists on the steps of the state Capitol Saturday to protest President Bush’s plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.
Escalation of the war is “a Hail Mary pass, not a real strategy,” Sen. Steve Gallus, D-Butte, told a crowd of more than three dozen people.
He said sending more troops will only inflame the violence in Iraq and do nothing to end the four-year-old conflict, urging Bush to consider a new approach.
“Even here in Montana, about as far as we can get from Washington, D.C., we know that this war is costing America,” Rep. Michele Reinhart, D-Missoula, said. “This escalation will impose higher costs, more debt and more trade-offs for America.”
Gallus said he planned to introduce a legislative resolution in coming weeks opposing escalation of the Iraq war. A draft of the resolution is currently under legal review.
If adopted, copies would be sent to Congress and the White House. Similar resolutions are being considered in other states.
Though such measures merely express an opinion, Gallus said it’s important to send national leaders a message from their constituents.
“Military experts are warning that escalation will break the National Guard and reserves,” Rep. Art Noonan, D-Butte, said. “We simply cannot afford to have that happen. This resolution will make it plain that Congress needs to rein in this escalation and find a real resolution to the conflict in Iraq.”
Noonan said it’s “foolish” to think that “more troops dying” will make things right in the region, particularly given its history of violence over the centuries.
Dana Boruch of Missoula, one of the rally organizers, said she’d like to see a gradual removal of troops and criticized Bush for not listening to the growing discord over his plan.
“What are people dying for over there? For lies,” she said. “It’s plain not right.”
Nationally, tens of thousands of people demanded a withdrawal of U.S. troops in a demonstration Saturday on the Walking Mall in Washington, D.C., that drew Jane Fonda and a sampling of other celebrities. About 40 people staged a counter-protest nearby.
Democratic Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester sent written statements supporting Montana’s demonstrators, calling on President Bush to change course and end the conflict in Iraq.
“It’s time for U.S. troops to stand down, so the Iraqi government can stand up,” Baucus wrote.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070127/NEWS01/70127016
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