We're Baaaack!

I am going to post about our trip with some cool pics, laters today. Before that I am posting some Democracy Now! stories that seem especially relevant on the 4th anniversary of the war.


Protests Continue to Mark Fourth Anniversary of Iraq War

Protests to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion are continuing today across the country. In New York peace activists are taking part in mass civil disobedience on Wall Street. In San Francisco, activists are planning to stage a die-in at the Federal Reserve Building. On Saturday tens of thousands of protesters took part in a March on the Pentagon. Protests were also held over the weekend in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, and scores of other cities. This is former U.S. soldier Terry O'Brien, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

• 
  Terry O'Brien:"I'm basically here to support the troops. I think the only way to support the troops is to be here on the streets and demand that they come home and I'm here to support the self-determination of the Iraqi people."

In New York, protesters marched by the offices of Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer. The protest took place just days after Senator Clinton said she would keep troops in Iraq if she were elected president. The actor Martin Sheen and thousands of others marched in Hollywood.

• Martin Sheen: "This government, no. It does not represent the people. It's given us a horrible name, it's given us an obscene war, and they have no leadership, and no credibility. They are disgraceful. They all belong in the federal penitentiary, all of them."

Worldwide Peace Protests Held From Australia to Greece

Protests were also held around the world including in Australia, Chile, Turkey, South Korea, Malyasia and Greece. In Madrid, the Oscar winning filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, joined a massive protest of up to 400,000 people.

• Pedro Almodovar: "According to Bush, this war was going to be quick, it was only going to take a few weeks and it's been four years. I think that what's really disgusting is to read everyday on the papers the number of deaths in Iraq, that makes me feel so powerless. I find that frightening."

222 Arrested Outside the White House

In Washington, anti-war protests began on Friday night when 222 people were arrested outside the White House. Many were Christian peace activists who had just taken part in a prayer service at the National Cathedral. This is Faith Garlington who traveled to Washington from Atlanta Georgia.

• Faith Garlington: "We as Christians do not support his invasion of Iraq. We want the troops out immediately. We as Christian do not want, we do not want this war fought in the name of Christ."

Iraq Vets Launch Caravan to Build Opposition to War

Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War are launching a caravan today to visit military towns across the east coast to build opposition to the war within the ranks. Stops on the caravan include Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Jackson in South Carolina and Fort Stewart in Georgia.

Vigils Continue Outside Homes of Nancy Pelosi

Meanwhile in San Francisco and Washington, vigils are continuing to take place outside the homes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Protesters are urging her to cut off funding to the war.

Robert Gates: U.S. Will Remain in Middle East For Decades

On Friday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned that the United States plans to maintain a presence in the Middle East for decades to come. Gates made the comment during the swearing-in ceremony of Admiral William Fallon to become the new head of U.S. Central Command replacing General John Abizaid. Fallon is the first Naval officer to ever take the helm of Centcom.

Poll: 18% Of Iraqis Have Confidence in U.S. Forces

Opposition to U.S. forces in Iraq remains high four years after the start of the occupation. A new survey from the BBC found just 18 percent of Iraqis have confidence in U.S.-led forces. On Friday, over ten thousand Shiite Iraqis rallied in Sadr City to denounce plans for the U.S. to build bases in the Shiite neighborhood.

Australian Scientist: 1 Million Iraqis Killed Since Invasion

An Australian scientist is estimating the number of deaths in Iraq since the start of the conflict four years ago could be as high as one million. Dr Gideon Polya said "Using the most comprehensive and authoritative literature, and UN demographic data yields an estimate of one million post-invasion excess deaths in Iraq." In October researchers at Johns Hopkins estimated more than 650,000 Iraqis had died since the U.S. invasion.

Chlorine Attack Kills Two, Injures 350

On Saturday two Iraqis died and 350 more were poisoned when three suicide bombers drove trucks filled with chlorine into the offices of a Sunni tribal leader in Iraq.

PEACE