As most Americans spent the week reflecting a year after the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, protesters in Westwood spent Saturday
arguing that war with Iraq would be like a terrorist attack.
“George W. Bush is a terrorist just like bin Laden. He
stole the presidency and now he is trying to steal the
world,” said Janell Koch, who attended the rally.
A diverse group of over 300 marched in front of the Los Angeles
Federal Building in Westwood urging for peace.
President Bush spent last week trying to persuade Americans and
foreign governments that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United
States.
In a speech before the United Nations on Thursday Bush said,
“Saddam Hussein’s regime is a grave and gathering
danger” with the infrastructure needed to produce nuclear
weapons .
While Bush wants to launch a military strike against Iraq before
this happens, protesters argued U.S. bombing would cause
unnecessary civilian casualties.
“I am against the terrorist foreign policy of the United
States government,” said local Green Party activist Sasha
Karlik.
An attack by the United States could also provoke a terrorist
attack or unite Islamic nations against the U.S., some activists
warned.
“I think any attack by the U.S. would start World War
III,” said protester Carl Roman.
Protesters also questioned Bush’s motives for waging war
with Iraq, arguing he only seeks more access to the Middle
East’s oil reserves while chanting “no war for
oil.”
The Bush administration is manipulating the American people to
start a war, said protester Ruth Caffery.
“They are completely exploiting Sept. 11 for supporting a
war,” Caffery said. “That’s completely
unjust.”
In addition to questioning this war, many activists said that
money spent on bombs would be better used for public services like
education and health care.
Many protesters, including former UCLA student Max Seaman, said
that they expressed the views of most Americans by opposing
war.
He is also siding with prevailing international opinion: most
nations ““ including many who supported the U.S.-led strikes
against Afghanistan ““ oppose an attack by the United States
without giving an opportunity for weapons inspectors to go into
Iraq beforehand.
Bush, however, made it clear the the United States is willing to
take Iraq on alone if the United Nations fails to “show some
backbone” by confronting Saddam Hussein.
“Enough is enough,” Bush said.
The rally’s leaders urged followers that this was the
beginning, not the end, of the anti-war movement.
With reports from the Associated Press.