Feb 15 Rally

My Feb 15 was spent between Amsterdam and London.
London cuz i expected a huge rally but what surprised me was the early morning determined almost all white crowd at Dam Sq. in Amsterdam!
And i like the way the French are challenging the Americans!!
While we Asians/Muslims save our energies for future protests.

Naeem:

welcome and thank you for the write up...here in TO in -29C we had a great crowd...same in Montreal and other cities...and folks came with their young kids...and...hoping that they would make a difference...

wise words, ``Even if we do not succeed this time with Iraq, the human connections that are being made in this moment will be a powerful force for positive change in the future.``

..t

#1 by taimurmalik `` While we Asians/Muslims save our energies for future protests. ``

Saving for what?. Why not join the rest of the world now when it is the need of the hour?.

One man against the world

Uri Avnery

This war, then, goes much beyond the Iraqi problem. It is not a war against Saddam’s microbes. It is, quite simply, a war for world domination, economic, political, military and cultural. Bush is ready to spill a lot of blood to achieve this (as long as it is not American blood)

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-2-2003_pg3_4

Thank you for this!!

You know this may be another war protest, but for our generation this is globalization at its best. The coming together of people for a common cause to state their point. BRAVO to all that attended and made their point.

for those who can read Urdu:

http://www.jang.net/editorial/index1.cfm?ed_fullpath=http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/feb2003-daily/18-02-2003/editorial/index.html&top_fullpath=http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/feb2003-daily/18-02-2003/top.htm&cont_fullpath=http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/feb2003-daily/18-02-2003/cont.htm

temporal:

I second that.

Besides `the first sep towards success is the feeling that we can succeed!``

And I think its time.

Regards.

I wish I had been in New York. Or even Seattle.
and what you`ve said at the end Naeem, is what many of us here on the West coast are saying as well, that even if Bush says he`ll press on in spite of the protests (afterall, who are we to him anyway...), the connections that are being made will be a powerful force. It`s as Rahul Mahajan has written, na, they`ve taken the `public` out of `public policy`. I only hope that the momentum continues when and if the war begins (or continues by force, i should say).
Did Archbishop Tutu speak at the New York rally as well, or was he somewhere else?
regards
~~ana

I think USA will attack Iraq regardless of peace rallies. The silent majority of the US population does support an attack on Iraq. The Presidents` aides monitor public opinions very closely, and I am sure they know the percentages on this one, also.

However, what these rallies do is to make Bush think five times before attacking and committing excesses. Had the rallies not occured, Iraq may have been attacked by now. Hopefully, next time, they will make Bush think ten times.

The important thing is for the rallies to be transformed into political changes. One country has already been effected, and that is Germany. Schroeder won the election solely on opposing an Iraq war, with or without UN. He would have lost otherwise. If the land of Hitler can change so much, then maybe the land of Bush can change also.

On this site, the effect is already visible. The four or five people who were writing articles and replies supporting this war, have all of a sudden, stopped making any comments. Infact, now they don`t even support the killing of goats, what to talk of killing of human beings. That is quite a change in attitude. If their minds can be changed, or they can be quieted, then maybe others can be also.

I think some organizations should organize a public opinion poll in Iraq and get a professional survey of how many Iraqis themselves actually want to be, ``liberated`` through a US attack. That should once and for all put the patronizing argument of this war being for the betterment of Iraqis.

The world is truly caught in Tariq Ali`s, ``Clash of Fundamentalisms`` - OBL on one extreme and Bush on the other. It is important for everyone to not let either of these two succeed. More so in case of Bush, because OBL is already exposed, while Bush and his cronies are still able to hide behind a (hypocricy-filled) cloak of morality.

taimurmalik

the ``other`` people have been on the streets protesting, for the past year and a half - and some of us are only begining to realize that when white man is out. tsk tsk

Hey, I have been looking all over for our interlocutor Janab Waqar, the Handsome Arab-Persian_Paki. What happened? Did you guys scare him off? I was looking forward to more WAS remarks about the recent events and also the resurfacing of his mentor UBL.

Yoohoo, are you there Waqar mian? Next time I want to go to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and hopefully meet you pals there, the ones who tolorate Pakis and Indians.

I missed attending the rallies in the European cities (LHR & ROM) I visited during my recent trip around the world. It’s hard to demonstrate when one is making loads $$$$$$. Who says the economy is down?

Don’t get too gloomy about this possible (?) war in Iraq guys. All this is just BS. Just saber rattling. There is no palpable tension in the air. It ain’t gonna happen. Take my word for it. I know about the pulse of the society. If one is a good businessman then one can sense these things.

To ease your minds, here’s a joke that someone told me on the plane from ROM to BOM the day before yesterday.

A preacher goes to a nursing home to meet an elderly parishioner. As he is sitting there he notices this bowl of peanuts beside her bed and takes one. As they talk, he can`t help himself and eats one after another.
By the time they are through talking, the bowl is empty. He says, ``Ma`am, I`m so sorry, but I seem to have eaten all of your peanuts.``
``That`s okay,`` she says. ``They would have just sat there.
Without my teeth, all I can do is suck the chocolate off and put em back in the bowl.``

Naeem,

Excellent write up and contextualisation!

We were blocks away from the action and we knew corralling people into a ridiculously small space was an open invitation to very cold and pent up people...but, you guys had the right idea-bring friends and lots of them....when my friends and I finally decided to eat everyone in all the restaurants for several blocks where swamping them for food, restrooms-we all brought alot of money into NYC for that afternoon-and everyone was carrying signs, radios, and in the spirit that comes from participating in a democratic action...my bro and his friends came in by 5-everyone had pretty much dispersed and so he was a bit dissapointed...any word on the peace parties/fundraisers afterwards?

Info on the rally in London: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_19-2-2003_pg3_5

``A diverse contingent of around 2,000 represented Cambridge at the biggest ever rally in British history (two million-strong).``

Salaam Naeem,

kemun acho?

We need more participation from our Bangali friends here on CHOWK.

Good report.

You write well. Please submit more of your work.


Ras

Today I saw two banners on a bridge in Islamabad, both of equal size.One read ``Rally in connection with US Attack on Iraq ....`` the other read `` Eid-Basant Mela``. Not only that we celebrated Valentines day here while the Non-Muslims took out rallies for Iraq.

Naeem,

The conclusion to your piece regarding ``human connections that are being made in this moment`` was inspirational. In Toronto, the original estimate of 30,000 was easily surpassed and according to some estimates, rose to over 70,000, this despite -20 C weather.

For those hours, we of Gen X finally felt that we could change the world and not just our bank accounts.

to chowk: pull out the previous one.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
People power! You go Naeem!
As you said today`s protests as compared to history, have started before the war has actually begun, thus attempting to stop the crangae before it`s initiation. Let`s all come together and make that ``human connection,`` the connection that is powerful enough to overrule all veto powers and the new world order.

OBL did not budge from Afghanistan till the time he and his hosts the Talibans ensured that the USA makes its presence in Central Asia a reality. His presence or diappearance is not helping a single Muslim. Muslims all over the world are under pressure. When the world begins to question his existence, an audio tape is conveniently found by Al Jazeera and broadcasted immediately. This becomes even more apparent when ever General Parvez Musharraf potulates that OBL is not alive.

Saddam will not disappear unless he and his cohorts ensure US presence in Iraq to put pressure on Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Muslims would have loved to see OBL and his ilk to leave Afghanistan on their own and we would like to see Saddam and his gangsters leave Iraq for exile so that no excuse could be used by the US Troika to gain a foothold in the region.

Naeem,
What is of utmost importance is for the peaceniks not to lose heart and scatter once the invasion starts. The american public will ``support the president`` and any sort of thuggery performed in defence of its pecuniary interests, and the marchers will be judged even more harshly. Remember, for the 1-million odd marchers, there were several hundred million that did not march either out of apathy, indifference, sloth & boredom or wanting revenge for the attack on the wtc. It is going to get tougher...

so much protest in such massive rallies -- BEFORE THE WAR --

just imagine what will happen -- if the Moron STARTS the WAR -- with his diabolical plan -- of carpet bombings of Baghdad -- to minimize American casualties –

all hell will break loose all over the world --

Bush will be the most despised name in the history of the world -- after Hitler -- he would not be able to travel outside the United States.

great write up Naeem -- thanks

From: http://www.moveon.org/winwithoutwar/

Subject: Join me in a Virtual March on Washington

Please join me NOW in registering for a Virtual March on Washington
for February 26th. We are asking Congress to stop the Bush
administration`s rush to war, and to Let the Inspections Work.
Time is running out.

With your help, on February 26th, every Senate office will receive
a call EVERY MINUTE from a constituent, as they receive a
simultaneous crush of faxes and email. In New York and Washington
D.C., ``antiwar rooms`` will highlight the progress of the day for
national media. Local media will visit the ``antiwar room`` online,
to monitor this constituent march throughout the day.

With your help, every Senate office switchboard will be lit up all
day with our antiwar messages. This will be a powerful reminder
of the bread and depth of opposition to a war in Iraq.

Just go to:

http://www.moveon.org/winwithoutwar/

Please join me and sign up today. This has never been done
before. Let`s be part of it.

I don`t know why Mr Ayaz Amir is moaning in todays Dawn, what good does it do? The difference between the western world and in the Muslim world in the matter of the recent anti-war demonstrations was not likely to be apathy or lack of `principle`, its likely to be a lack of ORGANISATION.

The Feb 15 rallies were not coincidental and spontaneous, that one fine morning 10 million people decided to rally. A lot of advance preparations would have gone into organising these rallies. A large number of organisations which exist around the world, and which have alliances and lines of communication between each other would have planned and mobilised ahead of Feb 15 and in the days or weeks or months before Feb 15 rally organisers would have worked hard orchestrating the arrangements all around the world, including trying to get a large turnout.

The reason why the turnout was not high in Muslim countries is probably because these (largely left-leaning) organisations in the western world donot have strong linkages with similar grassroots organisations in Muslim countries, why doesn`t Mr Ayaz Amir analyze that instead of wasting his breath and newspaper column inches in grumbling ?

Sadna the answer to ur question as here --

just listen to what the `pragmatic` Saudi Monkey Prince or (Prince among/of Arab Monkeys) has to say.....

CAIRO, Feb. 20 -- In a spacious fifth-floor conference room at Egypt`s leading think tank, Saudi Arabia`s ambassador to the United States delivered a message that surprised some of Cairo`s most prominent intellectuals and analysts.

The ambassador, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, said Arabs would blunder by actively backing French and German efforts to forestall a war against Iraq, according to two participants in Sunday`s three-hour, off-the-record talk.

The Bush administration`s contentions that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction and has cultivated links with al Qaeda have substance, they recalled him saying, and Arabs should acknowledge that war is inevitable and begin jockeying for a role in shaping postwar Iraq.

``Once we join the club, then we can negotiate what Iraq will be like after the war,`` Bandar was quoted as saying. ``But without being part of the club, then we have no role in the day after.``

After months of impassioned opposition to a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and attempts to inspire President Saddam Hussein`s exile or a coup d`etat by his military, Egypt, Jordan and other Arab states friendly to the United States have begun to privately endorse the gist of Bandar`s views.....(NewYork Times)

nasahsahib #24
Though I oppose the Iraq war and wish to see `Muslim` countries PUBLIC ally itself with the rest of the worlds anti-war public, IMO its heartening to see a influential Muslim country`s LEADER get out of the `Muslim/Arab` kneejerk reaction mindset and at least BEGIN to discuss an issue with other Arabs on `other merits`. And to deprive Saddam of his Arab friends is one way to defeat Saddam which is better than war.

``And to deprive Saddam of his Arab friends is one way to defeat Saddam which is better than war.``(sadna)

sadna bi

what that Bandar was saying -- is also called sublimation --

when faced with fate accompli -- that monkey will not only sell his people`s oil -- he will sell his mother --to keep his throne..

ah -- that popular phrase -- `defeat saddam` --

one won`t need 200,000 GIs to defeat ONE Saddam -- one would not need an armada of B52`s -- daisy cutters -- new 5 thousand pounds cluster bombs -- to defeat one saddam --

they are needed -- to defeat Iraq -- to defeat the men, women and children of Iraq -- and to `isolate` and `protect` Iraqi oilfields.

to kill iraqi men women and children quickly and efficiently -- with a kill ratio of -- one GI to 1,000 Iraqis -- and to kill them with laser guided accuracy and fast --

no Vietnam this time --

get in and get out -- no moral constraints on the use of disproportionate force this time -- we have learnt our `lessons` in Vietnam --

maximum brutal force in minimum time -- Colin Powell`s `Humanitarian` Doctrine

it`s not to defeat saddam -- saddam is already defeated --

he was defeated 12 years ago --

and we have been defeating him -- EVERY DAY -- for more than a decade --

the broken tyrant has not done anything in the past 12 years to threaten his neighbors or to us -- no neighbor has compalined about his behavior -

- in fact each and every neighbor of Iraq -- including the kuisling kurds -- who never had it so good -- do not want instability -- while enjoying their own land, language even -- the oil fields -- and of course their own government inside a majority Arab land --

how many TIMES saddam has to be deafeated --

in the politically correct terminology -- this `OVERWHELMING` force is apparently needed -- not only to relieve the misery of Iraqi people and to liberate them -- from the brutality of their own government -- without their asking us -- for our B52s --

but also for Bush`s `Colonial` America to install its FIRST AMERICAN VICEROY -- His Excellency Sir General Tommy Franks -- to RULE over Iraq for full two to five years -- before handing the country over to the undeserving Iraq people --

In 2002 -- thanks to the ingenuity foresight and the vision -- of a few Texas OIL MEN -- and ONE emancipated Black Couple --

MY America will be a proud owner of an oil rich COLONY right in the heart of oil-rich Arab Land -- RULING blissfully alongside another mini Colonial power -- Israel ruling over their duly conquered land -- of Judea and Samaria...

and everybody in the Middle East will live happily ever after ....folks

God bless George Bush the Junior --

for turning USA from a former British Colony -- to a most formidable Colonial Power of the world in 21st Century -- and for employing Tony Blair -- his former Colonial Master -- as his Barking Butler --

all within a brief span of two years of his most benevolent RAJ....

sadna bi

what that Bandar was saying is also called sublimation -- when faced with fate accompli -- that monkey will sell his mother -- to keep his throne

ah -- that phrase -- `defeat saddam` --

one won`t need 200,000 GIs to defeat one Saddam -- one would not need an armada of B52`s -- daisy cutters -- new 5 thousand pounds cluster bombs -- to defeat one saddam --

they are needed -- to defeat Iraq -- to defeat the men, women and children of Iraq -- and to `isolate` and `protect` Iraqi oilfields.

to kill iraqi men women and children quickly and efficiently -- with a kill ratio of one GI to 1,000 Iraqis -- and to kill them with laser guided accuracy and fast --

no Vietnam this time -- get in and get out -- no moral constraints on the use of disproportionate force this time -- we have learnt our `lesson` in Vietnam --

maximum brutal force minimum time -- Colin Powell`s Humanitarian Doctrine

it`s not to defeat saddam -- saddam is already defeated --

he was defeated 12 years ago --

and we have been defeating him -- EVERY DAY -- for more than a decade --

the broken tyrant has not done anything in the past 12 years to threaten his neighbors or to us -- no neighbor has compalined about his behavior -

- in fact each and every neighbor of Iraq -- including the kuisling kurds -- who never had it so good -- do not want instability -- while enjoying their own land, language even the oil fields and their own government inside a majority Arab land --

how many TIMES saddam has to be deafeated --

in the politically correct terminology -- this `OVERWHELMING` force is apparently needed -- not only to relieve the misery of Iraqi people and to liberate them -- from the brutality of their own government -- without their asking us for B52s --

but also for Bush`s `Colonial` America to install its FIRST AMERICAN VICEROY -- His Excellency Sir General Tommy Franks -- to rule an over Iraq for full two years -- before handing the country over to the undeserving Iraq people --

In 2002 -- thanks to the inguinity of a few Texas OIL MEN and emancipated Black folks -- MY America wii be a proud owner of a oil rich colony

The Dean of the Daring Democrats -- ladies and gentlemen -- the NEXT PRESIDENT of the United States -- Former Senator from Vermont -- Dr. Howard Dean:

````On Friday and Saturday, seven of the eight announced Democratic presidential candidates (all but Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who is still recovering from prostate cancer surgery) showed up at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Capitol Hill to test-market their messages to the party faithful.

....at this point, there are at least two tiers of candidates.

In the first tier, there are Sens. Kerry, Joe Lieberman (Conn.), and John Edwards (N.C.), and Rep. Richard Gephardt (Mo.).

The second tier would be led by former Vermont Sen. Howard Dean, and also include the Rev. Al Sharpton, former Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun and Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

One of the things the first tier has in common - other than proven abilities to raise cash, national profiles, and first-rate campaign staffs - is that they all supported the resolution last year authorizing President Bush to use military force against Iraq.

In their speeches, these candidates seemed almost apologetic about their positions that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein must be disarmed by force if necessary.

``Now I know that there are a lot of you who don`t agree with me about this,`` Edwards, son of a mill worker, said, relegating his Iraq position to a few words seemingly tacked on to the end of his speech. ``I do believe that Saddam Hussein needs to be disarmed, including, if necessary, the use of military force. He has chemical and biological weapons. He`s used them in the past. We cannot let him have nuclear capability.``

Silence.

Lieberman, who sought to establish his bona fides by talking about his travels to Mississippi in 1964 to fight for the right of blacks to vote, said of Iraq: ``Now, my friends, to protect the safety of the American people and the credibility of the United Nations, Iraq must disarm - peacefully if possible, by force if necessary. Saddam Hussein`s weapons of mass destruction must be destroyed sooner than later, because sooner or later, if we do not, they will be used against us.``

Silence.

Gephardt, son of a milk truck driver, jumped into the Iraq issue near the beginning of his speech, seemingly to just get it out of the way: ``Before I start, I want to address the question of foreign policy in Iraq, because I know it`s on everyone`s mind. I believe we must disarm Saddam Hussein, and I`m proud that I wrote the resolution. It helped lead the president to finally make his case to the United Nations.``

Silence. Well, almost. One fellow in the back yelled, ``shame.``

The other four candidates who spoke made their opposition to Bush`s policy on Iraq a major issue - and at least one of them will likely enter the first tier of candidates because of it, given the hardening opposition to a military strike among the party rank and file.
____________________________________________________
At this point, that candidate seems to be Dean, a physician with an unabashedly liberal message, strong speaking ability, good looks and aggressive style.
______________________________________________________
Dean`s speech on Friday was among the best of the bunch, if for no other reason than its audacity.

He muttered only one or two lines of pleasantries before getting right to the punch, challenging the leadership of his party (and ostensibly two of the people, Lieberman and Gephardt) who spoke before him.

``What I want to know is why in the world the Democratic Party leadership is supporting the president`s unilateral attack on Iraq …

What I want to know is why are Democratic Party leaders supporting tax cuts …

What I want to know is why we`re fighting in Congress about the patients` bill of rights when the Democratic Party ought to be standing up for health care for every single American man, woman and child in this country …

What I want to know is why our folks are voting for the president`s No Child Left Behind bill that leaves every child behind, every teacher behind, every school board behind and every property taxpayer behind

… (applause) …

I`m Howard Dean, and I`m here to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.``

Wild applause/standing ovation.
(Washington Post)

______________________________________________________
thanks Washington Post for introducing this brilliant Presidental Star to the American Public tired of fascist mediocrity -- being sold as Nazi patriotism --

thanks again WP

here is ONE physician -- who will VOTE for and work for the Physician Senator Howard Dean of Vermont -- any day any time rain or snow -- to be the next PRESIDENT of -- MY United States of America...

remember the name folks -- the next President of the United States -- senator Howard Dean of Vermont ....

hasan

naeem, this is late, who knows when u will see this.
i have met u in NYC by the way..when i used to be there...soon will be back there..anyhow,

i was one of the people in the back of the march. i almost got tramped by horses. it was one the coldest but most amazing NYC experiences i have.

my friends, afraid of being detained for being illegal were leaving were packing up their apartment that day in brooklyn. i went straight from the march to their place to help them pack and to report back to them on the different slogans and mood in NYC. i knew and i dont kknwo THAT many people in NYC, but i knew every 25th person in that millions person march. it felt incredible.

wbai was all around us. it really was something.

thanks for writing about this.

zehra rizvi.