April 19, 2003 – A

Iraq War

April 16, 2003 Embedded Photographer: “I Saw Marines Kill Civilians”
Eyewitness account by war photographer Laurent Van der Stockt.

“…With my own eyes I saw about fifteen civilians killed in two days…” (1)

April 16, 2003 Have we just hit the tar baby? by Patrick J. Buchanan

“…And we deceive ourselves if we think that, after our victory, our presence is now supported by 90 percent of the Iraqis, who have suffered and died in the scores of thousands in two wars with the United States and during 12 years of sanctions…” (2)

April 16, 2003 On pimps and ‘presstitutes’ by Ilana Mercer

“William Pfaff’s words, in the International Herald tribune, are immutably true: “Traditional morality says that war is justified in legitimate defense. Totalitarian morality justifies war to make people or societies better.“

“…this war is and will always be unjust. Shouldered by the American people’s toil, the armed forces exist to defend them and only them…” (3)

Text of Tim Robbins Speech(4)
Another copy (5)
Listen here (6)

WorldNetDaily presents this speech as “Hollywood vs. America” but I like to think Tim Robbins is speaking for most of his countrymen – liberal and conservative – who share ideals about liberty and peace.

Here are just a few points from his great speech:

“…In the 19 months since 9-11, we have seen our democracy compromised by fear and hatred. Basic inalienable rights, due process, the sanctity of the home have been quickly compromised in a climate of fear… a world population that had profound sympathy and support for us has grown contemptuous and distrustful, viewing us as we once viewed the Soviet Union, as a rogue state…”

“…Columbine High School shootings… President Clinton criticized Hollywood for contributing to this terrible tragedy — this, as we were dropping bombs over Kosovo. Could the violent actions of our leaders contribute somewhat to the violent fantasies of our teenagers?…”

“…And these same people that tolerate the real violence of war don’t want to see the result of it on the nightly news. Unlike the rest of the world, our news coverage of this war remains sanitized, without a glimpse of the blood and gore inflicted upon our soldiers or the women and children in Iraq…”

“…And in the midst of all this madness, where is the political opposition? Where have all the Democrats gone?…”

“…In this time when a citizenry applauds the liberation of a country as it lives in fear of its own freedom, when an administration official releases an attack ad questioning the patriotism of a legless Vietnam veteran running for Congress, when people all over the country fear reprisal if they use their right to free speech, it is time to get angry…”

“And any instance of intimidation to free speech should be battled against. Any acquiescence or intimidation at this point will only lead to more intimidation. You [journalists] have, whether you like it or not, an awesome responsibility and an awesome power: the fate of discourse, the health of this republic is in your hands, whether you write on the left or the right…” (4)

Voice of Fear Responds to Tim Robbins
Rush Limbaugh, “conservative” propagandist for the most powerful government in existence, defending the policy of war without just cause or reason:

“…And maybe some people around the world ought to be frightened of us. Maybe there ought to be a little fear of the United States of America in some hearts in some countries in this world…” (7)

The rational alternative to that approach: mutual respect between nations, cooperation to control terrorism, setting an example of non-aggression and respecting laws that protect the innocent.

Not Really Conservative

April 17, 2003 Weapons of Choice

“Unhappy with President Bush’s decision to support continuation of a controversial gun ban passed during the Clinton administration, many gun owners say they’ll dump Bush in 2004 …” (8)

Sounds like a story from March 27, 2002:
Bush Signs Campaign Bill, NRA Sues

“President Bush signed landmark campaign finance legislation…”

“…”The legislation “eviscerates the core protections of the First Amendment by prohibiting, on pain on criminal punishment, political speech,” said a legal complaint filed on behalf of the NRA and its political victory fund…” (9)

 

Notes

[1] http://www.counterpunch.org/guerrin04162003.html
April 16, 2003 Embedded Photographer:”I Saw Marines Kill Civilians” by Michel Guerrin for Le Monde Translated for CounterPunch by Norman Madarasz. Account by Laurent Van der Stockt.

[2] http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32083
WorldNetDaily

[3] http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32079

[4] http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32088
WorldNetDaily, April 16, 2003, Text of Tim Robbins speech, Transcript of actor’s address to National Press Club on April 15, 2003

[5] http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15673
AlterNet.org, Countering a Wave of Hate By Tim Robbins April 17, 2003, Transcript of the speech given by actor Tim Robbins to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2003.

[6] NPR link for speech is found here http://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2003/030415.trobbins.html

[7] http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32087
WorldNetDaily April 16, 2003 Tim Robbins: U.S. viewed as Soviet Union – Rush Limbaugh calls comments by actor/activist ‘absurd’ By Joe Kovacs

[8] http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32094
WorldNetDaily, April 17, 2003, Weapons of Choice Upset gun owners set to dump Bush – Shooters angered with White House support for firearm ban by Jon Dougherty

[9] Expired link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25112-2002Mar27.html
WashingtonPost.com, March 27, 2002, Bush Signs Campaign Bill, NRA Sues by Scott Lindlaw, AP