ISU Bengal

Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Life

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On Saturday, tens of thousands of people across the nation and the world rallied and marched against the reckless War in Iraq and urged our leaders to bring the war to an end.

United for Peace and Justice, the largest peace group in the country, organized 11 regional protests across the country, including one in Salt Lake City, Utah. At least 200 people from Southern Idaho traveled to Salt Lake City to urge leaders in Congress to end this war. Other cities and towns across the world held events in solidarity with the regional protests.

With the War in Iraq approaching its five year mark, Americans are growing increasingly frustrated with a religious civil war that cannot be won. Nearly 4000 Americans have died and while the estimates of the numbers of Iraqi deaths vary, credible estimates point to over one million Iraqi deaths since the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003.

It was with this in mind that led so many Idahoans to travel to Salt Lake City to let their voices be heard. The Idaho Peace Coalition chartered a bus and 80 people traveled from Twin Falls. Buses from Boise and Sun Valley made the journey and several Pocatello residents spent their Saturday urging pro-war senators to stop wasting billions of the taxpayers' dollars in an endless, religious civil war.

Further frustrating American citizens is the corruption and incompetence that has been manifested through the Bush Administration actions. Most recently, the news media has reported that Blackwater troops in Iraq had killed many unarmed innocent Iraqi civilians.

The introduction of this new information has further strengthened the call from Iraqi's asking Americans to leave their country. Over 131 members of the Iraq Parliament, which is over half, as well as the Prime Minister of Iraq have asked America to leave. Also, a significant majority of Iraqi's feel that it is okay to commit acts of violence against Americans.

Speakers, participants, and groups in the rally and march included Iraqi war veteran Chris Conway of the Idaho Peace Coalition, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Military Family Members Speak Out, Raging Grannies, Idaho Moms for Peace, Mayor of Salt Lake City, Rocky Anderson, Mormons for Equality and Social Justice and many others.

The people's message to Congress is clear: Vote to end this war or face political extinction.

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