Logan rally supports peace, not war, in Iraq
More than 200 protesters from Cache Valley gathered Wednesday in the Logan Recreation Center to speak out against President George W. Bush’s push to carry out a preemptive strike against Iraq.
Utah State University students, faculty and local residents gave speeches at the peace rally under signs declaring, “Thou shalt not kill – simple enough?” and “Fire Bush, not missiles.”
The rally was held for Cache Valley residents to join others in the nation who are concerned about the decisions being made in Washington D.C., said Elaine Thatcher, a River Heights, Utah, resident who helped organize the rally. Attendees were asked to sign a petition to Congress that takes a stand against the strikes.
“We don’t think it’s right to just preemptively attack Iraq right now,” Thatcher said. “We’re opposed to the fact that [Bush] is seeking such broad powers to use military force.”
Bush is pressuring Congress to accept a resolution that will allow him to attack not only Iraq, but also other countries in the region, without having to go back to Congress, she said.
In an effort to resolve the situation peacefully, the United Nations and Iraq agreed Tuesday on terms to renew weapons inspections in Iraq except at eight “presidential sites.” Bush is asking the United Nations to establish tougher terms, and Great Britain is the only U.N. member so far that has promised support to him.
Mae Coover, a Providence resident who also helped organize the rally, said, “At this point, countries are taking sides, and very few are on our side. We should not be proceeding without the concurrence of our friendly nations at this point.”
Organizers said they had hoped to hold the rally near the veteran memorial by the County Courthouse steps, but angry residents asked them to move its location.
Elwin Allred told the Herald Journal Wednesday, “This protest is a slap in the face to every name on that memorial. These [protesters] are a bunch of yellow bellies.”
In the end, it was decided to hold the rally in the Logan Recreation Center because of inclement weather.
Thatcher said, “There are people who think that what we are doing is unpatriotic. And I would say that’s furthest from the truth because we deeply respect and are grateful for the sacrifices that have been made by our military people in the past who have preserved our freedom. What we don’t want is to have to shed more American blood.”
A preemptive strike could increase the risk of terrorist attacks, rather than prevent them, she said.
“If anything, it will make it worse,” Thatcher said. “There will just be more reasons for people in that part of the world to hate Americans. It will get them more fired up to remove us from existence.”
Coover agreed war is unlikely to bring peace.
“We will not only suffer from terrorism over here from terrorist organizations, but we will be suffering the terror of war,” Coover said. “I really see it as being a devastating time for us, because we have failed to consider the pros and cons of this issue and what it could mean to our people.”
Eagan Kemp, a sophomore studying political science and sociology, said Bush is trying to use the United Nations as a warmonger.
“The doctrine of preemption is both dangerous and against international law,” he said. “I’ve been against war since Bush announced it.”
Ted Pease, head of the journalism department, spoke at the rally and said jokingly, “I guess I’m one of those yellow bellies Elwin [Allred] was talking about.”
“Is there ever a time to fight?” he asked. “Yes. Is this the time and Iraq the place? I would argue no. The only good thing I can see coming out of [a preemptive attack] would be to shift attention away from education, corporate theft and the economy, none of which Bush seems inclined to deal with.”
Most protesters seemed to agree Saddam Hussein is potentially a threat to the United States.
Thatcher said, “We’re not saying Saddam is a good person. He’s not. I think he is an evil person who has done many evil things to his own people. But we worry about just attacking a nation and saying we’re going to affect a regime change without really having our allies with us or having Congress fully informed about it.”
Michael Larson, a freshman majoring in electrical engineering, said he wants peace, but peace of mind knowing Hussein is not in power.
“A preemptive strike would help prevent another Sept. 11 in case Saddam did decide to use his weapons of mass destruction,” he said.
Ryan Frandson of Providence advocated America’s “righteous cause to protect the innocent of the world” and called the assertion that the United States will make a bloodbath of the Iraqi people absurd with a letter to the editor in Tuesday’s Herald Journal.
“Can you imagine the disgrace of the American people if our government is to sit back and wait for yet another strike on the U.S.?” Frandson said. “Certainly war is full of casualties, but if there is a country on this earth that has compassion towards human life, it is the USA.”
Undeterred by opposition, those rallying enjoyed a good turnout. Speakers called attendees to act on their beliefs and sign the petition.
Logan resident Thad Box said, “This is a call to patriots. If we remain silent, we become part of the spilling of innocent blood – the blood of Iraqi children and the blood of young soldiers barely old enough to vote.”
Katie Trieu, a student at Logan High School, said there is a strong student opposition to war and complimented those in attendance for having enough gumption to come.
“Please go out there and tell people your beliefs,” she said.
Box said, “We cannot defeat terrorism by the terror of our smart bombs hitting Baghdad. Let those in Washington know they are dead wrong for even thinking of a preemptive war. Wave that flag. Sign that petition.”
-heidithue@cc.usu.edu