Washington Protest Calls for Return of U.S. Troops in Iraq

Demonstrators concerned about events in Iraq marched in the nation’s capital Saturday, calling on President Bush to recall American troops and end the U.S. occupation.

Wearing buttons telling the president “You’re fired,” and bearing signs asking “Is it Vietnam Yet?” an estimated 500 protesters called for changes in U.S. foreign policy which they claimed was responsible for recent uprisings in Fallouja and other areas of Iraq.

Protesters in Washington said the killing and public mutilation of four U.S. private security officers in Fallouja, and escalating hostilities across Iraq are evidence that U.S. attempts to stabilize the situation there are futile.

“This government is in retreat,” said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard of the Act Now to Stop War & End Racism coalition, which coordinated the effort. “It is time to bring the troops home, to end the global ambitions of conquest.”

Other U.S. policies, foreign and domestic, came under fire as demonstrators assembled at Lafayette Park across from the White House before marching two hours through the District of Columbia’s downtown. The procession increased in size as it lumbered along, and passing motorists honked their horns in an apparent show of support.

“The U.S. and Israeli governments have worked for decades to crush Arab resistance, to steal our land, our resources,” said Hussein Agrama of the Free Palestine Alliance. “Occupation is a crime from Iraq to Palestine. The Iraqi people and Palestinian people stand together.”

The activities in Washington were among demonstrations planned over the weekend in a number of cities, some organized on as little as a day’s notice.

Previous Washington protests against the Iraq war have drawn tens of thousands of protesters. Organizers said participation in Saturday’s event was limited by logistics: It was arranged by a few dozen individuals over a period of three days.

The protests come as the U.S. continues with plans to transfer power to Iraqis on June 30. But protesters said the time to relinquish power is now, and cited the uprisings in Fallouja as indicators that U.S. troops are neither safe nor welcome.

“The Bush administration is spending $5 million an hour for the war on Iraq,” said Brian Becker of the International Action Center with the Act Now coalition. “We need money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.”

An April survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found 57% of respondents said the administration’s handling of Iraq lacked clarity in its direction. Still, 50% expressed support for keeping troops in Iraq, while 44% favored withdrawal.

“It’s incredible,” said Sarah Sloan, who helped coordinate the rally and march. “People had 2 1/2 days to spread the word instead a matter of months, and tens of thousands of people from around the world turned out for this.”

The event was momentarily disturbed by an Iraqi man, Rahim al Shmaray, who denounced protest leaders, saying U.S. involvement was necessary to protect the debilitated nation from invasion from neighbors Syria, Turkey and Iran.

“I went back to Iraq last summer; they are very happy,” said Al Shmaray, who came to the United States in 1993. “No one can help us but God and President Bush.”