Local war protesters mark its anniversary

By: Dick Brinster
   HIGHTSTOWN — Within earshot of memorials honoring the nation’s war dead, about 50 people gathered in a silent vigil against the invasion of Iraq that has killed 3,200 Americans.
   The demonstrators stood for nearly an hour Monday evening, ignoring a cold sleet at the busy intersection of North Main and Franklin streets in observance of the fourth anniversary of the war. They held battery-powered candles and carried signs protesting a war they say is tragic, unjust and illegal, their beliefs bolstered by passing motorists who honked their horns.
   The demonstrators held American flags — one of which contained the peace symbol instead of stars — and attacked the Bush administration’s prosecution of a conflict that also has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths among Iraqis, who have been caught in what is now seen largely as a sectarian battle between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.
   "I can barely wait for 673 more days to transpire so we can get to somebody else, anybody else," said Glenn Palmer of Meadow Drive, alluding to the time George W. Bush will remain in the White House. "I think it was foolish to get in; I think it’s foolish to stay."
   He said the United States is the problem, not the solution.
   "Basically, we are the British and this is the Revolutionary War," Mr. Palmer said. "We’re trying to be the imperial power."
   That notion, of imperialism, was distasteful to many of the demonstrators, who dismissed as bogus the administration’s basic reasons for the invasion — the war against terrorism and Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction, which were never found.
   "It’s disgraceful," said Renee Altman of Dutch Neck Road in East Windsor. "I don’t think there was proof of any imminent danger."
   She said the deaths because of American involvement should not have occurred.
   "Pre-emptive war is terrorism," read the sign of a nearby protester standing about 150 feet from a tablet outside the public library that salutes men and women of the military who served in wartime. About the same distance from a demonstrator whose sign said, "Not one more death, not one more dollar," was the memorial to 22 area residents killed in World War II.
   Ms. Altman said she sees no end to the conflict.
   "There’s no exit strategy," she said. "We’re worse off than before and the Iraqis are much worse off."
   Her husband, Ted, said the answer will be found neither on the battlefield nor the streets of Baghdad.
   "I don’t think we can solve a civil war; it’s an impossible task," he said. "A political solution is required, not a military solution."
   And the man living at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. probably is not qualified to produce a diplomatic closure, said Gene Sarafin of South Main Street. He called for Congressional Democrats to impeach Bush.
   "The president of the United States is an incompetent who’s killing the nation," Mr. Sarafin said. "He’s a stupid man, and he’s destroyed our position in the world."
   Shelley Lightman, of Hooverton Place in East Windsor, called the war futile and, like many, accused Bush of starting it under false pretenses. She said the removal and ultimate death by hanging of Saddam Hussein has done little to improve the situation.
   "Once he was gone, the factions just came right back and started killing each other anyhow," she said.
   Rachel Roat, of Plainsboro, said she has no problem responding to those who suggest that the anti-war movement is unpatriotic.
   "I think it’s very easy to be against the war, yet support the troops," she said. "The most important thing we can do for the troops is to bring them home now."
   Leigh Isleib, of Rocky Brook Road in East Windsor, was among those using the words illegal and immoral to describe American involvement. He even called it a crime against humanity.
   "We’ve killed more people in Iraq than Saddam Hussein killed in 10 years," said Mr. Isleib, who said he was a naval officer during the Vietnam War. He did not serve there, but counted himself among those who opposed that conflict.
   The effort Monday was organized under the umbrella of moveon.org, which has urged demonstrations throughout the nation. Most of the demonstrators here were over 40, unlike most who openly opposed the war in Vietnam. While counterdemonstrations were the norm when it came to the Vietnam War, there were none here Monday night.
   "What we heard from passing cars were shouts of support," said organizer Bob Laverty, an East Windsor resident who serves on the regional school board.
   He said the crowd could have been larger, but was limited because a permit would have been required for more than 50 people because the event was held on municipal land, in Memorial Park.
   "Moveon.org only started soliciting support for this about a week and a half ago," said Mr. Laverty. "But the town was quite good to us."
   Jill Weinberg, of Robbinsville, wishes the government would be that good to its servicemen and activist citizens. She said she considers the war a blemish on the nation, something America’s forefathers probably wouldn’t have approved of.
   "This is not what America is all about," she said. "We’re not supposed to go out and invade another country."