thedrifter
02-23-07, 07:03 AM
Anti-troop increase talk turns heated
By ALBERT McKEON, Telegraph Staff
amckeon@nashuatelegraph.com
Published: Friday, Feb. 23, 2007
CONCORD – A staid press conference denouncing President Bush’s troop increase in the Iraq war became animated when two former Marines unexpectedly debated the merits of the conflict.
Al Baldasaro, a veteran of Desert Storm and a Republican state representative, on Wednesday challenged the military de-escalation views of Brian Van Riper, a veteran of the current war and a Democratic activist.
Baldasaro pointedly questioned Van Riper’s commitment to the “brotherhood” of the Marines with his public denouncement of the war.Van Riper didn’t directly answer Baldasaro’s questions on the loyalty of a Marine, but instead criticized the necessity of increasing U.S. forces in Iraq by more than 21,000.
“I don’t think anyone (serving in Iraq) thinks it’s a winning strategy,” Van Riper said at the press conference, held in the lobby of the state Legislative office building.
Baldasaro, a 22-year Marine veteran, in turn said Van Riper and the other two speakers were espousing a “cut and run” policy. Downscaling troops now would abandon the Iraqi people, Baldasaro said.
The exchange caught the attention of passer-bys in the lobby. Until then, people conducting business there listened only momentarily and walked on.
The newly formed national group, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, held the press conference. The movement is composed of those from other organizations, including church leaders, union members and veterans. The New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action and New Hampshire Council of Churches participated in this event.
David Lamarre-Vincent, executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, denounced the troop increase and called on Bush and Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu to consider the view of many Americans that the war should end.
“This foolish war effort is bankrupting the U.S., not only fiscally, but morally,” Lamarre-Vincent said. “It seems the only thing to continue fighting for is to save face.”
Gregg and Sununu this month voted against a Senate resolution that criticized the troop increase.
Gregg had proposed a separate resolution that would have promised continued war funding, but all debate ended with Democrats and Republicans accusing each other of not wanting a full discussion.
State Rep. Gilman Shattuck (D-Hillsboro), who is also a member of New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action, said the press conference was the first public effort to change the views of Gregg and Sununu.
Lamarre-Vincent asked “people of all faiths” to conduct a “peace read-in” of their views at the office of Sununu on March 6.
Van Riper, 25, is a Massachusetts native who now lives in California. He served in Iraq in 2003 with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, and is now a Democratic activist.
After the press conference, he said Baldasaro’s view is that of an “ideologue” who is “happy” staying the course in Iraq. Anyone backing the president’s strategy is “someone who follows into the darkness,” Van Riper said.
But Baldasaro said Van Riper’s and others’ condemnation of the war meant the “hippies of Vietnam are back again.”
“This war is not about being a Republican. It’s a freedom issue.”
Albert McKeon can be reached at 594-5832 or amckeon@nashuatelegraph.com.
Ellie
By ALBERT McKEON, Telegraph Staff
amckeon@nashuatelegraph.com
Published: Friday, Feb. 23, 2007
CONCORD – A staid press conference denouncing President Bush’s troop increase in the Iraq war became animated when two former Marines unexpectedly debated the merits of the conflict.
Al Baldasaro, a veteran of Desert Storm and a Republican state representative, on Wednesday challenged the military de-escalation views of Brian Van Riper, a veteran of the current war and a Democratic activist.
Baldasaro pointedly questioned Van Riper’s commitment to the “brotherhood” of the Marines with his public denouncement of the war.Van Riper didn’t directly answer Baldasaro’s questions on the loyalty of a Marine, but instead criticized the necessity of increasing U.S. forces in Iraq by more than 21,000.
“I don’t think anyone (serving in Iraq) thinks it’s a winning strategy,” Van Riper said at the press conference, held in the lobby of the state Legislative office building.
Baldasaro, a 22-year Marine veteran, in turn said Van Riper and the other two speakers were espousing a “cut and run” policy. Downscaling troops now would abandon the Iraqi people, Baldasaro said.
The exchange caught the attention of passer-bys in the lobby. Until then, people conducting business there listened only momentarily and walked on.
The newly formed national group, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, held the press conference. The movement is composed of those from other organizations, including church leaders, union members and veterans. The New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action and New Hampshire Council of Churches participated in this event.
David Lamarre-Vincent, executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, denounced the troop increase and called on Bush and Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu to consider the view of many Americans that the war should end.
“This foolish war effort is bankrupting the U.S., not only fiscally, but morally,” Lamarre-Vincent said. “It seems the only thing to continue fighting for is to save face.”
Gregg and Sununu this month voted against a Senate resolution that criticized the troop increase.
Gregg had proposed a separate resolution that would have promised continued war funding, but all debate ended with Democrats and Republicans accusing each other of not wanting a full discussion.
State Rep. Gilman Shattuck (D-Hillsboro), who is also a member of New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action, said the press conference was the first public effort to change the views of Gregg and Sununu.
Lamarre-Vincent asked “people of all faiths” to conduct a “peace read-in” of their views at the office of Sununu on March 6.
Van Riper, 25, is a Massachusetts native who now lives in California. He served in Iraq in 2003 with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, and is now a Democratic activist.
After the press conference, he said Baldasaro’s view is that of an “ideologue” who is “happy” staying the course in Iraq. Anyone backing the president’s strategy is “someone who follows into the darkness,” Van Riper said.
But Baldasaro said Van Riper’s and others’ condemnation of the war meant the “hippies of Vietnam are back again.”
“This war is not about being a Republican. It’s a freedom issue.”
Albert McKeon can be reached at 594-5832 or amckeon@nashuatelegraph.com.
Ellie