Associated Press

Peace activists prepare for war anniversary

Friday, March 17, 2006

Peace activists across Indiana say they believe the number of people against the war in Iraq - now entering its third year - is increasing. But that opposition is not translating into activism.

‘‘I think the common consensus among Americans is that they'd like to see an end of the war,'' said Heather Allen-Garde, an organizer of Saturday's Hoosiers for Peace Rally in Indianapolis that is expected to draw 1,000 people. ‘‘We know that most Americans are opposed to the war, but it seems like they're not being able to vocalize that.''

Protests, vigils and rallies are planned this weekend in Indianapolis and around the country to mark the March 18, 2003 invasion, as the American public finds itself polarized amid growing casualty reports and slipping support for U.S. military presence in Iraq.

‘‘People really are confused about what's going on over there,'' said Ron Hanger, commander of the American Legion post in New Albany. ‘‘Why are their kids, their sons or daughters, being sent to a foreign country that they really feel like we shouldn't be in. But on the other hand, you've got those same kids saying 'we're here to do a job.' They're all for it, whether their parents are or not.''

Only 39 percent of Americans support the way the president has handled Iraq, according to the latest AP-Ipsos poll. Nearly four out of five Americans, including 70 percent of Republicans, believe civil war will break out in Iraq, the poll showed.

At least 2,311 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war and more than 17,000 U.S. service members have been wounded.

‘‘I think what may be happening now, is that there doesn't seem to be a lot of support right now for the idea that you attack a country before you've been attacked,'' said Jeremy Straughn, a political socialist at Purdue University.

Growing opposition to the war is something Dave Lambert hopes will attract about 150 people to a protest he's organizing in Fort Wayne on Saturday.

‘‘Three years is enough,'' he said. ‘‘More of our troops are getting killed and it's time to pull out.''

But Carol Haas, manager of Bristol's American Legion Post 143 in northern Indiana, said her views haven't changed.

‘‘We're still supporting them,'' she said. ‘‘I think when they come over here and attack us, we should go get them. I think they should get the job done and get the boys home.''