US MILITARY FAMILIES ON IRISH ANTI-WAR TOUR

galway | anti-war / imperialism | event notice Monday February 16, 2004 17:01 by Martin O'Sullivan - Irish Anti War Movement martin_osullivan at vodafone dot ie 0878289243

Stephen Cleghorn, a representative of the US Military Families Speak Out, has begun a speaking tour with the Irish Anti-War Movement.

Stephen Cleghorn, a representative of the US Military Families Speak Out, has begun a speaking tour with the Irish Anti-War Movement. On the first anniversary of the huge February 15th demonstration, he began his tour in Drogheda.
Dr Cleghorn, who is an executive director of the Centre for the Prevention of Homelessness in Washington, is due to speak in Waterford, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Derry, and Galway.
In a statement, Stephen Cleghorn said,
“I am the stepfather of a good young man who is in the United States Army, seventeen years into a distinguished career of military service. He is now stationed in Baghdad. This young man I love is caught up in the danger and tragedy of the American occupation.
I pray every day because I know he has been sent on a defective and doomed mission not to liberate Iraq but to dominate it. I grieve every day because I know this is a young man who wants nothing but good for the people of Iraq, who means them no harm at all, but is part of an effort that is indeed harming them.
It outrages and saddens me that my son and many others have been forced to carry out the agenda of right wing zealots, and I will not stand by silently while my government does that to him and many other brave young men and women.
Because he cannot speak out, I must.
Military Families Speak Out and millions of people both in the United States and around the world predicted that a US-led war against Iraq would lead to chaos and provide irresistible incentives for increased terrorism in that nation.
Nobody in this Administration paid any attention to our warnings, and so we are seeing now our worst fears realized.
For interviews with Stephen Cleghorn contact the Irish Anti-War Tour organiser, Kieran Allen on 01 8304750 or 087 2839964.