Pictures from Tacoma Port Protest

Navigation

User login

Online users

Laurian
emmettoconnell
Judith
The Original Yoda
jKonovsky
oldtimeydave

Support OlyBlog

OlyBlog is run by volunteers who care about Olympia. If you like what we're doing, make a donation:

OlyBlog is powered by:

Who's new

GRuB
ktcoxster
making a differ...
johnmac
circular_ruins

Pictures from Tacoma Port Protest

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 03/07/2007 - 5:39am.

Here's a link to a set of pictures I posted on Flickr from Saturday at the Port of Tacoma:

link

Robert Whitlock's blog
Login or register to post comments

I wanted to be sure to help

Submitted by armywife on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 4:02am.

See other comment

I wanted to be sure to help

Submitted by armywife on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 4:03am.

I wanted to be sure to help clarify something I saw in a comment on one of your photos. The reason why the vehicles are moved during evening hours is partially because the state has times that the vehicles can be on public roads. This is to help reduce traffic problems. The Army wasnt trying to hide them from the public. You may want to change that comment to reflect accuracy not your opinion.

Time to be on public roads.

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 03/07/2007 - 9:31pm.

I am not aware of this state requirement. Perhaps you can offer a citation before I change my caption!

I recall that last year, the convoys were conducted in the broad light of day. Did these new state times come into effect this year?

I can imagine the state would want to avoid public scrutiny of mobilizing convoys to an unpopular military action.

Also, the escalation is virtually assured to fail militarily. The violence in Iraq is just getting worse. There is no military solution. Only a diplomatic one. Sending our soldiers into Iraq is just sending them into potential slaughter. That is why we must prevent this deployment. For the sake of the law, for the sake of morality, for the sake of humanity. End the occupation!

In the Course of Events

Admission of Guilt

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 03/07/2007 - 11:50pm.

The fact that the military strategists decided to transport these vehicles during off-hours in the dead-of-night is, I think, an admission of guilt and shame over the planned deployment of US soldiers into an unwinnable situation. The invasion was unnecessary, the occupation is unjustified. I support our troops. Bring them home.

In the Course of Events

There is no shame or

Submitted by armywife on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 7:00am.

There is no shame or guilt.... they dont care what the protestors... OLY, Tacoma or WA think. They do however have stipulations of how the vehicles (as well as how many) can be on the roads. There are certain routes as well that they can not take. Im not going to go digging through military and states literature to find you a citiation.. mostly because my day job is slightly more important. However, I have witnessed what one would have to do to move vehicles for a deployment. I think though that youre assumption (and that is what it is) is just that! You know what people say about assuming? No one cares what this group of chaotic hippies thinks. Honestly we find it rather funny as wives of soldiers in this area you all amuse us with your antics. Everytime I see the protestors I laugh. I believe in protesting and the right for free speech but... these soldiers are doing the job their boss asked them to do. So shouting at them isnt going to change the war.... its not going to change whether they deploy or not... if their stryker (you know a vehicle that has saved 1,000) will be shipped. There are much better ways the prostestors could use their time. I just thi nk you need to realize the Army isnt hiding the vehicles that was a really silly comment. THEY JUST DONT CARE WHAT 100 PEOPLE FROM WA THINK!

Doing What Their Bosses Tell Them

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 8:51am.

Exactly. The problem is that what their bosses are telling them to do is wrong. The occupation is illegal. The occupation is immoral. It is hurting our soldiers, it is militarily ineffectual and totally unnecessary in terms of national security. Beyond that, it is actually weakening, in very real ways, national security as well as global security. Terrorist attacks world wide have increased by 600% since the occupation.

In the Course of Events

I didn't realize the Stryker was a life-saving vehicle

Submitted by jlw on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 4:59pm.

I thought, actually, that it was a weapon, designed for killing. What a strange way of thinking -- weapons are being shipped across the ocean to SAVE lives. Kind of like destroying a village to save it. It's incredible to see the way this doublespeak is swallowed down and regurgitated without critical thought.

saving lives

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 5:07pm.

The occupation is the cause of the injuries and lives to be saved. It's like punching a guy in the those then asking him to thank you when you give him a handkerchief to stop the bleeding. Even the medical vehicles have cannons and grenade launchers.

In the Course of Events

Yep

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 10:04am.

and the medics carry an M16. I don't suppose you thought there might be a reason for that though. Like, maybe someone is shooting at them while they are trying to plug their comrades wounds?

self-defense

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 6:28pm.

I think the most important question to ask is; Why are American soldiers, and even medics, being shot at in Iraq>

Why do Iraqis oppose the presence of the American military?

Why is our government sending more soldiers despite the obscurity of the military mission?

In the Course of Events

Why were the

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 10:31am.

Why were the japanese/germans shooting at us during WW2? Why were Iraqis shooting at us in the first gulf war? Why were the Vietnamese shooting at us during the vietnam war?

We are their enemy, they are our enemy, we are in a war. During war you try and keep your own men alive. This shouldn't be a hard concept Rob.

As for the third question: My guess would be to win. Superior numbers theory and all....

I am not the enemy

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 6:39pm.

Maybe you're the enemy of the Iraqi people. But I am not. What did the Iraqi people ever do to me? Why should I feel dislike toward them?

Why are they the enemy?

Is it because of all the oil there?

Or are there other reasons?

In the Course of Events

Silly boy, guilt by

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 10:58am.

Silly boy, guilt by association. If you decided to walk around Iraq, do you think they would look at you and say, "Oh, he's just a normal American, leave him be." ? You, sir, are the enemy of "some" of the Iraqi people, right or wrong, that's the way it is.

What did they ever do to you? Nothing. You may have bought gasoline from them, in the long run.

They are your enemy because our country's are at war.

It could be because of all the oil there. Not my call.

Other reasons? Probably. Again, this was decided by our elected officials, they can withdraw our troops at any time. No protest in the port of Tacoma is going to cause that though. You could probably waste your time and energy in far more productive ways.

excuse me

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Fri, 03/09/2007 - 8:30pm.

silly boy. silly boy? excuse me! I don't appreciate your ingratiating tone!

Sorry Norm, but the more you write, the more you blow yourself out of the water:

They are your enemy because our country's are at war.

ding ding ding - Wrong.

The US is not at war with the nation of Iraq! The US is conducting an occupation of Iraq...and battling against an insurgency. more information on insurgency warfare

In the Course of Events

It was simply to get a smile

Submitted by Norm on Sat, 03/10/2007 - 4:56am.

It was simply to get a smile out of you Rob, I'm not trying to ingratiate you.

As for the splitting hairs, Vietnam was not technically a war, neither was the Korean "conflict". SO if it makes you feel better:

They are your enemy because the United State and Iraq are on opposing sides of a conflict involving occupation and the battle against insurgency.

Feel better? Really Rob, we just have differing viewpoints on the subject, and personally I would never seek to insult you. I think you are, by far, one of the more respectful people on this blog, and I appreciate you for that.

UN Peacekeeper

Submitted by chad360 on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 11:47am.

Hi Rob, why don't you:

#1 go over there (I have)

#2 join a peacekeeping force, or become a doctor w/o border...

or is that impossible for you?

Oh, and another question: "why are you still an Amercian?"

RE: "Why were the Vietnamese shooting at us"

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 10:51am.

"We are their enemy, they are our enemy, we are in a war..."

Um,

Not all of the Vietnamese were shooting at us Norm..

also,

Not all of the Iraqi's are shooting at us..

So who is this "enemy"?

Whoever we want it to be that day?

Ive got it:

Any person in the world who believes in the right to take up arms to defend the sovereignty of their country.

Those people are the "enemy"..

Sound good?

I don't make the rules Bub,

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 11:00am.

I don't make the rules Bub, I just point them out.

Not all of the japanese or germans were shooting at us either, we still dropped bombs on nagasaki and hiroshima.

Again, I don't make the rules, just pointing out the obvious.

Why do Iraqis oppose the presence of the American military?

Submitted by chad360 on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 12:52pm.

Rob, you are making broad statements...Like all Iraqis have the same POV?

Can't you see that some folks who live in Iraq want the US there while others do not? It is complicated...

Lots of GIs are treated well by hosts, I get emails from buds all the time saying it suxs to be there, but the hosts are nice and care just tlike anyone would...

we are all people man, not just speaking points for your rant...

again, go there and do something positive...join a peace keeping group or deliver some humanitarian aid--

what you are doing is like this (an example):

big forest fires suck, and some folks think that they are natural...so for wahtever reason some folks try to stop fire crews...I used to work in this industry.

The point is valid, but when you are behind the line and need supplies, that is all between you and certain death (very awful, seen it myself).

Lobby to change the forest policy, don't block trucks..

I know that is a real sh*tty analogy, but I just can't come up with a better on on the fly here--

again, I'm just gonna harp on this:

Rob, a young guy like you could do alot of good work, why don't you join a real cause and make some positive changes? Red Cross, Doctors w/o Borders, UN Habitat, etc...the list is huge--

Face it man, the OlyPMR/Tacoma PMR is just not working...too many superstars, etc...

You are losing focus & control...someone is gonna get hurt bad, regardless whose fault it is, and that will be a real sad day when it does happen.

You make it such an "us versus them" thing, and that is so simplistic and wrong...

Lemme ask, "do you think all the cops and every service person supports the action in Iraq, the US policy?"

Your actions/statements seem to lump all those folks together...

Do you support those in Iraq that are attacking the forces? I'd like to know how you reconcile your POV-

real cause

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sat, 03/10/2007 - 4:36am.

Real Cause?

Opposition to the most heinous and brutal occupation currently under the umbrella of our federal government? That's real Chad. Maybe I will look into working with medicines san frontieres. Thanks for the advice Chad.

Otherwise, I find your statements to be offensive, and I think that you owe me, and PMR, an apology, unless you really intended to do harm.

In the Course of Events

apology?

Submitted by chad360 on Sat, 03/10/2007 - 8:32pm.

Hmm, an apology?

Nope, not gonna happen.

You are not the least bit responsive to POVs that differ from your POV...you have never even expressed regret that your protest actions upset others (if if they agree ethically with you).

So, perhaps if you apologize, then I will: I didn't start this, you did, and while I agree with you in principle, it is your choice to take these actions.

apologies

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sat, 03/10/2007 - 1:14pm.

I would like to apologize for anything I might have done to prevent understanding between us Chad. But you are wrong to say that I have not been responsive to differing POVs. I have expressed disappointment that others don't understand my actions. And I regret that others don't understand.

In the Course of Events

Most Americans are not being

Submitted by armywife on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 4:59pm.

Most Americans are not being shot at... in fact the Iraqis tend to shoot at their own. Our troops are typically with them or in their crossfire. Its important everyone carry a weapon... most never even shoot. But the media portrays it very different. I think you should go over... walk a day with my husband and his brave soilders... I think you would want a GUN :).

it is a tool

Submitted by chad360 on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 11:49am.

Don't be simplistic...a vechicle can be used for good or bad...>jeez< I thought this would be obvious.

Valid point... Just like the

Submitted by armywife on Fri, 03/09/2007 - 12:59am.

Valid point... Just like the internet :) can be used for good or bad...

First.. the stryker is one

Submitted by armywife on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 4:55pm.

First.. the stryker is one of the safest vehicles to be in when attacked. The attacks despite what you believe they are really not there running up and down the streets just randomly shooting. In fact, its not remotely us over there just on a killing spree. That vehicle was designed for Urban War. There is a great special on the vehicle the Military channel runs on a fairly regular basis. If your spouse had to be there wouldnt you want them to be in a safe vehicle? I can bet you would!

thanks for posting Armywife

Submitted by chad360 on Thu, 03/08/2007 - 11:57am.

I think it has gotta suck to be caught up in all of this-- I hear your viewpoint, and I'm glad I'm not involved. Go on a national parks tour when your spouse gets home & have fun/relax (recreaction.gov).
I stayed away fro the mil.gov and I'm so glad I was not in when this happened-- BUSH is a f*cking liar puppet and the mil should not be overseas at all..Dept of Defense not Attack--

The US rocks (I love the land), and if we just focused on minding our own business then wthings would work out better-- I guess I'm a neo-isolationist that just happens to be big on immigration...keep that pot melting, diversity rocks! Do you work for the mil.gov or private? I'm self-employed

OlyBlog.net

OlyBlog is devoted to citizen journalism, including hyperlocal news and discussion specifically about Olympia, Washington. If you care about this community and are tired of corporate media, then this is the place for you.

If you'd like to contribute, please register for an account. Here is a list of local news beats that need to be covered. You can post your news as a personal blog entry, and it will be reviewed (and possibly edited) for promotion to the front page. Once you've established a record of responsible blogging, you can become an autonomous user. You can also send news via email. All members of OlyBlog agree to abide by our comment and fair use policies. If you are frustrated about something said in a comment thread, go here.

Now playing at: