In Olympia, The War Is Over?

Olympia, WA…Today, more than 1000 peaceful demonstrators, many carrying signs that read “Welcome Home! We support you and want the war to end,” surrounded the Port of Olympia property and the USNS Brittin which arrived in the capitol city last night, after returning from Iraq.

“Welcome to Olympia’s “Circus of the Sane,” shouted Skip Crackle, public relations liaison for the local group, “P.E.A.C.E. or Peaceful Eccentrics Against Crazy Ethics

The apparently, well-organized event is being touted as “three hours of music, magic, burlesque and satire against the war in Iraq.”

Through a bullhorn, directed towards the US Navy vessel, Crackle and fellow P.E.A.C.E. member, Melony Bottom explained, “We are so happy that you’ve returned safely and we just want three hours of your time. We’ve prepared a great show for you!”

Cameras from local, National and International news organizations covered the elaborate variety show, which included a barber shop quartet, a self-styled, rapping-cowboy, an Olympia based burlesque review and some biting one-liners from Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert.

Onlookers from the deck of the ship flashed peace signs and, at one point, “mooned” an effigy of the Vice President.

After the show was over, as Stryker vehicles were unloaded and began the final leg of their journey home, crowds shot silly string across the roads and at each other.

Doctors Without Borders passed out pamphlets to many of the returning soldiers on the dangers of depleted uranium. One group in attendance, Boobs Not Bombs, had a special appeal to some of the returning troops.

“It just makes me very happy to be home,” remarked one soldier.

The crowd, which included both young and old, was very family friendly and Crackle said he was pleased that no one was hurt and that everybody had a good time.

Tor Bjornstead from the Olympia police said, “Everyone was so well behaved. I think they’ve really changed some minds. Today, in Olympia, the war is over.”