[pjw] EVENT: "Iraq 15 Years Later: Forever War?" Rally & March, Friday March 16, 2018 5:00 PM

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters
Mark your calendars, tell your organizations, and spread the word-- we're 
gearing up to mark 15 years (if you can believe it) since the invasion of 
Iraq. Below is the calendar listing for the March 16 event that just went 
out to media. Please let us know if your organization wants to cosponsor.
Thanks!
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

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Peace and Justice Works
    Iraq Affinity Group
    PO Box 42456
    Portland, OR   97242
    (503) 236-3065  (Office)
    iraq at pjw.info
    http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html


Calendar Item

For Immediate Release   January 25, 2018

"Iraq 15 Years Later: Forever War?"
Friday, March 16, 2018
5:00 PM
Expanded Portland Peaceful Response Coalition Friday Rally
Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill and Broadway

Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group is co-sponsoring the Friday, March 
16 Portland Peaceful Response Coalition (PPRC) Friday Rally with the theme 
"Iraq 15 Years Later: Forever War?." The rally begins at 5 PM at Pioneer 
Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill and Morrison, with a march around downtown 
beginning at about 5:20 PM. The US invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003. Even though 
most of the troops were withdrawn in 2011, they never left completely. Even 
with the US' war against the Islamic State (August 2014-present) being declared 
a victory with the devastating US/Iraqi military attack on Mosul, there are now 
over 5000 troops in Iraq as "advisors," drone and conventional aircraft 
bombings, and, with the world's largest embassy, an unending occupation.

Although March 2018 marks 15 years since the Iraq War began, one also can look 
at January 1991-- the start of "Gulf War Part 1"-- as the start of what has now 
been over 27 years of US hostilities in Iraq. Even though candidate Donald 
Trump condemned the 2003 decision to invade and attack Iraq, in 2017 President 
Trump told NBC: "We should've kept the oil when we got out"-- signalling his 
long-term intentions for US presence there. Join the rally to say "no more 
war-- bring all the troops home now!"

For more information information or to endorse or otherwise support this event 
contact Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group at 503-236-3065 or 
iraq at pjw.info ; PPRC's weekly rally has been ongoing since November, 2001 
(<http://pprc-news.info/node/3>). Information for the March 16 event can be 
found at <http://www.pjw.info/iraq15yl.html>.