Religious activists protested at the statehouse Thursday over the use of IowaAir National Guard jets in the “no-fly” zone of Iraq. Leaders of the DesMoines Catholic Worker House, Des Moines Islamic Center and American FriendsServices Committee delivered a letter to Governor Vilsack demanding thereturn of the Guard to Iowa. Spokesman Michael Sprong admits the governordoesn’t have control over the guard jets and troops once they leave thestate, but says their mission in Iraq was not authorized in the cease-fireagreement after the Gulf War.Sprong says the people of Iraq have suffered immeasureably under theattacks by the U-S military. Governor Vilsack released a statement sayingthe actions of the Iowa National Guard have been sanctioned through theUnited Nations process and the various resolutions approved by the worldcommunity. About 200 members of the Iowa Guard 132nd Fighter Wing, based inDes Moines, are on a 30-day rotation in the Persian Gulf region.
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