A group that opposes the war in Iraq is launching a yard sign campaign in Iowa. Sue Dinsdale of Huxley says she’s hoping to place some 6,000 signs across the state. The signs read "support the troops, end the war." Dinsdale is involved with the organization "Americans Against Escalation in Iraq", which is pressuring members of Congress to vote for the redeployment of troops.
Dinsdale’s oldest son, Jessie, joined the Army after high school and has served two tours of duty in Iraq. "I know what it does to our children and families," Dinsdale says, "and I don’t see the need for it. I think we need to end the war and bring them home." Dinsdale says her son supports her anti-war activism.
"I had someone tell me once that we’re demoralizing the troops when we do things like this," Dinsdale says of the yard signs, "so I asked my son and he said ‘heck no’. He says the troops want to come home, so he’s with me." Dinsdale spoke to Radio Iowa outside the Altoona apartment of Dr. Larry Koenig, a chiropractor and retired Marine Corps Major who served during the Vietnam War.
Koening says he voted for President Bush in both elections, but then began to question if Bush had a plan to succeed in Iraq. Koenig says he doesn’t believe anything "good" can come out of the war and now the country’s leaders should look at how the U.S. can "cuts it’s losses." Koenig is hoping his stance on the war will encourage other Iowans to question their beliefs, regardless of their political party.
"We can’t listen to grand standing and slogans," Koenig says, "we have to think about this on our own. The divisiveness that I think has come along because of this war goes deep, and it’s going to be a hard process to get us back to being all together for the same purpose." Koenig has two children serving in the military.
His son, and Army Captain, is on active duty, while his daughter has served time with the National Guard in Afghanistan. Koenig says he’s worried that both of his kids could be sent to Iraq. Those that interested in learning more about the yard sign campaign can do so on line, at www.iraqsummer.org .