Susan Cornwell, Reuters, September 27, 2005

Washington - US government spending needed to repair Hurricane Katrina damage may turn out to be just half of early estimates, or about $100 billion, the Senate Majority Leader's chief budget aide said on Monday.

Bill Hoagland, who works for Tennessee Republican Sen. Bill Frist, also said congressional leaders would shortly ask lawmakers to find additional spending cuts to help pay for hurricane disaster aid, but added: "It's going to be tough." ... Govt

Washington - Here's a link to good photos and articles about the anti-war rally.

Katrina & Cindy Blow into Town.
Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch, September 25, 2005

George was out of town, of course, in the "battle cab" at the US Northern Command's headquarters in Colorado Springs, checking out the latest in homeland-security technology and picking up photo ops; while White House aides, as the Washington Post wrote that morning, were attempting "to reestablish Bush's swagger." The Democrats had largely fled town as well, leaving hardly a trace behind. ... No Iraqis

Jeremy Scahill, The Nation, October 10, 2005

The men from Blackwater USA arrived in New Orleans right after Katrina hit. The company known for its private security work guarding senior US diplomats in Iraq beat the federal government and most aid organizations to the scene in another devastated Gulf. About 150 heavily armed Blackwater troops dressed in full battle gear spread out into the chaos of New Orleans. Officially, the company boasted of its forces "join[ing] the hurricane relief effort." But its men on the ground told a different story. ... Blackwater

PollingReport.com, September 23, 2005

Associated Press/Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs. Sept. 16-18, 2005. N=1,000 adults nationwide.

"As you may know, the US Congress has appropriated 260 billion dollars to fight the war and help rebuild Iraq. What best describes how you feel about federal spending on the rebuilding of Iraq? We are spending too much. We are spending the right amount. We should spend more." ... 52% Say

Duncan Campbell, Guardian, September 26, 2005

The mother of a soldier killed by a roadside bomb near Basra led calls at the weekend for British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. The appeal to the government came as senior military figures called for an exit strategy and a poll showed growing public support for it.

"Seven weeks ago we saw our son for the last time in a coffin at the chapel of rest, looking down on the face of a son that I had given birth to, love with all my heart, knowing that I would never see him again ... " Peace protest

Tens of thousands in Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington and London peacefully advocate withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Ryan G. Murphy, Emma Vaughn & David Pierson, Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2005

Capping a summer of rising discontent with the war in Iraq, tens of thousands of protesters marched through cities across the nation Saturday to demand the immediate withdrawal of US forces.

Crowds shrugged off chilly rains and breakdowns in public transportation to greet Cindy Sheehan and her traveling antiwar vigil in Washington. ... Big Antiwar Rallies

Bay Area: Largest war protest since Iraq conflict started.
Kathleen Sullivan, Christopher Heredia & Todd Wallack, San Francisco Chronicle, September 25, 2005

It was a sunny day in the Bay Area, a picture-perfect day to cheer for the A's, enjoy a blues festival, take part in a parade celebrating electronic music, or join peace marches in San Francisco and Walnut Creek.

Patti Breitman of Fairfax chose to march in San Francisco in support of ending the war in Iraq. ... Peace marches

Rocky Mountain Telegram, September 25, 2005

A persistent breeze doused the flames of a candlelight vigil Saturday night at City Hall, but it didn't appear to extinquish the spirits of the people who attended it.

Although originally billed as a candlelight peace vigil in memory of the US soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in the war, the event quickly took on the trappings of an anti-war demonstration as folk singers performed protest songs and people called for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. ... Peace vigil

Maire Gurevitz, Dawgnet, September 25, 2005

On Saturday, I was privileged to be amongst a crowd of people exercising their patriotism on Monument Circle, downtown Indianapolis. This crowd was made up of people of different ages, races, political affiliations and occupations.

What sort of cause could be so important that it brought out such a wide variety of people? It is one of the most brave and courageous of causes. Today I stood amongst these people at a rally for peace.

I say that the cause of peace is a brave and courageous one, because many times, especially in this age of war and terrorism, it is not a very popular cause. ... Standing up

Brisbane Courier-Mail, September 25, 2005

Washington - Thousands of anti-war demonstrators rallied outside the White House overnight, demanding the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq as public opinion polls show collapsing support for the war effort.

Chanting "Bring the Troops Home Now", a column of protesters stretched for several blocks around the White House, with parents pushing infants in strollers while students beat makeshift drums.

Opponents of the US-led war also marched in central London, protesting the presence of British troops in Iraq. ... Rallies condemn

Brian Tumulty, Green Bay Press-Gazette, September 25, 2005

Washington - Several busloads of Wisconsin peace protesters and thousands of other demonstrators from around the nation converged Saturday on downtown Washington to call for an end to the war in Iraq.

“We’ve gotten Saddam,” said Nancy Utesch of Kewaunee, who brought along her 12-year-old daughter Addie. “There’s been an election. It’s time to come home.”

Utesch, a mother of five married to a Navy veteran, said her husband supported her decision to make the 20-hour overnight bus trip. ... State peace protesters

Brook Griffin, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, September 25, 2005

More than two dozen demonstrators walked from the Gallatin County Courthouse to Bogert Park on Saturday, in conjunction with the National Day of Protests Against the War in Iraq.

The march came as a welcome surprise to many people walking down Main Street.

"It's kind of nice because we don't see anything like that," said Alicia Cooke, who was visiting Bozeman from Virginia with her boyfriend Mike Gray.

"It's nice to see some people finally getting up and getting angry," Gray said. ... Bystanders

Jennifer Moody, Albany Democrat-Herald, September 25, 2005

Organizers of a peace rally Saturday at Albany's Monteith Riverpark were prepared to be visited by people with different opinions about the country's military action in Iraq.

Somewhat to their surprise, they didn't get any.

Adele Kubein of Corvallis, spokeswoman for Military Families Speak Out, which organized the rally, said as far as she knew no "pro-war" demonstrators were present at Saturday's rally.

"If they are, they're being very sedate," she said. ... A plea

Tom Kressler, Nashua Telegraph, September 25, 2005

Nashua - Upwards of 75 people turned out Saturday for a peace rally outside City Hall timed to coincide with demonstrations in Washington, DC, and other cities this weekend calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Sponsored by Nashua Peace, a local group that formed around the time the United States invaded Iraq in March 2003, the rally had originally been conceived as a march through downtown Nashua, although that plan was blocked by the city for insurance reasons. ... Peace protesters