Pentagon announces September 11 concert
 

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/...353364623.html

The Pentagon would hold a massive march and country music concert to mark the fourth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in an announcement tucked into an Iraq war briefing today.

"This year the Department of Defence will initiate an America Supports Your Freedom Walk," Rumsfeld said, adding that the march would remind people of "the sacrifices of this generation and of each previous generation".

The march will start at the Pentagon, where nearly 200 people died on September 11, 2001, and end at the National Mall with a show by country star Clint Black.

Word of the event startled some observers.

"I've never heard of such a thing," said John Pike, who has been a defence analyst in Washington for 25 years and runs GlobalSecurity.org.

The news also reignited debate and anger over linking September 11 with the war in Iraq.

"That piece of it is disturbing since we all know now there was no connection," said Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq veteran who heads Operation Truth, an anti-administration military booster.

Rieckhoff suggested the event was an ill-conceived publicity stunt.

"I think it's clear that their public opinion polls are in the toilet," he said.

Rumsfeld's march had some relatives of September 11 victims fuming.

"How about telling Mr Rumsfeld to leave the memories of September 11 victims to the families?" said Monica Gabrielle, who lost her husband in the attacks.

Administration supporters insisted Rumsfeld was right to link Iraq and September 11, and hold the rally.

"We are at war," said Representative Pete King, (Republican, New York).

"It's essential that we support our troops."

He also said attacking Iraq was necessary after September 11.

"You do not defeat al-Qaeda until you stabilise the Middle East, and that's not possible as long as Saddam Hussein is in power."

The even more ridiculous part is it is a country music concert---hey maybe the Dixie Chicks could play?

Chris

I can't think of one pop act that supports this admin. other than BS (Brittany Spears) and she aint going nowhere. Thus, that leaves them with country and gospel.

Personally, I think Springsteen should play and give them a mouthful :eek:

Having said that, I do not in general oppose a 9/11 memorial concert :shrug:

Ya mean...
 

the same Bruce on a bootleg I have, Who states the following from the stage:

"There's not any Republicans here tonight, are there? If so you may want to leave...Nah, I'm just kidding as long as you keep quiet then we can have a concert."

Also did anyone watch South Park last night??? Last night's episode seemed somewhat prophetical, since the war on terror had the city split down the middle...The pro-war folkz wanted a country concert whereas the anti-war folkz wanted a rock concert.

I saw it!!
 

Nope, they want us to remember. And intimidate half the country and the rest of the world.

Nope it's not a fundraiser and it's not a memorial. These bastards are throwing a party.

I think they're doing it to drum up the patriotism to support their invasion of Iran.

Something stinks...... When do you have a "4th Anniversary Concert"???

a 1st, or 5th, or 10th, 20th, 25th etc.... But not a 4th.... They are up to something again.. Trying to drum up US Patriotism before another idealistic crusade into the middle east no doubt.... That's if Bush has time between vacations to plan such a thing.

I'll apologise if I'm wrong but Bush and his cronies are far too predictable.. The worst thing is they keep getting away with it... So sad...

Oh right, how the hell could I forget? Iran. Could be Syria too but most likely Iran. So who are the folks who will be marching on the 4th anniversary? Will there be goose stepping involved?

I know!
 

or desperately trying to get your approval rating up by beating the same horse you have been beating with great success for the last four years :nod:

Don't forget Chaka. :wavey:

They cannot build the extra support for the stage in time :eek:

But, if they can, they merely mentioned it was an open bar and she shrieked "I"LL BE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

nasty I know - but I could not resist

SNAP! That's scary, but a pretty accurate observation.

You have to register in order to be able to march in the "Freedom March" or whatever the hell they're calling it.
I'm curious to see what the turnout will be.
Also, I saw on the news this morning that Iran had broken the seals on one of it's nuclear processing facilities.
Rummy was screaming something about Iran yesterday too but I can remember what now because I can just see this coming and I don't want to see it. :distress:

BTW, golddustdragon, I didn't edit your post up thread. It was an accident. I'm still trying to figure out how to drive this thing. :sorry: :laugh:

Yes, I believe you are correct. :laugh:

Gross. "let's spend money others wish they had, for something totally pointless, and possibly disrespectful! Who cares our troops need things, people of the country need things, lets have a parade!"
bleah. blurg.

I wonder if they will publish if the talent is being paid or getting millions in perks like security, private jets, suites, etc. I think they have to. Maybe the event will make money though - I think I read it is a fundraiser - but I am probably wrong.

In any event and while I am not opposed to some type of memorial, I do not think a hoedown is the appropriate vehicle - might I suggest a wreath on a tomb with Taps playing in the background.

Good call. I read in the rest of the thread that it was not a fundraiser. :shrug:
I think I might suggest a memorial, and......lets see, I dunno.....

GETTING EVERYONE ELSE THE HELL OUT OF THERE?
:shrug:

My bad :sorry: :sorry: :sorry:

I cannot wait for Fox to spin this shindig into WATCH IT OR YOU ARE HELPING OBL :eek:

The evil high tech murderer.

I LOVE YOU :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I predict this march will be something borrowed from Leni Riefenstahl (spelling, like I give a s*** about a master propagandist). It may not be as bad as goose stepping but just the surplus of American flags and the presence of police in riot gear ready to suppress the anti war side is enough to send chills down my spine. And I'm sure it will do the same with everyone else in the world.

Yes, there will be a HUGE protest against this. This could be very bad. At the very least it is in poor taste but I think the intent may be more sinister.

Why do you think people need to register for this Freedom March?

More than likely so the NSA can pull peoples jackets and check out who is actually parading and what their intentions are for doing so...

it is in the interests of "National Security" of course :rolleyes:

I bet it will be broadcasted live over here too. Our prime minister follows everything bush and consorts do like a love sick puppy.

I'm glad I've got a concert to go to on 9-11.

Don't forget Nick and Jessica though, they are Bush folks

Chris

And that bastion of fine music we call The Duffster.

"9/11 is...so yesterday."

You folks big country music fans over there? :laugh:

I feel sorry for the Brits who are now watching their government becoming more and more like ours. I bet they regret electing Blair to another term.

Wow I bet Toby Keith is harder than Michael Jackson at a boy scouts meeting. I hate country music and the Bushes. :mad: F*ck this whole thing. I bet Alan Jackson will sing some poorly written sappy song with a big flag blowing behind him. http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/sad/310.gif

The day that happens I'm leaving the country.

Washington Post Pulls Sponsorship of Pentagon 9/11 Event

Tuesday, August 16, 2005



WASHINGTON — The Washington Post is withdrawing its offer of free advertising for an organized event by the Defense Department to memorialize the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the newspaper announced.

The Post backed out of the agreement after critics said the event, scheduled to take place four years after the attacks that hit New York and Washington and resulted in the crash of a commercial airliner over western Pennsylvania, would have a pro-war slant and that support of the event by the newspaper would compromise the Post's journalistic integrity.

"The Post has a code of conduct that says employees should avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest," said Rick Ehrmann, a Local representative for the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild. "In this case The Post was sponsoring the Pentagon's Freedom Walk, which ties the attack on Sept.... 11 to the Iraq war, and of course, The Post's reporters have proven ... that there is no connection between the two, that that link is false."

Ehrmann said, "The Post has made a very good decision in withdrawing from this event."

The paper said that it instead will make a donation directly to the Pentagon Memorial Fund, which is raising money to build a two-acre contemplation park in honor of the 184 people who died when a plane crashed into the Pentagon in 2001. The decision was reported by the Post in Tuesday's Style section.

"It is unfortunate that The Washington Post has made this decision not to support the Freedom Walk, but we welcome their donation to the Pentagon Memorial Fund," said a Defense Department statement. "Everyone in American will pay tribute and commemorate this important day in different ways."

Critics of media support for the event also pointed to the free concert by Clint Black that is to take place at the end of the march route. Black's Web site features lyrics to his song entitled "I Raq and I Roll," including "Our troops take out the garbage/ for the good old U.S.A."

"If this is the person they're going to have representing American freedom, I'd say it's a political event," said Eric Hilton of the pop duo Thievery Corporation, who is part of a coalition that's organizing an anti-war protest concert on the Mall for later in September. Hilton said his concert will be political and he does not expect media sponsorship.

Other organizations scheduled to sponsor the Sept. 11 event included Stars and Stripes newspaper, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Subway, Lockheed Martin, WTOP Radio Network, ABC/WJLA-TV Channel 7 and News Channel 8 and the Washington Convention & Tourism Corporation, according to the Freedom Walk Web site.

"As things stand right now we are committed to honoring our agreement to promote the event," said Stan Melton, director of creative services at WJLA-TV and News Channel 8 in Washington. "If we were to find out that it was meant to be a political event, we couldn't support it."

Calls to The Washington Post and to the Defense Department were not immediately returned.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,165883,00.html

I rarely listen...
 

to country music anymore (Excluding Keith Urban, Who is more rock to me than country & of course Jaime O'Neal who is also somewhat rockin') because their nutswinging on Shrub's raisins has started to wear thin on my last nerve.

Dont anyone find it sad that before long the US will have suffered almost as many deaths in this "war on terror" in the Middle East as there was on 9/11?

Good news. :nod:

Let's just hope this hasty PR stunt will fold quickly.