Bush's policies as "the greatest threat to peace and security," Clark

WASHINGTON, October 26 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Some 25,000 anti-war protesters took to the streets of several U.S. cities Saturday, October 25, protesting the "lies" of U.S. President George Bush and the U.S.-led occupation of oil-rich Iraq.

More than 20,000 demonstrators marched in Washington to vocalize mounting concern over the growing number of American servicemen killed in occupied Iraq as well as the billions of dollars earmarked for the occupation expenses, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

They demanded an end to the U.S.-led occupation and the quick return of American troops.

More than 110 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraqi resistance operations since May 1, when Bush declared an end to major combat operations.

Among those who addressed the anti-war rally near the White House, were Democratic presidential hopeful Al Sharpton and former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark.

"We were right when we were saying Bush was misleading the population," Sharpton charged.

"We are right now. We want to stop the misuse of American lives in Iraq."

"Don't give Bush $87 billion, don't give him 87 cents, give our troops a ride home," Sharpton said to loud cheers from the crowd.

Clark, a fervent supporter of left-wing causes since he served under President Lyndon Johnson from 1967-1969, demanded Bush be impeached, saying the president "has made us international outlaws.

"The American people are viewed around the world as supporting George Bush's policies and they will be until he is removed from office," said Clark, dismissing Bush's policies as "the greatest threat to peace and security."

Fernando de Solar Suarez, whose Marine son, Jesus, was killed in action in Iraq, told the crowd "we don't need any more deaths.

"President Bush -- wrongly called president -- has lied to the entire world about this war," he maintained.

Michael McPhearson, a veteran from the 1991 Persian Gulf War, lashed out at Bush, accusing him of misleading the nation.

"You have butchered the truth, George Bush."

War Against Muslims

After failing to prevent war, protestors try to end occupation

"This is not a war against terrorism, this is a war against Muslims and Islam," charged Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim-American Freedom Society.

"This is the month of Ramadan, and the Muslim community is suffering every single day because of this administration."

Casting the war on terrorism in religious terms, Evangelical Lieutenant General William Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, said "our spiritual enemy will only be defeated if we come against them in the name of Jesus".

Evangelical Lieutenant General William Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, "our spiritual enemy will only be defeated if we come against them in the name of Jesus".

End Occupation

In San Francisco, more than 4,000 activists chanted "End the Occupation of Iraq" carrying signs bearing slogans such as "Money for Schools, Not War."

They also carried placards in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew and Korean proclaiming: "Bush lied;" "Bush is looting the future;" "No war for empire."

"This war is not about us," actor Danny Glover told the protesters.

"It is against us, against Iraqi people, and against our children."

The marchers included representatives of Military Families Speak Out, a group of some 800 families with relatives among the U.S. military forces in the Middle East.

The protests on both coasts were organized by the International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and United for Peace and Justice.