'Spectacular' Iraq attacks coming, group says

A new grass-roots activist group is warning that some "spectacular" attacks probably are being lined up against U.S. and coalition forces in the war on terror, especially in a few months as Congress will be evaluating the progress made in Iraq, and whether more funds should be allocated.

"We're all pretty sure the enemy is looking at September to pull off some spectacular attacks," Kristinn Taylor of Gathering of Eagles, told WND.

"Our enemies are using the Vietnam playbook. They understand very well that they're not going to be able to defeat us militarily," Taylor said. "The only way for them to win is to sap our political will at home." Thus, what's expected are high-profile attacks that would garner a lot of attention.

The organization, set up just months ago to support military personnel, veterans and their families, identify threats to the U.S. and advocate for a strong national defense, already has staged several events, and is planning a long list of additional activities.

Its "Gathering of Eagles 1" happened in Washington, D.C., in March and was set up to coincide with a march by anti-war activists who said they intended to occupy the area near the Vietnam war veterans memorial wall.

Instead, however, they were pushed aside as members of the "Eagles" organization outnumbered anti-war activists 30,000 to approximately 20,000, officials said.

Chris Hill, the national director of operations, told WND that the group's focus will be on supporting the U.S. troops without qualifications, because the arguments over weapons of mass destruction and other issues no longer matter.

"There are soldiers and marines and sailors in harm's way," he said.

Hill told WND that the goal is to halt the internal decay represented by statements from those in positions of power that the U.S. troops cannot win against terror.

"The first thing is for members of Congress to stop saying things like the war is lost," he said. "That does not support the troops in any way, shape or form." He said he's seen translations of documents from "radical Islamists," confirming 'We just have to hold out, they've lost their will to fight."

Those negative evaluations, he added, "are hamstringing our troops. We need to stop the political pandering over the funds. The fight has to be won. Victory is what we're looking for. We want a win. We don't want anything short of a win."

Hill's comments aligned with the organization's mission statement, which concludes with:

"We believe in freedom at all costs, including our own lives. We served to protect the freedoms Americans enjoy, and we agree with Thomas Jefferson’s assertion that 'From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants.' We will accept nothing less than total, unqualified victory in the current conflict. Surrender is not an option, nor is defeat. We stand to challenge any group that seeks the destruction of our nation, its founding precepts of liberty and freedom, or those who have given of themselves to secure those things for another generation. We will be silent no more."

Hill said the organization is working on plans for a range of events, from appearing "across the street" when groups such as A.N.S.W.E.R. hold protests, to providing moral support for those wanting to put up a memorial statue in Colorado to a Navy SEAL who died in Afghanistan.

The ANSWER group, Act Now To Stop War and End Racism, is a coalition of organizations that oppose "U.S. intervention" around the world. Among its supporters are the Free Palestine Alliance – U.S., the Nicaragua Network, Muslim Student Association – National, and Party for Socialism and Liberation.

He said a recent event also was set up to support the president during his address to graduates of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, in opposition on anti-war protesters. "It seems funny to us that you would support the troops by disrupting their graduation," he said.

Hill said the group has no complaint about freedom of speech issues for groups and individuals, but does object when those groups are "intellectually dishonest" about their goals and endorsements.

Many of those who state that they support the troops but oppose the war "don't even like the troops," he said.

Larry Bailey is chairman of the group, and told WND his plans are to restore a feeling of patriotism in the United States. "And by golly, we're having some success in doing that," he said.

The event in Washington was an example. The Cindy Sheehan crowd had announced plans to occupy the area around the Vietnam war veterans memorial wall, he said. His concern over that was echoed by a handful of other people, a few went on talk shows on the issue, and they loaded their e-mails for Internet contacts.

Cindy Sheehan

That was before Sheehan, the so-called "Peace Mom" who gained national attention protesting President Bush's Iraq war policy by remaining camped in a ditch near his Crawford, Texas, ranch, decided to drop out of the anti-war movement.

The Washington event proved a huge success for the protesters of the anti-war protesters. "We ended up with twice as many people as Ramsey Clark and Cindy Sheehan. It was like 40 years of passion – having been suppressed – came unleashed," Bailey told WND.

What had been planned to be a one-time event took on a life of its own. Donations started arriving, requests for help came in, and it has been snowballing ever since.

The group is partnering with other like-minded organizations, for a bigger impact, such as this weekend's biker rally in Chicago. State coordinators have been named across the country.

Taylor said it doesn't matter if volunteers are Republican, Democrat, veteran or not. "We're focused solely on the war on terror," he said. "We don't want to see a repeat of what happened in Vietnam. We won it on the battlefield, but the politicians surrendered at home."

About the soon-coming rerun of congressional arguments over funding the war on terror, he said the United States "needs to send a clear message of support."

"We want to convince the American people of the necessity to give our troops the time to do the job they're committed to doing," he said. "That's win the war."

Bailey, who is former president of Vietnam Vets for the Truth, set up to defeat John Kerry in 2004, said the group has earned the support of MoveAmericaForward.org, Vets for Victory, Rolling Thunder, the Patriotic Pillow Project, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 12th marine Artillery Regiment Association, the Combat Vets Association and others.

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