'Eagles Up!' to defend against ANSWER's Washington protest

By C.J. Raven
U.S. Veteran Dispatch
August 12, 2007

The highly-decorated Army officer who coined the phrase "Gathering of Eagles" is calling the flock together again.

Retired Col. Harry Riley is giving the "Eagles Up" order for Sept. 15 in Washington to confront the ANSWER anti-war group. ANSWER is supported by such individuals and groups as Ramsey Clark, Cindy Sheehan, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, National Council of Arab Americans, Code Pink and similar organizations.

"We will be sending a message to Congress and to the administration and to the troops that we've got their backs and Gen. (David) Petraeus' back," Riley said. "We're there. They're not alone, and they're worth fighting for."

ANSWER's week-long rally Sept. 15-21 will protest Petraeus' Sept. 15 report to Congress on the success of the surge in Iraq. ANSWER's leaders are calling for 1 million supporters to crowd Washington and protest the war to Congress and the White House.

The group says the U.S. cannot achieve military victory in Iraq. ANSWER believes the antiwar movement must take "strategic and bold initiatives that change the political climate in this country." Part of that strategy includes staging a mock funeral and a "die-in," during which they expect 4,000 participants will try to capture the attention of national news media by being arrested. "Nothing will be safe in Washington, D.C. from the hate spewing, anti-America rabble Sept. 15," Riley said in an e-mail to Eagles. "These groups have been involved in vandalizing, destructive, and dishonorable behavior for decades, not only in Washington but across America."

The September Eagles Up will offer another view of America's responsibilities to its citizens and military. "We will defend the honor of America, our current warriors, and particularly protect the sacred honor and hallowed ground of our brothers and sisters gone before," Riley said, speaking from his home in Florida. "America is in a slumber. Are we waking? I don't know. I hope so. Our nation is in great danger if we do not pick up the flag and say, This I will defend to the ultimate."

Eagles first came together in Washington in March to face down anti-war demonstrators who threatened to damage public buildings and memorials. They again successfully turned away protesters determined to deface the Vietnam War Memorial on Memorial Day. Some estimates placed the Eagles' number as high as 30,000 against the anti-war group's 10,000.

Eagles who attended the Memorial Day rally say protesters were shocked at the resistance they faced. Code Pink and the anti-war group were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the support they saw for America. Riley said the same protesters have a lot of events scheduled for September, but he's hoping Eagles will demoralize them again.

Eagles are men and women of all ages, races and socioeconomic strata who periodically gather nationally, or in their own hometowns, to show support for American military members. Many are veterans or family members of active service personnel.

Riley hopes to see hundreds of thousands of Eagle boots on the ground for the September rally. Already making plans to attend are Move America Forward, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder.

"We'll be there to show there's another view of America other than the anti-war people," he said. "No one challenged them in the '60s. We fought so they can walk down streets and protest. That's their right. But it doesn't mean we fought, died and bled so they can have the freedom to destroy our public memorials and buildings."

Eagles will gather near the Mall, although the exact time and location haven't been finalized. A list of suggested hotel accommodations is available at Riley's Web site, www.eaglesup.us. The site also has a list of suggested items to take to the rally and do's and don'ts for protesting effectively.

Riley, recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and a host of other medals, is a Vietnam veteran who has never forgotten the protests against that war and the scorn faced by returning soldiers. He is determined that men and women fighting in Iraq will not face the same treatment upon their return.

"Many of us feel that America is perilously close to falling back into the same mindset of the '60s when our government failed America and failed the people of Southeast Asia," he said. "(The enemy) was way over there and there was no thought of them coming to us here. Now it's different. They're already here. We know they've already attacked us. If we do not stand up for America those people are going to view our actions as a surrender tactic, and it will embolden them."

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