U.S. Military Families in Iraq

Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * [EMAIL PROTECTED]
___________________________________________________

                 PM Tuesday, December 2, 2003

                 U.S. Military Families in Iraq

Relatives of U.S. military personnel stationed in Iraq are currently in 
Baghdad. They are meeting with members of the Governing Council and 
ordinary Iraqis, as well as with U.S. soldiers including their loved ones 
stationed in Iraq.

Today they expressed surprise at the dire conditions of schools and 
hospitals that they have visited. They also report that many Iraqis they 
encounter want direct elections.

In the United States, media can contact: Andrea Buffa 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] and Victoria Cunningham 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] They are in touch with members of the 
delegation and can arrange interviews upon their return to the U.S. after 
December 8.

Family members of U.S. military personnel currently in Iraq include:

* MICHAEL McPHEARSON, http://www.occupationwatch.org
McPhearson, who has a son in the military, said: "Both George Bush and 
Hillary Clinton have a hidden agenda. They are both using their trips to 
Iraq to better position their political parties in the upcoming elections. 
The only agenda of our delegation is to uncover the truth."

* FERNANDO SUAREZ DEL SOLAR, 
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1202-09.htm
Fernando Suarez del Solar, whose son Jesus was a Marine who died in combat 
in Iraq, said: "Our mission is not photo ops. Our mission is talking to 
ordinary Iraqis and U.S. troops, figuring out why things have gone so 
terribly wrong and what we can do to stop the violence and bring the troops 
home." He is also bringing thousands of letters of peace from children in 
the United States to children in Iraq, as well as medical supplies for 
hospitals.

* ANABELLE VALENCIA, http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1129-06.htm
Valencia, a military mother and school teacher traveling with the 
delegation, said: "I want to see my son and daughter and talk to the other 
troops. I want to talk to the Iraqi people, especially the women. And I 
want to talk to the U.S. authorities and ask them when they are going to 
send our troops home and allow the Iraqis to run their own country."

* MIKE LOPERCIO, 
http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=719D8775-D0FC-4DAB-BF4B-F93D1773A601
A businessman from Tempe, Arizona, whose son is stationed in Iraq, Lopercio 
said: "I want to ask Iraqis how they feel about our presence and if they 
understand and agree with our objectives. I want to find out if the current 
attacks on our troops are acts of a small minority or supported by most of 
the population."

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

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