Protesters: U.S. policy on Iraq flawed

Touting a sign that said, "Stop the Sanctions," freshman Matt Berghs was part of a small army of protesters gathered Thursday evening at the Sample Gates. Berghs and a dozen other activists, mainly from the Bloomington Coalition for Peace, met to give a voice to people they believe don't have one. They protested U.N. sanctions against Iraq and airstrikes President George W. Bush ordered earlier this week.\n"I feel the sanctions are not doing what the government said it would do," Berghs said. "Ten years later, Saddam Hussein is still in power. Many of the people in power put profits before people."\nHe said he wants to see the sanctions end, as do graduate student Phil Metres and senior Kathryn Bryan, who coordinated the event. \n"The point is to get together and reaffirm our policy," Metres said, "and hopefully stir up some commotion."\nMetres said the sanctions are wrong and the airstrikes were machismo on Bush's part. The country lacks fresh water and many infants and children are contracting malaria, he said.\n"Our group believes that the economic sanctions have been a covert war against the Iraqi people," Metres said. "They have been largely unsuccessful in their primary goal to oust the leader. The effect of the bombings has been widespread devastation."\n"It's a strange way to bound your legitimacy."\nProtesters touted more than a dozen signs. Their message was clear: "Save Lives. Stop the sanctions," many of the signs read. "Why murder children? Stop the sanctions."\nIt took two people to hold up the main sign, a massive piece of cloth that read "Stop the sanctions against Iraq."\nBloomington resident George Brooks was half of that team. \n"Higher," Brooks said to his partner so they could hold the sign at the height of their heads. He was not a member of the coalition, but said he wanted to show his support. \n"I think the sanctions are ridiculous," he said. "I think we are being lied to by the media for political gain."\nGreg Garvy, another Bloomington resident and sign holder, said, "The sanctions are misguided and designed to maintain U.S. control over petroleum." \nThe group's main focus was to educate the community about what members feel is the unjust nature of the sanctions, Metres said. \n"I want them to be informed of the sanctions as a massive and moral failure," Metres said. "It's not a headline story -- it's an ongoing brutalization."\nThe Bloomington Coalition for Peace began in 1998 as the Bloomington Coalition for Peace in the Gulf. The group holds forums to educate the public on issues abroad. Metres said the group's main goal is to foster peace through justice. \nThe march ended at the U.S. Army Recruiting Center, 327 S. Walnut St. Adam Augustowski, company commander of the Bloomington Recruiting Co. said while he respects the group's right to protest, he defends the military's position.\n"The overall goal of the military is to keep peace," he said.\nBerghs said he realizes he might not cause immediate change, but that's not enough to discourage him. \n"We're linked to people all over the world," he said. "When a big enough group of people can get together, you can really make a difference"