U.S. military and political preparations for a new war against Iraq are at a fever pitch.

On February 15, millions of the people of the world stood up against the imperial might of the United States government, to say no to war with Iraq. In the largest day of protest ever, the people’s movements have done what so many governments have been unable to do – scare the U.S. war machine. People in over 2,000 cities worldwide came out. Over a quarter of a million people in the U.S. alone stood up against the war.

- On March 25, over 250 protesters gathered at the Federal Office Building in downtown Minneapolis at 7 a.m. for the Anti-War Committee’s rally against the war on Iraq. Protesters then marched through downtown streets to the federal courts building. As they approached the Federal Building, activists peeled off from the march to cover entrances, preventing people and cars from entering the building. While the outside entrances were blocked, activists who were masquerading as visitors did a die-in, blocking the metal detectors inside the building. The march continued to the front plaza, where a legal rally was held in solidarity with the demonstrators doing civil disobedience and with the people of Iraq. 67 protesters were arrested. Police held some for 12 hours.

The assault on Iraq began with a failed sneak attack. Minutes before bombers cruised over, sirens blasted a warning to the sleeping people of Baghdad. It was 5:30 a.m. on March 20. The full strength of the world’s largest military began a war of terror, which they called ‘shock and awe.’

U.S General Tommy Franks, the commander of U.S. and British forces during the war on Iraq, has been named in a war crimes case, filed in a Belgian court. Belgian law allows cases to be brought before its courts in response to violations of International Humanitarian Law.

Minneapolis, MN - The Bush administration pretends that the U.S. efforts to occupy Iraq are going smoothly. Bush acts like his 'peace plan' for the Middle East is popular. Meanwhile, activists here are continuing to organize against the U.S. efforts to occupy the Middle East.

In the face of growing resistance, the U.S. is unable to consolidate its occupation of Iraq. Efforts to quickly assemble a puppet regime have failed. As we go to press, dozens of attacks are taking place on U.S. and British forces on a daily basis. The number of Americans killed and wounded is surpassing the causalities of the 1991 Gulf War. The Pentagon is weighing the issue of sending additional troops, while former Defense Department officials are speaking of a guerrilla war that will last for years.

In the face of a growing Iraqi resistance movement, the plans of the Bush administration to consolidate the occupation of Iraq are crumbling. The Pentagon acknowledges that attacks on the occupation forces are growing in scale and intensity. U.S. attempts to gain more military and financial support, within and outside of the United Nations, have by and large failed. So have efforts to create a viable Iraqi puppet government. The Governing Council, made up of U.S. appointees, has little legitimacy in the eyes of the Iraqi people or in the region as a whole.

The continued strength of the Iraqi resistance has created a growing crisis for the occupiers.

Millions of people in cities around the world hit the streets March 20 to protest the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Massive demonstrations took place in London, Brussels, Seoul, Tokyo and thousands of other cities and towns in 45 countries. Demonstrations took place in more that 250 cities across the United States. Many of these demonstrations also demanded an end to the U.S./Israeli occupation of Palestine and an end to the occupation of Afghanistan.