Dear KC Media Watch Subscribers,

The situation in Iraq has taken another turn for the worse. Sections of the Shi'a south have risen up against the U.S. occupation in just the last few days, U.S. war planes have bombarded the holy city of Najaf, and at least 300 Iraqis have been killed. Occupying soldiers are dying at an alarming rate - in July, 54 U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq, up from 42 in June. And the Iraqi population is being terrorized by a military occupation and a spate of terrorist attacks that run the gamut from kidnappings and beheadings to suicide bombings and assassinations.

Where has the U.S. media been while this violence and chaos have been unfolding? They have been missing in action - too busy whipping the public into a frenzy about possible terrorist attacks to cover the growing crisis in Iraq, where a war is still raging on and more people are being killed every day.

How many more Iraqis and international soldiers will be killed before this occupation is ended? Now is the time for immediate action!

We need to hold the Bush administration accountable for this horrible war and its aftermath, and we need to do it NOW.


 

1. Come out to one of the Kansas City vigils against the war and occupation.

> EVERY SUNDAY: A weekly rally sponsored by the KC Iraq Task Force and other local peace and justice groups is held every Sunday between 4PM - 5 PM at JC Nichols Fountain, 47th & Main Street.

> EVERY TUESDAY: Join this peace demonstration every Tuesday between 5PM - 6 PM in the median strip on the south corner of the intersection at 63rd & Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo.  

> EVERY SATURDAY: 9/11 Visibility Project holds a Weekly Vigil every Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the JC Nichols Fountain, 47th & Main, Kansas City, Mo. See National 911visibility Project for more information.

2. Call your local media outlets and insist they cover the Iraq war on their front page, where it belongs. Email reporters good articles about what's happening in Iraq to give them ideas. Write letters to the editor informing the public about what's going on. Many good articles from all over the world can be found by at http://www.occupationwatch.org

3. SHOW UP IN NEW YORK CITY ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 29 AND SAY NO TO THE WAR ON IRAQ AND THE BUSH AGENDA ON THE EVE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. The eyes of the world will be upon us in New York, and we must speak out for peace and justice. Organize a busload of people, get on a train, buy a plane ticket...just show up!

> Visit the RNC mobilizing section of the United for Peace and Justice website for resources and to endorse the August 29 demonstration: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/rnc 

4. Send an email to kcmediawatch@yahoo.com to let us know you acted on this alert.