Here's a Baghdad Ferner update.
"We had to talk to the [Iraqi] border guards and customs people, and they were nicer than the ones at the Canadian border going into Windsor."
His group is handing out a one-page sheet of information, written in Arabic and English, to whoever will accept it explaining why his group is in Iraq. He said he gave one to an Iraqi border official. "You could tell he was moved by the fact that there were people here at risk to themselves trying to prevent a war," he said.
Mr. Ferner said he intends to be in Iraq until March 3.
created Feb 07, 2003 17:19:48
News on Friday night says the U.S. is telling citizens to leave some countries.
U.S. citizens in Iraq were urged to leave. The statement said foreigners in Iraq had been used in the past as "human shields," and there are credible reports they may be kidnapped.
created Feb 08, 2003 07:56:27
Here's an update from an interview with WSPD. "... [Mike] says the population there is worried about a war, but he has not heard a lot of support for Sadaam Hussein from the Iraqi people. Ferner says the Iraqi's are a proud people and would have to be properly approached before they would welcome U-S troops as liberators."
created Feb 26, 2003 04:32:25
Here's more info from The Blade.
"Mike Ferner, a former Toledo councilman and Toledo mayoral candidate, said yesterday that he likely will be returning from Iraq to Toledo on Tuesday. Mr. Ferner, 51, has been in Iraq for nearly a month with a group of Americans visiting various civilian facilities, such as power plants and bridges."
created Feb 28, 2003 16:31:54
This story tells how more "human shields" are leaving.
Those who returned home had safety or financial concerns. Iraq limited the sites that human shields could visit. On Friday, the head of Sweden's largest peace organization urged human shields to leave Iraq, saying they were being used for propaganda purposes by Saddam Hussein. Iraqi officials were arranging transportation, accommodations and news conferences for the human shields.
created Mar 03, 2003 00:03:28
Our boy returns home.
"Ferner says he was generally well received by Iraqis, and while many told him they don't like Saddam Hussein, they don't support a U.S.-led military strike to remove him from power. Ferner says he also helped deliver a message to U.S. troops at the Iraq-Kuwait border, wishing them a safe return home without having to experience a war. Ferner says his focus now will be to organize peaceful demonstrations of opposition to a war in Iraq."
created Mar 05, 2003 06:09:08