Kanjorski faces public, explains his Iraq vote

Greeted by protesters, U.S. representative addresses topics from the war to health care and illegal immigration

ASHLEY – Greeted by a candlelight vigil of about 12 people carrying signs that read “Wage Peace” and “Drop Bush, Not Bombs,” U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski et with more than 100 people in the Ashley Firemen’s Memorial Fire Hall Tuesday night.

The protesters are members of Northeastern Pennsylvania Operation Democracy, and they asked Kanjorski, , D-Nanticoke, to vote to end the war in Iraq and put an end to the killing and overspending.

Standing in front of a “War Roll” that listed all of the soldiers killed to date in the war, the group held candles and quietly talked of their concern for the troops and the exorbitant spending – nearly $17.4 billion so far.

“It needs to stop,” said Roxanne Pauline, the event coordinator. “The war is unwinnable. We want him to tell us the best way out.”

Kanjorski walked into the fire hall at 7:05 p.m. and immediately took off his suit jacket.

“I’m sure it will get hot in here, especially when you start to yell at me,” he joked. “How many of you are mad or angry? I am too. I can not morally justify the pre-emptive invasion of another country unless the U.S. is in imminent danger of being attacked. We got there under false pretenses and we have stayed there.”

Kanjorski took the time to tell the people how he was convinced to support the war effort back in 2002. He said he was called to a meeting at the White House along with several other U.S. representatives and senators.

He said he left the meeting unsure of how he would vote, and he told the White House he was leaning toward voting against the war. “I then was invited to return to the White House the next day,” Kanjorski said.

He said the group was shown photographs of stored weapons of mass destruction. He said he saw photos of UAVs – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – which are used to transport chemicals and/or hydrogen bombs. He said he was told that the Iraqis had a thousand of these and they were intending to bring them into the U.S. via both coasts, and more than 250 U.S. cities were to be targeted.

“None of the information was true,” Kanjorski said. “But we didn’t know that at that time. I voted to go to war.”

Kanjorski said even if the president decided to end the war now, it would take a year or longer to bring back all of the 178,000 troops. “But we can start that process now,” he said.

Emily and Julius Zuckerwar of Wilkes-Barre said they need money for health care. Julius is a veteran of the Iraq war and he lost much of his hearing there. He said he can’t get help from the government. Emily said two-thirds of her income goes to pay for health care and she has exhausted her Medicare benefits.

“Stop spending money on the war,” she implored Kanjorski. “Give it to people who need it.”

“What the American people are saying – people like all of you here tonight – is that we have very serious problems right here at home,” Kanjorski said. “There are needs for funding in education, housing, infrastructure, health care and Social Security. Too much is being spent in Iraq and too many lives are being lost.”

Greg Griffin, representing Voice of the People, told Kanjorski of the group’s “grave concern for the illegal alien crisis.” He said “their population is growing at a disturbing rate across Luzerne County and the rest of the nation.” Griffin also questioned the Immigration Customs Enforcement.

“President Bush won’t slow down illegal entries into the U.S. because he favors cheap labor for business,” Kanjorski said. “I urge everyone to call the president and voice your concerns.”

Kanjorski also took a cell phone call during the meeting from White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten. Bolten was returning Kanjorski’s earlier call that recommended Attorney David Boies to be the next Attorney General.

“I thought I should take that call,” Kanjorski said of the interruption. “I hope the people understood.”