Vandals scrawled an anti-war message on a Milwaukee Army Recruiting Station Wednesday, the day marking five years since the Iraq war began, WTMJ radio reported.

All the windows of the station were busted out, and graffiti that read “War is Offensive” was scrawled on the side of the building. A witness told WTMJ that he saw anti-war slogans written on the windows before they were broken.

The recruiting station is no stranger to such vandalism. Exactly one year ago, police arrested 21 people who reportedly attacked the facility with smoke bombs while throwing paint, WTMJ reported.


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Vandals damage U.S. Army recruiting office in Milwaukee

By Todd Richmond
Associated Press writer


MADISON — Protesters in more than half a dozen Wisconsin cities called for an end to the Iraq war Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion.


Demonstration sites included Appleton, Elm Grove, Evansville, Kenosha, Madison, Manitowoc, Mazomanie and Minocqua. Vandals in Milwaukee had already staged a protest of their own, spray-painting anti-war messages on a U.S. Army recruiting center.


The rallies were part of a series of demonstrations nationwide against a war that has been unpopular both abroad and at home. Eighty-six Wisconsin soldiers had died in Iraq as of March 3.


But an Associated Press-Ipsos poll in December found more people believe the U.S. is making progress as American and Iraq casualties decrease. Majorities remain upset about the conflict and convinced the invasion was a mistake.


When contacted about the demonstrations, Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, called the protesters extremists.


"If we were to cut and run at this point we would lose a lot of credibility around the world," Jefferson said. "I think people realize that."


About 100 people rallied on the state Capitol steps in Madison Wednesday morning. Many dressed in black and wore peace symbol buttons. Some held signs that read "Impeach Now," "Be A Peacemaker" and "Out of Iraq Now."


"Five years of (expletive). Waste of money and lives," said Michael Muehlbauer, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student.


The group marched around the Capitol, banging drums and chanting "Hell, no. We won't go. We won't fight for Texaco."


"This war is such a waste of human resources. (President Bush is) willing to measure human life in oil," said Elena Barham, a Madison 14-year-old.


She helped tote a miniature casket around the Capitol. The coffin was affixed with signs that read "Iraqi Victim," "How many more" and "Iraqi Child."


The group's leader, 22-year-old Miles Kristan, a Madison Area Technical College student who wore a leather jacket with "Peace" painted on the back, took about three dozen protesters up to U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl's Madison office. They demanded a receptionist put them in touch with Kohl.


"He's a billionaire. I'm sure he's got a cell phone," Kristan told the woman.


The woman, who sat behind a glass panel in the office atrium, retreated to an inner office. The protesters banged on their drums, pounded the bellhop-style bell outside the receptionist's chamber, chanted and filled out constituent concern cards for Kohl.


Finally, two officers with the U.S. Homeland Security Department showed up and told the group to be quiet. Kristan shouted "You're a waste of my tax dollars" at one of them, but the group dispersed without incident after another protester reminded Kristan they were there for peace.


Kohl's office issued a statement saying he respects the activists and calling Bush's war policy broken.


In Milwaukee, vandals spray-painted "5 yrs too many," "Expect resistance" and "War is offensive!" across the front windows of the Army recruiting station. Army officials believe the attack happened sometime Monday night or early Tuesday.


Protesters attacked the same recruiting station exactly a year ago, setting off smoke bombs, tossing paint and breaking windows. Twenty-one people were arrested.


Recruiting efforts aren't tied to the building, and school and home visits will go on, Army spokeswoman Sara Micka said.


"Soldiers defend the right of all Americans to peacefully express their point of view, so of course we're disappointed when their actions are anything but peaceful," she said. "We would hope they would allow us our right to speak just as we defend theirs."


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