Hawaii-based destroyers
launch cruise missiles
against Iraq

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

Three Hawaii-based destroyers launched Tomahawk cruise missiles into Iraq on Wednesday as part of Operation Desert Fox.

The USS Paul Hamilton, USS Hopper and USS Fletcher left for the Persian Gulf on Aug. 31 as part of a regular deployment and have been there since, the Pacific Fleet public affairs office said.

Two Pearl Harbor-based submarines -- USS Columbus and USS Pasadena -- are also scheduled to arrive in the gulf region today with the USS Carl Vinson battle group.

A spokesman for the commander of Pacific forces said no other Hawaii-based military forces have been requested to support the Iraq attack at this time.

The area of responsibility for Commander in Chief, Pacific, headquartered in Hawaii, extends west to India. Operation Desert Fox falls under the U.S. Central Command.

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By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Frances Viglielmo made a sign protesting the bombings in
Iraq while demonstrating near the Prince Kuhio Federal
Building facing Ala Moana.

Protesters against
bombing of Iraq

LOCAL REACTION

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Peace demonstrators protesting missile attacks against Iraq burned at least two American flags along Nimitz Highway near the federal building yesterday afternoon.

Strung out for an eighth of a mile on the sidewalk, some 30 demonstrators held such signs as "No U.S. Troops Anywhere, Any time. U.S. Out of Iraq."

They received a few honks from passing rush hour motorists. Police reported no incidents.

"We're against the U.S. bombing of Iraq," said Jim Kaufmann, 60, a free-lance photographer. "What the hell is the U.S. bombing Iraq for? They never did anything to us."

President Clinton is just trying to avoid an impeachment vote, Kaufmann said, adding his own peace sentiments go back to the days of Eugene McCarthy in the 1960s. "I've been opposed to any war now -- except revolution," he quipped and smiled.

"We're protesting the bombing of the Iraqi people," said Ellen Brooks, a sign-holder who said she is on vacation from rural Wisconsin.

"It's really uncalled for -- and especially during this season -- what's supposed to be a season of love and peace for three of the major religions in the world," she said. "My vacation's not being enhanced by having this action by our country."

A flier put out said the protest was at least in part organized by "Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist."

Bok-Bong Yoon, 46, who claimed the missile attacks are in violation of the United Nations Charter, said he was a one-time Marine Corps infantryman based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Robert Hiatt, 46, said he was four years in the Army, including time in Germany. Asked what he was doing there, Hiatt replied: "I'm doing the only logical thing, the only sane thing."

He called himself a nonviolent revolutionary. "I wish I could have taken one of those cruise missiles right in the chest," he said. "That's how bad I feel about our government."

But he said he supports U.S. troops. "Don't get me wrong. I just don't support the administration."

Hiatt held a sign that read "Who is the Real Enemy?" and repeatedly pointed to the federal building.

Sanctions have starved the Iraqi people, said Frances Viglielmo of Rainbow Peace Fund. "And now we're blowing them up."