AmherstWire.com: “Get out’: A Marine’s call”

By Matt Sheehan | AmherstWire.com

Ask Sol Black the most important issue the United States faces today, he’ll say, “The war in Iraq.” Ask him how the government should handle it and he‘ll say, “Get out, ASAP.”

Black insists the outcome America desires in the Middle East no longer remains obtainable, an alarming assessment given the approximate $340 million Americans spend each day funding the conflict. With obvious frustration he explains the evolution of the American prerogative in Iraq and the challenges of facing an ambiguous enemy.

“First it was weapons of mass destruction, then liberating the Iraqi people, now it’s fighting terrorism…what next, what justification is there at this point?”

“It’s not a winnable war, this is not a uniformed enemy that we’re beating. Terrorism is a transnational phenomenon – it’s not a country, you can’t invade terrorism … by being over there we are urging fundamentalists to migrate [to Iraq].”

AmherstWire.com: “O’Reilly makes his case”

By Matt Sheehan | AmherstWire.com

U.S. Senate hopeful and University of Massachusetts alumnus Ed O’Reilly campaigned Thursday night at The Black Sheep Deli in Amherst, raising his concerns about the war, healthcare and education.

A crowd of almost 20 came to show support for the local Democrat who hopes to defeat fourth term Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in November.

Photo Credit: Brian Tedder, AmherstWire.com

“I do work, [Kerry] does photo opportunities and sound bites,” said O’Reilly as the crowed applauded.

Mary Wentworth, an Amherst resident for 35 years echoed displeasure in Kerry’s perceived disingenuousness. “John Kerry has abandoned the state. The only time we see him out here is when he’s up for re-election,” she said.

O’Reilly, a trial lawyer from Gloucester, said Kerry’s 2002 vote for the war in Iraq revealed serious character issues.

“He voted for the War knowing it was the wrong vote; his desire for the Presidency outweighed his personal integrity,” he said.