Which stands to reason, given the anniversary coming up Wednesday.

Iraq Veterans Against the War is holding its Winter Soldiers event through the weekend in Silver Spring, Md. You can follow the statements on a live blog or watch and/or listen via streaming video or audio or by satellite broadcast. Details here. There's a viewing party 7-9 pm today at 808 N. Union Ave. in Tacoma.

Meantime, you all have probably seen the back-and-forth in the blogosphere about what is supposed to be a demonstration Saturday afternoon at the military recruiting station near the Tacoma Mall. Service members from across the area have advised to stay away – if you're looking for front row parking, this may be your day. One anonymous organizer tells me via e-mail they aren't looking for trouble and aren't against the people in the military. Tacoma PD spokesman says he hopes that's the case.

Meantime, next Saturday, March 22, a collection of groups opposed to the war in Iraq will hold a “GI Rights Rally” noon to 4:30 p.m. at Harry Todd Park, 8720 North Thorne Lane S.W. Organizers said they’re staging the event to make military service members aware of their free-speech rights and resources for counseling and separating from the military.

Groups sponsoring the event include the Seattle IVAW chapter, GI Voice, the Tacoma chapter of Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out – Oregon, the Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace, the Peace Action Coalition Tacoma, the Tacoma Fellowship of Reconciliation, Tacoma Students for a Democratic Society and United for Peace of Pierce County.

UPDATE: Operation Support Our Troops is planning a rally at Freedom Bridge, also Saturday, from 1-4 p.m. That's at Exit 122 at Interstate 5.