A roadside message on war's cost

Group's billboard in Colonie questions possible military action

By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer
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First published: Tuesday, August 14, 2007

COLONIE -- A billboard on Fuller Road puts a human face on a powder-keg in the Middle East, confronting motorists with the charged message: "Iran Next? No War. No Way!"

The advertisement, paid for by Delmar-based Women Against War, shows a 13-year-old Iranian girl and a father and son.

The two photographs, taken in Iran by a member of the anti-war group, are intended to counter reports that average Iranians are fomenting terror. The billboard, which cost $1,275 to rent for August, also aims to sway public opinion over any military actions the Bush administration might pursue against Iran.

"We don't want to have happen to these lovely people what has happened to the Iraqis," said Maud Easter, the project's coordinator.

The group's timing may be right.

Though Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has offered to talk to Iran, other administration officials blame that country for meddling in U.S. affairs in Iraq and supplying weapons to insurgents. Failure to block Tehran's nuclear and regional ambitions is producing "a new drumbeat for bolder action, including the possible use of force" among conservative think tanks that is reminiscent of arguments made for invading Iraq, the Washington Post reported last week.

Women Against War organized its Iran campaign starting in May.

The photographer, Diane Reiner, a retired state worker from Cohoes, was one of about 25 of its planners. Two years ago, she traveled across Iran and Syria on humanitarian missions, and snapped the pictures that are now seen by thousands of commuters a day.

Reiner spent eight days in Iran. During a long trip through the desert, her caravan stopped in a small town for an afternoon rest. As an Iranian family was unpacking a picnic, a mother noticed Reiner's camera and invited her to take a picture of her 13-year-old daughter.

Reiner took several and shared tea, cookies and grapes with the family.

The father and son were photographed at a bazaar in which Reimer saw them shopping for food, clothing and Persian rugs.

"I'm thrilled with having the images there for people to see, and the simplicity of the message is quite striking," Reiner said. "I hope it gives people time to think that we don't need another war."

Lamar Advertising, which owns the billboard, does not take political positions on ads, but reserves the right to reject material for vulgarity or improper imagery, general manager Matthew Duddy said.

Advertisers with controversial or political themes are required to identify themselves on the billboard so people can contact them, Duddy said, and Women Against War listed its Web site.

Dennis Yusko can be reached at 581-8438 or by e-mail at dyusko@timesunion.com.