Saturday, August 09, 2014


Daddy George H.W. Bush; Bill Clinton; W. Bush and now Barack Obama have an unbroken streak of bombing Iraq.

Let us say as strongly as we can, that the bombing begun overnight in Kurdish areas — no matter who “asked” for it to be done — is outrageously dangerous, will not “save civilians,” but instead will endanger them further. Rather than protecting people in harm's way, US bombs and secret operations are a message to other powers that no one else will be allowed to run Iraq.

The U.S. always says it's bombing/selling arms/torturing to “keep us safe” from whatever group it identifies as the most dangerous target of the “war” on terror.  Each time a US president bombed Iraq, from 1990 on, whether the stated reasons were removing Saddam Hussain, breaking a fabricated connection with Al Qaeda, or finding weapons of mass destruction, the actual national security need was always keeping control of that strategic, oil-rich region.

This time, it is complicated. US military domination of the region, from Afghanistan across a sweep to Egypt, has increased the attraction of Islamic fundamentalism as a way of resisting western empire. US occupation in Iraq and support for the murderous, torturing Maliki regime created the conditions by which Iran has been strengthened in the region, and ISIS has gained a following.

But US re-intervention in Iraq will only create more instability.


Thanks to World Can't Wait activists in Chicago, San Francisco Bay area, and Seattle, who have gotten right out on the streets to protest the US bombing of Iraq.
Above: Chicago World Can't Wait, Gay Liberation Network and other organizations quickly organized an emergency response demonstration this afternoon. Watch video. Chicago Tribune coverage.

Watch San Francisco NBC coverage.

Genocide-Enablers Have No Right to Talk About “Preventing Genocide”
In announcing U.S. bombing raids on Iraq on 8/7/14, Barack Obama declared:

“[T]housands—perhaps tens of thousands—are now hiding high up on the mountain, with little but the clothes on their backs.  They’re without food, they’re without water.  People are starving.  And children are dying of thirst.” And “innocent people facing the prospect of violence on a horrific scale.” And that under these conditions, “the United States of America cannot turn a blind eye.  We can act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide.”

This from the head of state of the country that has for decades, and in recent weeks on a savage and horrific scale, is enabling Israel to massacre the Palestinian people of Gaza, to kill their children, to bomb their schools and power plants, to starve nearly two million people and maintain a constant state of destruction and terror.

The head of state of the country that is ENABLING GENOCIDE in Gaza at this very moment has no right to speak when it comes to “preventing genocide.”


On very short notice, we are pulling together compelling, authoritative speakers and artists, including voices from Gaza for:

Thursday August 14: An Evening of Information & Inspiration
Cooper Union, NYC & Live on the internet 7 pm EDT

Stop Israel’s Ongoing War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity Against the People of Gaza

Invite friends via Facebook Event
Terrible crimes against humanity are being committed in front of our eyes. Nobody of conscience can remain silent.

Whatever the status of the fragile cease-fire in Gaza, Israel has killed 1,900, most of them — by all accounts — non-combatants, and likely many more in its bombardment and invasion. Nearly two million, essentially defenseless people, are locked down in an outdoor prison, traumatized, subject to death from the air at any moment, without access to drinkable tap water or electricity. As they dig out from the rubble in scenes that evoke some of the great crimes in history, as they bury their dead, the people of Gaza continue to be subjected to collective punishment that constitutes an ongoing war crime and crime against humanity.

There have been important statements and courageous protests against worldwide. Yet the horrors continue. Resistance to these crimes must become much more broad, diverse, and determined. And those of us living in the United States — the country that enables Israel’s crimes against the people of Gaza, with political, financial, military, and moral support — have a particular responsibility to resist and make clear these crimes are not being done in our name.

Next Thursday, we will come together, physically, in one place. We will bring diverse views and perspectives — including on the nature and role of — Israel  but a shared commitment that Israel’s ongoing war crimes in Gaza must stop immediately. In doing so, we will strengthen the foundation from which to call forth new and expanding waves of protest until these crimes being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by Israel stop.

Join us!

Johanna Bon, Dwayne Booth (Mr. Fish), Lamis Deek, Paul DiRienzo, Joe Friendly, Alan Goodman, Rich Greve, David Kirschbaum, Wililam Lee, Frederick Nagel, Pam Olson, Sharon Pavlovich, Stephanie Rugoff & Debra Sweet.  Veterans for Peace NYC Chapter 34 and Peace Action - Staten Island

Thursday August 14
7pm (doors open 6:30 pm)
The Great Hall of The Cooper Union
7 East 7th Street, NYC



Nine Years After Camp Casey, Reflections on Nixon and the Legitimacy of the System

August 8,1974: it's been 40 years since Richard Nixon was driven from office in disgrace, and rightly so.  He didn't go because the system "worked," as revisionist history says now. 

He went because it became necessary to preserve appearance of legitimacy for a system which represented to billions of people the unjust Vietnam War; Cointelpro spying and assasination programs; the beating and killing of protesters at Jackson State & Kent State.
Nixon's impeachment brought a slew of new politicians into Congress, passing some reforms which limited state surveillance.  Nevertheless, it fell to the Democrats to abolish welfare and deport more immigrants.  If you ask me, the system is still not legitimate.
Nixon

Photo, above: was this the day Henry Kissinger proposed, reportedly for the fourth time, the use of nuclear weapons against North Vietnam? 
August 2005:  Nine years ago, Camp Casey was born by a ditch near Crawford, TX, thanks to the determination of Cindy Sheehan to get answers from GW Bush on why her son was killed in Iraq. Cindy Sheehan posted a thoughtful reflection on how and why it happened. It's really worth reading and thinking about.

Austin HearingFrom the Texas Abortion Rights Freedom Ride

The Abortion Rights Freedom Ride is wrapping up a week in Austin, where they have protested at the courthouse all week, as well as at Rick Perry's mansion.

Watch moving testimony
from women driven to desperate circumstances by unwanted pregnancies, as well as liberating and challenging perspectives from the freedom riders: from Austin and Houston. Also, a must-watch: An Abortion Rights Battle Bigger Than Texas — Interview with Sunsara Taylor.

Next, the Freedom Ride heads down to San Antonio. See below for the ad featured on page 3 that many of you signed and donated to publish (click image to enlarge):
Ad Tear Sheet
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At times like this...
From Egypt to Ukraine, the US is enforcing empire, and using or backing military aggression endangering millions. At times like this, it's imperative to have organization in place to go into action, into print, and out widely and publicly to stop the crimes of our government.

Your donations are urgently needed to produce Thursday's Gaza event.

“You never cease to impress me with your courage. Thank you for speaking truth to power.”

— J.A. via Facebook

“Thank you again and again for the work you do and the difference it makes to so many!”
— Steve, Canada

“One of the reasons I support World Can't Wait is because it is on the street and in the public view protesting US torture and indefinite detention and its wars of aggression. Thank you.”
— Nancy


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Debra Sweet, Director, The World Can't Wait


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