From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007)-On American Political Discourse-As We Approach The 10th Anniversary Of The Start Of The Iraq War

Markin comment:

In 2007-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershedelection, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.

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SUPPORT THE TROOPS-HELL, NO!

THEY MAY BE OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS BUT THESE ARE NOT OUR TROOPS! END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ NOW!! IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES/ALLIED TROOPS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST!!!

FORGET DONKEYS, ELEPHANTS AND GREENS- BUILD A WORKERS PARTY!

In light of the recent seemingly never-ending revelations concerning American military atrocities toward Iraqi civilians it is high time to set the record straight about the appropriate slogans that anti-war militants use to affect the political outcome of the situation in Iraq. For those militants, including this writer, who have opposed the American war aims since before the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 our main slogan expressing our opposition to imperialism has been for the immediate withdrawal of all American and Allied forces from the Middle East. That continues to be the thrust of our political struggle today.

The recent revelations also underscore the aimless nature of the occupation. The role of American troops has been reduced to search and destroy missions against the so-called insurgents with the Iraqi population cast merely as subjects for ‘collateral damage’ in pursuit of that strategy. Enough!! Those militants old enough to remember the Vietnam War or who have studied about it must be painfully aware of the similarities to the current situation. Most infamously- Remember My Lai.

Nevertheless the bulk of anti-war militants, abetted by the organizations which have led the anti-war demonstrations such as the United for Justice and Peace Coalition have centered their calls for action on the social patriotic slogans Bring the Troops Home or Bring Our Troops Home. Even though some elements of that movement have begun calling for Immediate Withdrawal recently the demand is still tied to getting our ‘boys and girls’ out of harms way.

Why are such slogans social patriotic? The essence of such calls is that the American troops used to destroy Iraq and murder and maim Iraqi civilians are our troops rather than agents of the American government- the main enemy of the peoples of the world. Those slogans imply there is just a misunderstanding over policy which reasonable people can disagree over. That is transparently just not the case. The hard fact is that we citizens have no control over the military deployment of any troops. To say so creates illusions that we do. While we have no interest in seeing individual soldiers harmed we also cannot take political and military responsibility for their use. If we are going to get anywhere with opposition to the war we better give up that last illusions on that score. We cannot have it both ways. Not on this issue. Get the hell out of Iraq Now!

From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007)-On American Political Discourse-As We Approach The 10th Anniversary Of The Start Of The Iraq War

Markin comment:

In 2007-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS- TAKE THE PLEDGE -SUPPORT THE TROOPS-HELL, NO!

THEY MAY BE OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS BUT THESE ARE NOT OUR TROOPS! END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ NOW!! IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES/ALLIED TROOPS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST!!!

FORGET DONKEYS, ELEPHANTS AND GREENS- BUILD A WORKERS PARTY!

In light of the recent seemingly never-ending revelations concerning American military atrocities toward Iraqi civilians it is high time to set the record straight about the appropriate slogans that anti-war militants use to affect the political outcome of the situation in Iraq. For those militants, including this writer, who have opposed the American war aims since before the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 our main slogan expressing our opposition to imperialism has been for the immediate withdrawal of all American and Allied forces from the Middle East. That continues to be the thrust of our political struggle today.

The recent revelations also underscore the aimless nature of the occupation. The role of American troops has been reduced to search and destroy missions against the so-called insurgents with the Iraqi population cast merely as subjects for ‘collateral damage’ in pursuit of that strategy. Enough!! Those militants old enough to remember the Vietnam War or who have studied about it must be painfully aware of the similarities to the current situation. Most infamously- Remember My Lai.

Nevertheless the bulk of anti-war militants, abetted by the organizations which have led the anti-war demonstrations such as the United for Justice and Peace Coalition have centered their calls for action on the social patriotic slogans Bring the Troops Home or Bring Our Troops Home. Even though some elements of that movement have begun calling for Immediate Withdrawal recently the demand is still tied to getting our ‘boys and girls’ out of harms way.

Why are such slogans social patriotic? The essence of such calls is that the American troops used to destroy Iraq and murder and maim Iraqi civilians are our troops rather than agents of the American government- the main enemy of the peoples of the world. Those slogans imply there is just a misunderstanding over policy which reasonable people can disagree over. That is transparently just not the case. The hard fact is that we citizens have no control over the military deployment of any troops. To say so creates illusions that we do. While we have no interest in seeing individual soldiers harmed we also cannot take political and military responsibility for their use. If we are going to get anywhere with opposition to the war we better give up that last illusions on that score. We cannot have it both ways. Not on this issue. Get the hell out of Iraq Now!

Take the pledge- No more illusions! No more social patriotic support for their troops in Iraq! Fight under the slogan- Immediate Withdrawal Now-By any means necessary!

From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007)-On American Political Discourse

Markin comment:

In 2007-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.

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ON THE DOINGS OF THE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT

COMMENTARY

SEPARATION OF POWERS? CHECKS AND BALANCES?

FORGET DONKEYS, ELEPHANTS AND GREENS- BUILD A WORKERS PARTY!

Under most circumstances this writer would not comment extensively on the inner workings of the various branches of the federal government. One of the reasons for this reticent is that while in 1789 militants might have been able to support parts of the bourgeois democratic constitutional scheme as ratified the main fight of militants then was over the Bill of Rights (and in retrospect, should have also been the fight over permitting the continuation of slavery to be enshrined in the frame of government-over 200years later it still makes ugly reading). Another reason is that this writer makes no bones about his desire to see a more democratic form of government based on workers councils and a workers government. That governmental form is premised on workers councils having both executive and legislative functions. Unlike those politicians, commentators and historians infatuated by the so-called separation of powers and the alleged principle of checks and balances of bourgeois democracy there is no inherent virtue to such combinations. Hence the following musings.

Item#1 On Wednesday July 20, 2006 the United States House of Representatives voted for God (and that is with a capital G because WE know whose god they were referring to). This caused many a troubled mind in this secular body but they had to do the ‘right’ thing by their constituents. Here’s what happened.

Congress voted to enact legislation that would bar the judiciary branch from taking cases challenging the constitutionally of the ‘under God’ phase in the Pledge of Allegiance. Yes, I know-the world is going to hell in a hand basket but these people have plenty of time on their hands to fret over this. The Senate still has to vote on this ‘softball’legislation. I swear these people should be required to read the biographies of their Founding Fathers (and Mothers, o.k.) before they take office. A workers party representative in Congress would obviously vote against this legislation. Moreover, while militants are by nature not religious-we have enough to do fighting for some kind of reasonable society on earth, heaven and hell can take of themselves- we most definitely care, as a democratic question, about a secular society imposing its version of god on us. Or anybody else’s god, gods, etc. Here’s my point though, Congress slaps the judiciary. Point to Congress.

Item#2 In the last session of the Supreme Court the justices by a 5-3 margin gave President Bush and the imperial presidency a little slap on the wrist over his private military tribunals for detainees in the ‘war on terror’. He, hereafter, needs to go beg his Republican Congress hard for authority to do so- and, as the Court reminded him, with a little due process in the bargain. A workers party justice today would vote for this minor curtailment of imperial executive power but with his or her own concurring opinion denouncing this whole sham. However, point to Supremes.

Caveat- the minority view (which if you add Chief Justice Roberts and can swing Justice Kennedy could become a majority) is essentially that outside the above-mentioned ‘under God’ in item#1 there are basically no limits to presidential war powers. Wasn’t the Divine Right of Kings discredited about 400 years ago? Stay tuned for possible point to Executive.

Item#3 This is old news but President Bush has taken up the hobby of making ‘presidential interpretations’or signing statements when he signs new legislation. The long and short of this is that on the Really Important Legislation the Bush position is –I’ll follow it if I like and if I don’t, I won’t. Hey, doesn’t Congress make the laws? Please refer to the above statement in item#2 about divine rights. Point to Executive.

Now all the above may be just the usual guerilla warfare between the independent branches of government. But, the real point is that all these maneuvers bode ill for militants and ordinary citizens alike. No there is not a conspiracy brewing, although there probably are conspirators around. Nor is a coup d’etat in the air. However, the gap between the governmental authority and the governed has widened (and continues to widen). And that does none of us any good. Militants defend democratic rights (this writer would argue that we are the most consistent defenders of such rights) against governmental and private encroachment. Be ready. Enough said.

From The Boston Bradley Manning Support Committee Archives (November, 2012)

Observaciones particulares Manning apoyo formulada por un orador en el Día del Armisticio Smedley Butler, Brigade (Día de los Veteranos) Observancia En Boston-11 de noviembre 2012

Bienvenidos todos y cada uno y estoy contento de poder estar aquí para esta importante lucha. La Brigada Smedley Butler de Veteranos por la Paz se yergue en la solidaridad y la defensa de los soldado Bradley Manning y su lucha por la libertad de sus carceleros, los militares estadounidenses.

Ahora por lo general cuando llegue ante un micrófono o estoy en una marcha que estoy gritando al cielo sobre alguna injusticia. Recientemente fui llamado estridente por alguien y cuando se trata de la lucha contra las guerras de este país, la lucha por la igualdad social y económica, y por la libertad de nuestros presos políticos de hecho estoy estridente. Pero estoy buscando algo hoy algo importante para mí personalmente, por lo que voy a tratar de bajar la temperatura un poco-lo que quiero, como tú, para recién reelegido presidente Obama a perdonar a Bradley Manning, así que será bueno, o tratar ser.

Bradley Manning es en cierto sentido la persona del cartel para todos los que han luchado en contra de las guerras de la última década. Él está acusado de presuntamente haber filtrado información sobre los crímenes de guerra estadounidenses y otros asuntos de interés público a Wikileaks. Nosotros, y no estamos solos en esto, no veo la denuncia de irregularidades en actividades tales como un delito, sino como un acto humanitario elemental y servicio público. Soldado Manning ha pagado el precio por sus presuntos actos con más de 900 días de prisión preventiva y se enfrenta ahora a cadena perpetua por simples actos de la humanidad. Para permitir que el pueblo estadounidense sabe lo que tal vez no quería saber, pero debe saber que los soldados, los soldados estadounidenses, ir a la guerra algunas cosas terribles pueden suceder y hacer. Él también ha sufrido tortura a manos del gobierno estadounidense por su posición valiente. Nos hemos vuelto un poco habituado a los extranjeros ser torturado por el gobierno estadounidense en lugares como Guantánamo y otros lugares de agujeros negros. Incluso hemos llegado a ser algo habituado a los ciudadanos estadounidenses torturados y asesinados por el gobierno de Estados Unidos por aviones no tripulados y otros métodos. Pero sabemos, o deberíamos saber, que cuando el gobierno estadounidense es acusado de torturar a un soldado estadounidense por no sigue la línea de guerra luego nosotros, los ciudadanos privados están en serios problemas.

¿Por qué el soldado Manning necesita un indulto? ¿Se regala el orden de batalla o en la tabla de organización de las operaciones militares estadounidenses en Irak y Afganistán? No. ¿Le regalan el diseño de aviones y armas de este tipo? No. Al parecer simplemente sopló el silbato en algo que es un hecho difícil de crímenes de guerra por la guerra por parte de soldados estadounidenses a través de la liberación de la cinta Asesinato colateral y lo que se conoce como el Iraq y los registros de la guerra afgana. Esto es lo que el gobierno estadounidense había intentado con todas sus fuerzas para cubrir. Y lo que tenía que haber estado expuestos. Todos hablan de llevar la democracia, o construcción de la nación, o que tengan una guerra para acabar con todas las guerras, y el millón de excusas poco convincentes para la guerra palidecen ante la dura realidad de que en el fragor de la guerra la verdadera estrategia es matar y quemar y dejar que Dios clasificar a los inocentes de los culpables.

Eso es lo que soldado Manning expuesto. I, y estoy seguro de que muchos veteranos de otras guerras anteriores que veían o sabían de estas cosas y no hicieron nada al respecto, se alegra de que estas cosas estaban expuestos. Si no por otra razón soldado de primera clase Bradley Manning merece perdón presidencial por su servicio. Para asegurar que el evento instamos a todos a la rampa encima de sus esfuerzos en favor de Bradley firmando aquí o en línea en el sitio de la Red de Apoyo a Bradley Manning la petición al Secretario del Ejército para su puesta en libertad y llamar a / e-mail o escribir una carta a la Casa Blanca y la demanda de que el presidente Obama Manning perdón Privado.

Hemos estado llevando a cabo semanalmente stand-outs en Davis Square en Somerville fuera de los miércoles MBTA rojo de parada de la línea 16:00-17:00 y les insto a unirse a nosotros. O mejor aún iniciar Gratis Bradley Manning stand-out en su propio plaza de la ciudad. Gracias.

WHEN AMERICA DEFENDED ENLIGHTENMENT VALUES

BOOK REVIEW

REVOLUTIONARY CHARACTERS: WHAT MADE THE FOUNDERS DIFFERENT, GORDON S. WOOD, PENQUIN, NEW YORK, 2006

In earlier times this writer has been rather blasé about the American Revolution tending to either ignore its lessons or putting it well below another revolution- The Great French Revolution, also celebrated in July- in the pantheon of revolutionary history. However, this is flat-out wrong. We cannot let those more interested in holiday oratory than drawing the real lessons of the American Revolution appropriate what is the hard fought property of every militant today. Make no mistake, however, the energy of that long ago revolution has burned itself out and other forces-militant leftists and their allies- and other political creeds-the fight for a workers party and a workers government leading to socialism- have to take its place as a standard-bearer for human progress. That task has been on the historical agenda for a long time and continues to be our task today.

That said, the eminent, if not preeminent, historian of the American revolutionary period Gordon S. Wood has written a collection of sketches which every militant leftist should read in order to get a handle on where the great promise of that experiment has gone fatally off track. It might be the current paucity of political leadership, it might be the ongoing frontal attack on the Enlightenment values that this country was founded on but this writer finds himself drawn to restudy the lives of the participants and the revolutionary history of the founding of this country. Yes, revolutionary-that is the operative word here and it fits. That action was what was necessary to turn royal subjects into citizens and the Founders rose to the occasion. Make no mistake these were big men (and women, although Mr. Wood strangely in this day in age, does not include any in this study), from Washington on down, with big ideas that are for the most part codified in the frame of government, a genuine Enlightenment document, - the Constitution and, as importantly, the Bill of Rights. It is necessary, as always, to add that this document is severely marred, among other problems, by the capitulation to slavery and the race question embedded in it that has plagued this country to this day. But that is a question for another time.

Mr. Wood concentrates on the founders here- Washington, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and Hamilton. There are no closet socialists here, or for that matter, radical democrats such as Sam Adams, Tom Paine or James Otis. Nor are there nods to the plebian masses that made the revolution and stuck by it through thick and thin. Those types of studies fit the reviewer’s own predilections. Nevertheless, on his own chosen ground Mr. Wood has brought the leadership cadre of the American Revolution to life and done an admirably job of discussing the virtues and anxieties of those men. Notably, there is a great divide between the Founders concepts of civic virtue, use of the public square and civic disinterestedness in comparison to what passes for the leadership of the country today. You know that we are in trouble when John Adams, a not so closet-Tory, looks damn good in comparison to today’s open reactionaries.

The field of historical writing, like other fields of social research, has gone through various trends in appreciation of the role of leadership and of the masses. Until fairly recently the rage was to look closely at the role of the masses in social struggles. Those studies are still desperately needed. However, I do not believe that it is accidental that today’s trend is to rethink the leadership question in the American Revolution at a time when there is such an obvious lack of it. Some of Mr. Wood’s judgments about particular leaders can be disputed but the overall impression is that these men were not faking their Enlightenment values; in short, they for the most part put their lives on the line for this little democratic experiment. And they were not wrong. As stated above, we need to defend those hard fought for rights- and move beyond them. Read this book.

From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007)-On American Political Discourse-

Markin comment:

In 2007-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.

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HANDS OF CUBA!

COMMENTARY

END THE U.S. BLOCKADE! U. S. OUT OF GUANTANAMO!

Yes, I know. This is a day we should be happy that there is a ceasefire in Lebanon and the civilian population of South Lebanon can get a reprieve from what apparently was going to be a total blitzkrieg by the Israeli war machine. However, this writer has been troubled by the doings of the Bush Administration and its underlings, official and unofficial, in Miami and elsewhere among the exiles. For years, this Administration and the Congress, generally, has sought to further isolate Cuba in the hopes that it would cry- “Uncle!” There is a governmental organization in place-The Assistance to Cuba Foundation that is set up exclusively to bring American-style democracy (remember Iraq, please) to the island. Expect that operation to gear up for trouble.

With the announcement of Fidel Castro’s illness and turning of power over to his brother Raul the exiles are dancing in the streets. What knows what will happen over the coming period. But the American imperialists and their Cuban allies are getting ready in order to implement their preferred outcome. Whatever differences militant leftists have with the course of the Cuban revolution when the deal goes down we must stand in defense of that revolution. When you think of the Cuban exiles and the American government remember one word. Batista. Forget all the noise about democracy and all those nice things. That is important for us. It is most definitely not important to this government or to those old time Cuban exiles who want to revert Cuba back to a 1950’s scenario. Now that would really be retro. As always these days- be ready!

From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007)-On American Political Discourse

Markin comment:

In 2007-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.

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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?

DEFEND THE ENLIGHTENMENT

PRIVATE RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION –YES (IF YOU NEED IT). PUBLIC FUNDING-NO

Let us face it there has been a deep and sustained retrogression of human thought over the last generation or so. Apparently the progressive goals of the Enlightenment have run out of steam and night has fallen over much of human thought. And not for the first time. Remember the Middle Ages. In many ways militant leftists are reduced to a flat-out defense of those values that in an earlier time we thought were merely the base-line from which human progress would surge. The fight against religious obscurantism represented by the key fight to separate church and state in order to make religious expression, at most, a personal expression was one of those important values. We are definitely back on the base-line on this one.

Why do I bring this up now? A glance at the news on any given day brings forth new horrors done in the name of religion. And these actions most certainly are not to defend the right to personal religious expression. Name the religion-Christianity, Judaism, Islamism, Hinduism, etc., and the fundamentalists are spearheading the drive to impose their religions on the body politic- weapons in hand. Damn, even the Hari Krishnas are getting belligerent these days. What has got this writer’s blood pressure up today, however, is the erosion of the principle of separation of church and state in this country.

Recent newspaper article really brought this point home. Apparently a town in the suburbs of Houston, Texas is the capital of the religious building boom. And town administrators, although they do not apparently know what to about it, are not happy. This small town has 51 churches, temples, shines, whatever, all exempt from local property tax laws. All it seems you need to set up shop there is to have been directed there by god. Curious, very curious. Shinto, Hindu, 12^thDay Adventist, Jainist it doe not matter. Apply and you are in. The town administrator in charge of permits, bewildered by it all, sees no way out in the face of god’s wrath. Let us help him.

To answer our befuddled Texas town public official. Here is the word. Tell your applicants this- If you want your storefront or shopping mall church- pay up. No more tax exemptions. Hey, remember this country was founded on a principle of free private religious expression- in the gathered churches of those times you paid your own way. Where the hell did we go wrong?

Religion is deeply embedded in the human psyche. No question about that. As long as humankind fought against the mysterious forces of nature, for the most part unsuccessfully, a religious explanation for humankind’s plight made some sense. And certainly it was no worst than some other explanations. However, as humankind through science, technology and more sophisticated organization of society began to tame nature that rationale lost its force. That is where the ideas of the Enlightenment began to come into there own. Religion, if necessary, became a personal expression of citizens in a secular society. Or, at least, for the past couple of centuries we thought that is where we were heading. We are duty-bound to start that fight all over again. Why? If one recalls the last time that religious fundamentalism motivated human thought was ascendant was during medieval times. That used to be called the Dark Ages. And, brothers and sisters, that lasted for a long time. Forward, again.

From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007)-On American Political Discourse- As We Approach The 10^th Anniversary Of The Start Of The Iraq War

Markin comment:

In 2007-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.
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AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR BROTHER AND SISTER SOLDIERS IN IRAQ.

Your Commander-In-Chief and Chain of Command have stabbed you in the back.

The politicians, Democratic and Republican have stabbed you in the back.

The anti-war movement has failed you.

Damn, the ball is in your court now.

Brother and Sister Soldiers in Iraq, you and I need to talk. However, before we do so I want to come to the table with clean hands. Below this appeal is a blog written by me and placed on several Internet sites recently. As you cansee it calls in unambiguous terms for all anti-war activists who have not done so already to renounce the Support The Troops slogan which has motivated many activists and declare forthrightly for Immediate Withdrawal Now, ‘cut and run’ if you will. This writer has opposed the Iraqi debacle from before its start under that premise. I made no apologies for it then and I make none now. But, hear me out.

It has become a truism but it bears repeating- Your Commander-In-Chief, President George W. Bush abetted by your Chain of Command from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on down has lied to you, the troops who have had to carry out their policy. Were there that seemingly ancient question-weapons of mass destruction? No. Were you liberators? No. Are you making the world ‘safe for democracy’? Hell, no. The Iraqi government, such as it is, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the United States government. The Iraqi government’s writ extends no further than the Green Zone, if there.

And how about the generals? This misadventure started out as a Generals’ war. Shock and Destroy. Done. But, it sure in hell is not a generals’ war now. Look at the lists of those killed. I do. There are plenty of sergeants, corporals and PFC’s there but mighty, mighty thin at the officer level. Surprise, surprise. A look at the wounded lists would undoubtedly show the same thing. Are your officers trying to keep your butts out of harms way and get you out of that inferno? Hell, no. They are at least smart enough to know not to leave the Green Zone-it is dangerous out there. In short, your civilian and military leaders are stabbing you in the back-and they like it that way. As long as you don’t complain.

The following has also become a truism-Your Congressional leaders, Democratic and Republican, the people who fund the war have stabbed you in the back.

Well the votes are in from various proposals for withdrawing from Iraq put forth by some Democrats. The results speak for themselves. On the parliamentary level anti-war militants are alone. Forget the ‘softball’non-binding Levin-Reed proposal. Jesus, they all vote for those things as a cheap way to bolster their tarnished images. They can vote for that kind of proposition all day. No, I am talking about the Kerry proposal. That went down 86-13.

In this series the writer has been trying to hammer home the one real question that counts on the parliamentary level. Yes or No on the war budget. We had our answer on that one last week- 98-1 for the war budget. Enough said.

Translation- these people do not want you out of Iraq anytime soon. While you are getting shot at, blown away and desert-addled they can wait until next year, or the year after or (my favorite) when the situation in Iraq becomes stabilized. Christ, your grandchildren will be fighting over there by then. Enough said, indeed!

And what about the anti-war movement

I do not know whether this is still a part of basic training but when I was in boot camp during the Vietnam War the Drill Sergeant used to beat into our closely-shaven heads that the American army does not retreat. Bull! That pearl of wisdom is ok for green troops but any half-ass officer knows you damn well better have a retreat plan. Where do you think the word ‘skedaddle’came from? Call it ‘skedaddle’, ‘cut and run’, declare a victory in Iraq, however, you want to say it- but it is time to go.

I have said enough. Some talking head from cyberspace cannot do your thinking for you. Do this though- talk it over with your girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands , wives, parents children, anyone you care about and cares about you. Then talk to your buddies in the barracks, on guard duty, at the PX, wherever. You know what the right thing to do is Just, do it. When the troops in Iraq say Support the Troops-Hell, No! Then you know the end is near.

From The American Left History Blog Archives (2007)-On American Political Discourse - As We Approach The 10th Anniversary Of The Start Of The Iraq War

Markin comment:

In 2007-2008 I, in vain, attempted to put some energy into analyzing the blossoming American presidential campaign since it was to be, as advertised at least, a watershed election, for women, blacks, old white anglos, latinos, youth, etc. In the event I had to abandon the efforts in about May of 2008 when it became obvious, in my face obvious, that the election would be a watershed only for those who really believed that it would be a watershed election. The four years of the Obama presidency, the 2012 American presidential election campaign, and world politics have only confirmed in my eyes that that abandonment was essentially the right decision at the right time. In short, let the well- paid bourgeois commentators go on and on with their twitter. I, we, had (have) better things to do like fighting against the permanent wars, the permanent war economies, the struggle for more and better jobs, and for a workers party that fights for a workers government . More than enough to do, right? Still a look back at some of the stuff I wrote then does not a bad feel to it. Read on.
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THE GENERALS SIGNAL THE RETREAT-THERE IS NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IN IRAQ!

FORGET TIMETABLES FOR WITHDRAWAL- CUT AND RUN NOW (JOG, TROT, CRAWL, SWIM, IF NECESSARY)

THE GENERALS AND POLITICANS HAVE ABANDONED THE RANK AND FILE SOLDIERS IN IRAQ TO THEIR FATE. BROTHER AND SISTER SOLDIERS- THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT- GET THE TROOP TRANSPORTS READY

ORIGINALLY POSTED: August 2006

I’ll keep this short and sweet. The time for discussion on Iraq is long over. Forget the Bush Administration’s lies! Forget the weapons of mass destruction! Forget staying the course, the ‘war on terrorism’, Saddam’s ugly face, the so-called ‘fight for democracy’ in the Middle East, supporting the troops or the thousand and one reasons which have surfaced over the years (yes, years) for supporting the imperialist adventure in Iraq. That is so much background noise now. Here is what counts. That is the appearance on August 3, 2006 of the senior commanding generals, the guys who run the day to day operations of the American military, with the Secretary of War Donald Rumsfeld in tow, before the Senate Armed Services Committee. And you better etch the pictures from that proceeding in your minds. Hereafter anytime someone tries to raise his or her head in defense of the Iraq war (or staying there one more minute) refer them to this scene.

What the generals did not say to the committee is as important as what they said. THE WAR IS LOST. These generals are privy to much more information than they would ever publicly acknowledge so when they go, willingly or not, before a Senate Committee and announce that chaos has descended on Iraq one does not need to be Karl Marx to know how really bad the situation is there. These guys are not retired generals sniping at the boss from their consulting firms, think tanks, or vacation retreats. THESE GUYS RUN THE SHOW. These generals did not earn that fruit salad on their chests by being Pollyannas. They would rather fall on their swords than use words like defeat and retreat. It just does not register that the delights of ‘shock and awe’ has turned in quagmire. So be it. They have, however, learned something over the years. For one thing, do not repeat General Westmoreland’s ‘follies’ in Vietnam by painting a rosy picture of success as the U.S. Embassy is being overrun by a bunch of seemingly crazed foreigners. That is most definitely bad for credibility. For another, these guys started their careers fighting on the ground in the boondocks of Vietnam so they KNOW what a civil war is. Vietnam was a class civil war and Iraq is a sectarian civil war but in either case they want no part of it. No way. Nevertheless, the generals are still more than willing to transfer rank and file soldiers to the hellhole of Baghdad to be used as‘cannon fodder’ in that same civil war. Some things they do not learn.

This writer makes no bones about his long time opposition to the Iraq war in particular and American imperialism in general. Over the years I have taken my political beatings and been abused by the ‘sunshine patriots’ over this or that policy. Hey, this is politics so it comes with the territory. Besides I have enjoyed beating up on Bush & Co. when they were riding and now that they are riding low I still enjoy beating these bums down. In fact, let me give them an extra rabbit punch for good measure. Just to make sure they stay down.

No, I will not cry over the defeat of an imperialist adventure but I feel no sense of righteousness over this. Why? While I never supported the social patriotic slogan-Support the Troops- THEY ARE NOT AND NEVER WERE OUR TROOPS. THEY OPERATE UNDER ORDERS FROM THE RULING CLASSES. THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING - there is still the unfinished business. Those troops still need to get the hell out of Iraq. Bush and the Generals have stabbed them in the back. The Democratic and Republican politicians have stabbed them in the back. We of the anti-war movement have failed them. It is up to the rank and file soldiers in Iraq now-the ball in their court. At this point the only way out is through their own efforts. What we civilians can do is form committees of soldier and sailor solidarity in order to fraternize with their efforts. More on this latter. I am preparing AN OPEN LETTER TO THE RANK AND FILE SOLDIERS IN IRAQ (see August 2006 archives) to offer some ideas on organizing themselves out of the chaos. Look for it in this space soon.

A SPECIAL NOTE ON HILLARY "HAWK" CLINTON, UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM NEW YORK AND PUNITIVE (not putative) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2008. ‘Hawk” finally gets it on Iraq- a very, very, very little. Her solution. Have Secretary of War Donald Rumsfeld offer his resignation. This, I assume represents Ms. Clinton’s attempt to win this year’s Profiles in Courage Award. Christ, the Congressional pages were calling for that bastard’s resignation about a year ago. I do not care about the personal fate of Ms. Clinton or her ambitions. However, her case brings to mind the ghost of Hubert Horatio Humphrey in 1968. Enough said.

Pardon Private Bradley Manning Stand-Out-Central Square, Cambridge, Wednesdays, 5:00 PM -Update

Let’s Redouble Our Efforts To Free Private Bradley Manning-President Obama Pardon Bradley Manning -Make Every Town Square In America (And The World) A Bradley Manning Square From Boston To Berkeley to Berlin-Join Us In Central Square, Cambridge, Ma. For A Stand-Out For Bradley- Wednesdays From 5:00-6:00 PM

Support And Build The Bradley Manning International Day Of Solidarity February 23, 2013 –The 1000^th Day Of Pre-Trial Confinement

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Since September 2011, in order to publicize Private Manning’s case locally, there have been weekly stand-outs (as well as other more ad hocand sporadic events) in various locations in the Greater Boston area starting in Somerville across from the Davis Square Redline MBTA stop on Friday afternoons and later on Wednesdays. Lately this stand-out has been held each week on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at Central Square, Cambridge, Ma. (small park at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Prospect Street just outside the Redline MBTA stop, renamed Manning Square for the duration of the stand-out) in order to continue to broaden our outreach. Join us there in calling for Private Manning’s freedom. President Obama Pardon Private Manning Now!
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The Private Bradley Manning case is headed toward an early summer trial now scheduled for June 2013. The news on his case over the past several months (since about April 2012) has centered on the many pre-trial motion hearings including recent defense motions to dismiss for lack of speedy trial. Private Manning’s pre-trial confinement is now at 900 plus days and will be over 1000 days by the time of trial. That motion, still not ruled on as of this writing, is expected to be decided by the next round of pre-trial hearings in late February.

The defense contends that the charges should be dismissed because the military by its own statutes (to speak nothing of that funny old constitutional right to a speedy trial guarantee that our plebeian forbears fought tooth and nail for against the bloody British and later made damn sure was included in the Amendments when the founding fathers“forgot” to include it in the main document) should have arraigned Private Manning within 120 days after his arrest. They hemmed and hawed for almost 600 days before deciding on the charges and a court martial. Nobody in the convening authority, as required by those same statutes, pushed the prosecution forward in a timely manner. In fact the court-martial convening authority, in the person of one Colonel Coffman, seems to have seen his role as mere “yes man” to each of the government’s eight requests for delays without explanation (and without informing the defense in order to take their objection). Apparently the Colonel saw his role as a mere clearing agent for whatever excuse the government gave, mainly endless addition time for clearing various classified documents a process that need not have held up the proceedings. The defense made timely objection to each governmental request to no avail.

Testimony from military authorities at pre-trial hearings in November 2012 about the reasons for the lack of action ranged from the lame to the absurd (mainly negative responses to knowledge about why some additional delays were necessary. One “reason” sticks out as a reason for excusable delay -some officer needed to get his son to a swimming meet and was thus “unavailable” for a couple of days. I didn’t make this up. I don’t have that sense of the absurd. Jesus, a man was rotting in Obama’s jails and they let him rot because of some damn swim meet). The prosecution, obviously, has argued that the government has moved might and main to move the case along and had merely waited until all leaked materials had been determined before proceeding. We shall see.

The defense has also recently pursued a motion for a dismissal of the major charges (espionage/ indirect material aid to terrorists) on the basis of the minimal effect of any leaks on national security issues as against Private Manning’s claim that such knowledge was important to the public square (freedom of information issues important for us as well in order to know about what the hell the government is doing either in front of us, or behind our backs). Last summer witnesses from an alphabet soup list of government agencies (CIA, FBI, NSA, Military Intelligence, etc., etc.) testified that while the information leaked shouldn’t have been leaked that the effect on national security was de minimus. The Secretary of Defense at the time, Leon Panetta, also made a public statement to that effect. The prosecution argued, successfully at the time, that the mere fact of the leak of classified information caused irreparable harm to national security issues and Private Manning’s intent, even if noble, was not at issue.

The recent thrust of the motion to dismiss has centered on the defense’s contention been that Private Manning consciously and carefully screened any material in his possession to avoid any conflict with national security and that most of the released material had been over-classified (received higher security level than necessary).(Much of the materials leaked, as per those parts published widely in the aftermath of the disclosures by the New York Times and other major outlets, concerned reports of atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan and diplomatic interchanges that reflected poorly on that profession.) The Obama government has argued again that the mere fact of leaking was all that mattered. That motion has also not been fully ruled on and is now the subject of prosecution counter- motions and a cause for further trial delay.

A defense motion for dismissal based on serious allegations of torturous behavior by the military authorities extending far up the chain of command (a three-star Army general, not the normal concern of someone so far up the chain in the matter of discipline for enlisted personal) while Private Manning was first detained in Kuwait and later at the Quantico Marine brig for about a year ending in April 2011 has now been ruled on. In late November and early December Private Manning himself, as well as others including senior military mental health workers, took the stand to detail those abuses over several days. Most important to the defense was the testimony by qualified military mental health professionals citing the constant willful failure of those who held Private Manning in close confinement to listen to, or act, on their recommendations during those periods

Judge Lind, the military judge who has heard all the pre-trial arguments in the case thus far, has essentially ruled unfavorably on that motion to dismiss given the potential life sentence Private Manning faces. As she announced at an early January pre-trial hearing the military acted illegally in some of its actions. While every Bradley Manning supporter should be heartened by the fact that the military judge ruled that he was subject to illegal behavior by the military during his pre-trial confinement her remedy, a 112 days reduction in any future sentence, is a mere slap on the wrist to the military authorities. No dismissal or, alternatively, no appropriate reduction (the asked for ten to one ratio for all his first year or so of illegal close confinement which would take years off any potential sentence) given the seriousness of the illegal behavior as the defense tirelessly argued for. And the result is a heavy-handed deterrent to any future military whistleblowers, who already are under enormous pressures to remain silent as a matter of course while in uniform, and others who seek to put the hard facts of future American military atrocities before the public.

Some other important recent news, this from the November 2012 pre-trail sessions, is the offer by the defense to plead guilty to lesser charges (wrongful, unauthorized use of the Internet, etc.) in order to clear the deck and have the major espionage /aiding the enemy issue (with a possibility of a life sentence) solely before the court-martial judge, Judge Lind (the one who has been hearing the pre-trial motions, not some senior officer, senior NCO lifer-stacked panel. A wise move, a very wise move.). Also there has been increased media attention by mainstream outlets around the case (including the previously knowingly oblivious New York Times), as well as an important statement by three Nobel Peace Laureates (including Bishop Tutu from South Africa) calling on their fellow laureate, United States President Barack Obama, to free Private Manning from his jails. Check the Bradley Manning Support Network -http://www.bradleymanning.org/ for details and future updates.

Check the Bradley Manning Support Network -http://www.bradleymanning.org/ for details and future updates.

*Contribute to the Bradley Manning Defense Fund- as the trial date approaches funds are urgently needed! For link go to http://www.bradleymanning.org/ for

*Sign the online petition at the Bradley Manning Support Network (for link go to http://www.bradleymanning.org/ )at the Bradley Manning Support Network site to the Secretary of the Army to free Bradley Manning-1000 days is enough!

*Call (Comments: 202-456-1111), write (The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500),, e-mail (http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments)the White House to ask (or demand) President Obama to pardon Bradley Manning- In federal cases, and military cases are federal cases, the President of the United States can pardon the guilty and the innocent, the convicted and those awaiting trial- Free the whistleblower!

From The Boston Bradley Manning Support Committee Archives (November, 2012)

Let’s Redouble Our Efforts To Free Private Bradley Manning-President Obama Pardon Bradley Manning -Make Every Town Square In America (And The World) A Bradley Manning Square From Boston To Berkeley to Berlin-Join Us In Davis Square, Somerville –The Stand-Out Is Every Wednesday From 4:00-5:00 PM

Markin comment:

The Private Bradley Manning case is headed toward a mid- winter trial now scheduled for February 2013. The recent news on his case has centered on the many (since last April) pre-trial motions hearings including defense motions to dismiss for lack of speedy trial (Private Manning’s pre-trial confinement is now entering 900 plus days), dismissal as a matter of freedom of speech and alleged national security issues (issues for us to know what the hell the government is doing either in front of us, or behind our backs) and dismissal based on serious allegations of torturous behavior by the military authorities extending far up the chain of command while Private Manning was detained at the Quantico Marine brig for about a year ending in April 2011. The latest news from the November 2012 pre-trail sessions is the offer by the defense to plead guilty to lesser charges (wrongful, unauthorized use of the Internet, etc.) in order to clear the deck and have the major (with a possibility of a life sentence) espionage /aiding the enemy issue solely before the court-martial judge (a single military judge, the one who has been hearing the pre-trial motions, not a lifer-stacked panel).

Those of us who support his cause should thus redouble our efforts to secure Private Manning’s freedom. The status of the legal case may change a little over the next period if some form of negotiated plea on the lesser charges is worked out (although that is right now only in the preliminary stages and is far from etched in stone and we believe that he has committed no crime in need of punishment but rather has done humankind a great service by his alleged actions) however donations to the legal fund should still be sent and solicited. The petitioning to the Secretary of the Army for Private Manning release (see link above) should still be gathering signatures and the telephone/e-mail/letter campaign to the White House urging recently re-elected President Obama, who has the constitutional authority to do so, to pardon Private Manning now should continue.

Additionally, for the past several months there has been a weekly stand-out in Greater Boston across from the Davis Square Redline MBTA stop (renamed Bradley Manning Square for the stand-out’s duration) in Somerville on Friday afternoons but we have since July 4, 2012 changed the time and day to 4:00-5:00 PM on Wednesdays. This stand-out has, to say the least, been very sparsely attended. We need to build it up with more supporters present. Please join us when you can. Or better yet if you can’t join us start a Support Bradley Manning weekly stand-out in some location in your town whether it is in the Boston area, Berkeley or Berlin. And please sign the petition for his release either in person or through the "Bradley Manning Support Network". We have placed links to the "Manning Network”and "Pardon Private Manning Square" website below.
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Bradley Manning Support Network-http://www.bradleymanning.org/

Manning Square website-http://freemanz.com/2012/01/20/somerville_paper_photo-bradmanningsquare/bradleymanningsquare-2011_01_13/

Private Manning Support Remarks Made By A Speaker At Smedley Butler Brigade Armistice Day (Veterans Day) Observance In Boston –November 11, 2012

Welcome one and all and I am glad you could be here for this important struggle. The Smedley Butler Brigade of Veterans for Peace proudly stands in solidarity with, and defense of, Private Bradley Manning and his fight for freedom from his jailers, the American military.

Now usually when I get before a mic or am on a march I am shouting to high heaven about some injustice. Recently I was called strident by someone and when it comes to the struggle against this country’s wars, the struggle for social and economic equality, and for freedom for our political prisoners I am indeed strident. But I am looking for something today something personally important to me, and so I will try to lower my temperature a bit- I want, like you, for recently re-elected President Obama to pardon Bradley Manning so I will be nice, or try to be.

Bradley Manning is in a sense the poster person for all of us who have struggled against the wars of the last decade. He stands charged with allegedly leaking information about American war crimes and other matters of public concern to Wikileaks. We, and we are not alone on this, do not see whistleblowing on such activities as a crime but as an elemental humanitarian act and public service. Private Manning has paid the price for his alleged acts with over 900 days of pre-trial confinement and is now facing life imprisonment for simple acts of humanity. For letting the American people know what they perhaps did not want to know but must know- when soldiers, American soldiers, go to war some awful things can happen and do. He has also suffered torture at the hands of the American government for his brave stand. We have become somewhat inured to foreign national being tortured by the American government at places like Guantanamo and other black hole locales. We have even become somewhat inured to American citizens being tortured and killed by the American government by drones and other methods. But we know, or should know, that when the American government stands accused of torturing an American soldier for not toeing the war line then we private citizens are in serious trouble.

Why does Private Manning need a pardon? Did he give away the order of battle or the table of organization for American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan? No. Did he give away the design for drones and such weapons? No. He allegedly simply blew the whistle on something that is a hard fact of war- war crimes by American soldiers through release of the Collateral Murder tape and what have become known as the Iraq and Afghan War logs. This is what the American government had tried with might and main to cover up. And what needed to be exposed. All talk of bringing democracy, or nation- building, or having a war to end all wars, and the million other lame excuses for war pale before the hard fact that in the heat of war the real strategy is to kill and burn and let god sort out the innocent from the guilty.

That is what Private Manning exposed. I, and I am sure many other veterans from previous wars who saw or knew of such things and did nothing about it, are glad that such things were exposed. If for no other reason Private First Class Bradley Manning deserves presidential pardon for his service. To insure that event we urge everybody to ramp up their efforts in behalf of Bradley by signing here or online at the Bradley Manning Support Network site the petition to the Secretary of the Army for his release and to call/e-mail or write a letter to the White House and demand that President Obama pardon Private Manning.

We have been holding weekly stand-outs in Davis Square in Somerville outside the MBTA Red Line stop Wednesdays from 4:00to 5:00 PM and urge you to join us. Or better yet start a Free Bradley Manning stand-out in your own town square. Thank you.

Out In The 1950s Film Noir Night – With Ray Milland’s “The Big Clock” In Mind

George Stroud was ready for the big step-off, the big jolt, ready as he was ever going to be, but still he had questions, questions that needed answers in his head before they pulled the switch at midnight. He had half-convinced himself that he hadn’t done the deed, hadn’t murdered Pauline, the boss’s, ah, paramour, his twist, in a drunken rage when she said she would not leave the boss, leave her meal ticket for him and an uncertain future, a future clouded by whether or not he, George, would, or would not, leave his wife, child, and home or just continue their dalliance on the sly.

Strangely the boss, Earl Jackson , the head of Jackson Publications where George had headed the crime magazine division, the most profitable division of his empire, still clueless about the extent of his affair with Pauline, had footed the bill for all his legal expenses, and had assigned his top aide, Steve, Steve Eagan to move heaven and earth to find any way to get George free. But the boss, a big hulky, brooding man, was quirky that way, all fire and brimstone, hate and hurt, one minute and then an angel mover of heaven and earth the next minute. Steve too, although he was strictly the boss’s yes man. Maybe if the boss had known the full details of his relationship with Pauline, no, if Earl had known that information, he would have already been long gone instead of four years later waiting here in this clammy cell to either step-off or grab a reprieve from the governor, courtesy of the boss’s efforts.

There was nothing George could do about that though so he stewed some more about that night, the night he killed Pauline. A lot of it was fuzzy, fuzzy in the old drunken way fuzzy (and some reefer added in cadged from Jimmy the copy boy who had some good connections). He had, as always, met Pauline at Vinnie’s, the routine pretty pat by then, just sidling up to the bar and kind of acting surprised to see each other for public consumption, then a few drinks (and an outside tour to do the joint), a couple of laughs, a couple of dances, then hit a few more spots, more secluded spots, and then back to her place. He remembered grabbing that foolish clock at Murphy’s Pub, the place where the Broadway swells hung out, and where there was a sign on the door that said “time does not enter here” and that had gotten him started about the clocks, and getting rid of them. Funny they never found that damn clock, the murder weapon, when they searched Pauline’s apartment for clues although he swore he had brought it in the apartment with him. That might have helped his case. They claimed he had dumped it somewhere before he passed out. They had met Steve, Steve Eagan, at Murphy’s and he seemed to be unhappy with Pauline about something, probably her being seen in public with someone other than the boss although she was known around town to gather guys for a fun night, strictly for kicks, when the boss was in his cups. As they left Steve said he would walk out with them, although he still seemed mad at Pauline for something after that had had words off to the side while he was getting her coat from hat-check.

Coming off the elevator to Pauline’s apartment he noticed, half-noticed realty, a guy, a blur mainly but a heavy set from his shadow walking up the stairs, he vaguely sensed that he knew the guy, or something, maybe the boss but he had an airtight alibi provided by Steve, but could never provide more information than that when they asked him if he had seen anybody in the building that night when he was desperate for alibis. Once in Pauline’s apartment he started to drink again, lit up another joint, and, as happened more often than not then especially when he was in his cups the subject of her dumping the boss came up, they argued about it, heatedly argued about it, she asking when he would leave his wife which always infuriated him and that was the last he remembered as he went out cold. The next thing he knew was several hours later some cop was rousting him off the floor, Pauline about ten feet away, was face down, dead, very dead. Steve was telling the cop that the boss usually had him look in on Pauline after a night out and that was how he had found the crime scene. He had telephoned the boss who was not in, then the police, and waited. In the meantime the boss had sent word to him that George was to have all the legal help he needed. And he did get that help…

Protect Medicare, Social Security, housing, food assistance and other vital programs Make large corporations and millionaires pay their fair share Cut the Pentagon, Invest in Jobs as the solution to our economic crisis Bring our Troops home safely from Afghanistan NOW Thursday, February 14, 2013, 12:30 pm JFK Federal Building • Government Center • Boston March to Senate Offices It’s crunch time again in Congress. Vital public programs and millions of jobs are once again on the chopping block as the budget debate rages on. On Valentine's Day join us to give Senator Warren and Senator Cowan a gigantic Valentine Card and a beautiful gift of our successful Budget for All ballot results. We hope our new Senators will stand with us in promoting employment, protecting critical public programs, and redirecting Pentagon spending instead of passing an austerity budget. In 2011 Congress already cut hundreds of billions of dollars from needed public programs. We can’t afford any more. We say: Have a Heart! Enact a Budget for All! Sponsored by the Budget for All Coalition and Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Massachusetts Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee, AFGE/Local 3258 AFL-CIO, Survivors, Inc, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom/ Boston. Dorchester People for Peace, Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants, ACT-UP Boston, City Life/Vida Urbana, Dominican Development Center, Chinese Progressive Association, New England United for Justice For more information, contact: MAHT 617-267-2949 maht@saveourhomes.org MAPA 617-354-2169 cole@masspeaceaction.org AFSC 617-623-5288 pshannon@afsc.org