DOWN WITH THE OBAMA/KERRY WAR-HANDS OFF SYRIA

Emergency Response—Park St. Boston, 5 p.m. if the attacks begin before noon, and 5 p.m. the day after if attacks start after noon.

 

Speech at Boston No War on Syria rally 9-7-13

 

President Obama shows NO regard for the will of the American people, or the people of the world who overwhelmingly oppose attacking Syria. Despite his crocodile tears over the fate of the Syrian people -- he wants to bomb them for up to 90 days and add thousands more to the casualty lists and the stream of refugees leaving this country already mired in war. He says he doesn’t care what Congress, the UN, the G-20, or the Pope says – he has proof (that he can’t share) that President Assad used chemical weapons, and since his red line has been crossed, he must attack to preserve America’s credibility (and ability to scare the world into doing the United States’ bidding).

Some say it is unconstitutional – Congress has to vote on war. Some say it is illegal – the UN Security Council has to vote on war and NATO should be involved. Some say it is criminal – take it to the International Criminal Court. Some say wait for the UN inspectors report – we don’t know who used the chemical weapons. Some say it is immoral – the US should not kill people when there is no threat to us. This is all true.

It would also be catastrophic for Syria, engulfed in proxy wars, and the entire region. Imperialism never wages war for “humanitarian” reasons. Lasting peace can never be achieved by their bombs, nor by “negotiations” that they can control or manipulate with threats or buy offs.

But it is dangerous to get wrapped up in the legalities – What if Congress approves? Should they bomb? No, they should not! What if the UN Security Council approves? Should they bomb? No, they should not! What if Pres. Assad used chemical weapons? Should they bomb? No, they should not! What if the so-called rebels used chemical weapons? Should they bomb them? No, they should not!

We must also be very skeptical about their claims that they have proof that the Syrian army used chemical weapons against its people. So far, there is no credible evidence that this is true. Other sources say they were used by the opposition forces. We know the US government has lied in the past to further its own economic and geopolitical ends.

The US has no political, legal or moral standing to use force against any nation. The warmaking world cop has a long record of military interventions and use of weapons that have murdered millions to advance the interests of EMPIRE. The U.S. has used and/or supported the use of biological and chemical warfare all over the world, and uses and manufactures these and many other weapons, equally horrific. The U.S. is the only country in the history of the world to use nuclear weapons.

In reality, the U.S. is promoting war because of gas pipelines in Syria and energy resources in the region; to support Israel, its sole reliable proxy in the Middle East; to threaten Iran, and economic competitors China and Russia; to benefit the war machine and Wall Street; to establish even more U.S. bases; and to destabilize and recolonize the Middle East and South Asia, thus maintaining U.S. domination.

Only the Syrian people themselves can call a cease fire and decide the path forward. This is what we need to support --not outside interveners with their arms and their own agendas.

We need to fight back, because, we the 99%, are the only force that can stop them and create an equitable and sustainable world. We need to be in the streets and stay in the streets. We need to draw our own red lines – No to war! No to spying! No to Racism! No to Cuts! No to Climate Change! No to Repression! Let us stand together to organize the “American” Spring for peace, freedom, jobs, and a livable world!

Speech 9-7-13 Boston rally no war Syria (modified)

Marilyn Levin

Co-Coordinator UNAC