Peace Blog Archive

Jonathan Hutto: A Powerful and Inspiring Voice
Feb. 18
Middletown, Connecticut
AppealforRedress.org

Active Duty Seaman Jonathan Hutto spoke with infectious enthusiasm about the campaign he co-founded — the Appeal for Redress, an appeal addressed to Congress from members of the active duty military. (Hutto with Sally Weiss, Traprock Core Group member; photo © 2007 Carl Moos. He is holding the “invaluable” study – Soldiers in Revolt.)

The Appeal reads:

“As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.” (more…)

ARE HOUSE LEADERSHIP CONFLICTS OF INTEREST STALLING THE DRIVE TO GET THE U.S. OUT OF IRAQ

By Nick Mottern
www.consumersforpeace.org

At least seven bills have been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would halt the escalation of the Iraq War and/or forbid further money from being used for anything except bringing U.S. forces completely out of Iraq. H.R. 508, introduced by Cong. Lynn Woolsey D-CA would require all U.S. military and private security personnel to be out of Iraq within six months of the legislation’s passage.

These bills, for all practical purposes, are being sidelined by the leaders of the Democratically-controlled House: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi D-CA; Majority Leader Steny Hoyer D-MD; and Cong. John Murtha D-PA, a legislatively powerful war critic because of his chairmanship of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Instead, attention of the House has been focused by the leadership this week on a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval of sending 20,000 more troops to Iraq. (more…)

OCCUPATION PROJECT ROLLS INTO McCAIN’S WORLD

By Bill Rau for www.consumersforpeace.org

Washington, D.C.
February 5, 2007

The arrests started just five minutes after people
entered Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) office in the
Senate Office Building. The first of a planned
three-month series of occupations of U.S. legislators’
offices was designed to demand specific action to
quickly end the U.S. war in and occupation of Iraq.

About 50 people, representing nearly twenty
participating organizations, took part in the
nonviolent civil disobedience. Both TV and print media
covered the event. (more…)

MARCHERS SEND MESSAGE-AND DESERVE BETTER

By Charles Jenks
January 31, 2007
See photos
See videos of march

On January 27th, the people sent a clear message to Washington – “Get U.S. Troops Out of Iraq Now!” Hundreds of thousands of people marched, and they completely – for the first time in history it is reported – surrounded the Capitol Building. When the first marchers came to the end of the loop there were people still waiting to start marching.

Unfortunately, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) – the primary sponsor – didn’t live up to the standards set by the marchers. Its continuing refusal to work with some other national coalitions, and its focus on celebrities and politicians, was reflected in its botching the start of the march and focusing of media coverage.

The great news though, from my perspective, is that this march drew such a broad range of people. Look at the people marching – www.traprockpeace.org has over 200 march photos – and you’ll see a cross-section of America. This – as much as the numbers – is what should worry the Bush Administration and Congress. (more…)

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Why protest matters
By Sharon Smith | February 9, 2007

HUNDREDS OF thousands of antiwar protesters amassed on the streets of Washington, D.C., on January 27, emboldened by the optimism of an antiwar majority that has finally found its voice.

To be sure, skeptics were quick to point out that members of Congress had vacated their offices for the weekend, as if their physical presence was necessary to notice the throngs of protesters. Other cynics remind us that even the enormous February 15, 2003, antiwar demonstrations failed to halt the U.S. drive to war on Iraq, as if protest is a futile exercise.

It is politically naïve, however, to expect that a single demonstration of any size is enough to persuade the world’s lone military superpower to reverse its bloodthirsty course.

A demonstration is not a protest movement. Such a movement requires an ongoing commitment to grassroots struggle. (more…)

http://www.consumersforpeace.org/news_former_generals_involved_war.html

FORMER -GENERALS WHO WANT THE U.S. TO STAY IN IRAQ ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE WAR INDUSTRY

- Keane devises and pushes Bush’s “surge”.
- McCaffery wants more arms and money for Iraqis.
- Hoar and Odom, little connected to military business,
call for withdrawal.
- The importance of “contractors” in sustaining the war; “doing the patriotic bit.”

By Nick Mottern, Director, ConsumersforPeace.Org

As Congress weighs action on the escalation of the Iraq War, it may want to consider the business connections of retired generals who have been making recommendations, particularly those of retired four-star Army general John M. “Jack” Keane, who is one of the authors of President Bush’s “surge” policy. (more…)