"Five Years Too Many" / actualizing the goals
Friends,
I wanted to share this with you, it's a mailing about anti-war actions,
re-organizing the anti-war movement and restoring democracy within the
US.
I've added a comment at the bottom.
Petros
________
Freedom Socialist Party
National Office
4710 University Way NE, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98105-4427
E-mail fspnatl@igc.org
http://www.socialism.com
Phone (206)985-4621
Fax (206)985-8965
March 2008
Five Years Too Many:
End the War by Building a Militant Movement!
The U.S. 'Liberation of Iraq' is a total disaster by any measure. Since
the invasion in March 2003 over one million Iraqis have died and two
million have fled to neighboring countries. Almost 4,000 U.S. troops
have been killed and at least ten times that number are wounded. The
Iraq economy is in such shambles that four million people have no
guarantee of food. The central Iraqi government is so dysfunctional it
cannot even meet U.S. demands for regional elections and turning over
the oil industry to U.S. corporations.
On this fifth anniversary of the invasion, the public is fed up. Nearly
two-thirds of voters want the U.S. to withdraw troops from Iraq
immediately or within one year.
A new president won't end the occupation
or much improve life in the U.S.
People participating in Democratic Party primaries and caucuses hope
the ballot box can end the horrific occupation. But just as the
Democratic majority in Congress refuses to cut off war funding, none of
the major presidential frontrunners is putting forward a plan for
withdrawing the troops. All are bought by corporate war profiteers and
talk openly about keeping huge numbers of troops in Iraq to maintain
military bases, protect the U.S. embassy and support corporate
interests. If they won¡¯t risk alienating the military-industry complex
in order to end the war, they won't challenge big business to improve
the economy.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing $10.3 billion a month.
This enormous sum, plus the $2.34 billion a year given Israel to
brutally occupy Palestine, leaves little for healthcare, rebuilding New
Orleans, helping workers avoid foreclosures, or public works jobs.
In addition, the perpetual drumbeat of militarism saturates U.S.
society with fear, substitutes patriotism for civil liberties, breeds
an anti-social culture of individualism ¨¹ber alles and encourages
rabid America-Firsters. The poison spreads throughout the world and
fosters Turkey's attacks on the Kurdish region, Colombia's invasion of
Ecuador, and Israel's total blockade of Gaza.
Women, people of color and immigrants who bear the brunt of this attack
are fighting back the hardest because they have no other choice.
A movement could stop the war on working people
No individual group can succeed alone. However, by working together the
U.S. working class is capable of stopping the U.S. government. It's the
only force on earth that can.
People in the streets halted Jim Crow, won votes for women, attained
the eight-hour day, and forced the U.S. out of Vietnam. A similar kind
of movement will succeed today if it is a real coalition of antiwar
groups, based on democratic decision-making and an international
perspective, and works in conjunction with labor, political radicals,
and military resisters in and out of uniform.
It's time for unity in action!
There are two encouraging opportunities for antiwar activists, labor
militants and community groups to work together. An Open National
Antiwar Conference has been called for June 28-29 in Cleveland by the
National Assembly to End the Iraq War and Occupation. The conveners
invite 'everyone, every organization, every coalition, everywhere in
the U.S. -- all who oppose the war and the occupation -- to attend an
open democratic U.S. national antiwar conference ¡ÂThe objective is to
place on the agenda of the entire U.S. antiwar movement a proposal for
the largest possible united mass mobilization(s) in the future to stop
the war and end the occupation.' Learn more at natassembly.org and plan
to attend or send a representative.
In addition, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has
announced that it will shut down West Coast ports on May 1 to demand an
immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the
withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. The ILWU is reaching
out to other labor organizations to build support for a wider
international boycott. Their announcement gives over six weeks for
antiwar activists to convince their unions and co-workers to build a
huge work stoppage on May Day.
We demand:
• The immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops and mercenaries from Iraq
and the closing of all U.S. military bases.
• Hands off U.S. troops who refuse to fight and veterans who protest
the war.
• Redistribution of the military budget for U.S. social services and
reparations in the Middle East.
~~~~~~~~~~
I'm not a member of the Freedom Socialist Party (FSP), but I've seen
its members involved in various sections of the Movement in a genuine
and committed way, and that made me feel that I can be a friend of that
organization and an ally on various projects.
What I found most exciting in their statement is the news about that
"...the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has
announced that it will shut down West Coast ports on May 1 to demand an
immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the
withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. The ILWU is reaching
out to other labor organizations to build support for a wider
international boycott."
This is wonderful!
All of the goals of the Peace and Justice movement, even if its blind
spots and denial about 9/11 Truth were to be corrected, are always
stumbling on the most important obstacle: *who* will actualize the
social change we want to see in the world?
Solid actions by working people in key industries such as the
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) are the answer to
this existential question. The people, organized and mobilized, are the
only social force capable of actualizing change. More and more of our
work in the movement should be oriented in that direction: social
change that can be effected by organizations and actions of working
people all over the world.
I take inspiration from this news item, and my thanks to the FSP for
sharing along with their analysis of the current juncture.
Petros
http://petros-evdokas.cyprus-org.net/Another-sort-of-Introduction.html
_______
how is this different, what has changed?
I see in the list of endorsers the same old list of groups that have for 6 years refused to acknowledge 9/11 as part of the problem still refusing to acknowledge 9/11 as part of the problem. Locally, for example, I see Socialist Alternative which is chock full of virulently anti-truth kids (I know them personally). I see the Boston STop the Wars Coalition, another group that has steadfastly refused to allow 9/11 to be discussed. I don't see a single mention of 9/11 in the statement and not a single 9/11 group endorsing.
What do 9/11 activists have to gain from associating with a coalition that has not only proven itself hostile to 9/11 truth in the past, but has failed miserably as an antiwar movement? Why should we, who have made siginificant inroads by approaching the issue of 9/11 in a non-partisan way lend our support to this cause absent an overt gesture on the part of the organizers to specifically reach out to citizens concerned about 9/11, especially given the pattern of hostility of so many of the current endorsers?
Anyone?
Well...
One thing Petros and I have discussed at great length in terms of local 9/11 activism is what we want people to DO when they start to shake off the effects of the mindfuck. Joining and co-opting the anti-war movement from the inside out seems like a good idea -- and you have to keep in mind that there are places where this is MORE possible than it evidently has been in your experience. It certainly beats joining the local crazy conspiracy theorists and ultra right wing survivalists on a freeway overpass waving their anti-NWO signs.
I have a pretty good idea of the limits of the FSP locally. They have been very friendly and cordial to me qua 911 truth person (who happens also to be an anti-capitalist in a non-dogmatic way.) However, I had a very clear moment with them a few weeks ago when I realized that they were really stuck in LIHOP and true believers in the myth of Islamic radicalism. That they cannot see how racist this is confuses me -- but they may be under the spell of Ward Churchillism.
Anyhoo, when it comes to stopping the war, I fully concur with Petros that it's going to be actions like shutting down ports, general strikes, and so on that have a chance -- versus parades like the one I went to yesterday. So what role can 9/11 truth play in that?
Incidentally, there was a crystal-clear shot of a 9/11 truth sign on the local news last night -- not just a passing one, but a lingering, well-framed, close-proximity one.
hooray for pluralism
thanks for the upbeat take, Cass. You may be spot on about the regional differences--I guess I saw the representation from Boston and knowing pretty much everyone involved can say that I won't be joining any of their coalitions myself. That should of course not stop anyone from following their own conscience--if everyone were as jaded as I I daresay it wouldn't be a good thing...
-gret
The greater the difficulty
the greater the glory! And you, my friend, are right there at indoctrination central. Victory ball, victory ball...
thanks bruce
thanks bruce! yes, thanks for reminding me. the way things are going though I think I'm going to be getting so hammered at that f**ing victory ball that the hangover will last me through the McCain administration's entire impeachment trial! :)
:D
Right on, brother!
Is there space suited for a ballroom transformation in that building Leary used to work in? After decades of conscious abuse, Harvard's noble motto seems in dire need of some genuine restoration ;-)
the penthouse can be rented out
But drunken revelry 20 stories up may not be the best idea. :)
As for the motto, you may be surprised that here are indeed a number of good people (outside of the econ, gov, and history departments) that are trying to do just that. Problem is, like everyone else (as Fujita-san recently said) all they have is their credibility, and so they are way too cautious for the most part to jump on this bandwagon before they know for sure the direction the wind is blowing. Of course when Profs are wrong about little things like the war in Iraq it's OK because EVERYONE was wrong, and when the Harvard Crimson quotes one blaming CIA analysts (as opposed to Douglas Feith '75's Office of Special Plans) no one is actually going to correct them, or if they try they will just delete the comment!
Or if someone dares suggest that Zionist Larry Summers, who insiders know got his job in early 2001 because Harvard Corporation board member Henry Rosovsky believed the next president of Harvard should be Jewish, hinted to those around him that he would reward support for the war and punish dissenters, just as he would not tolerate criticism of Israel, well, you might get called an anti-semite by the Zionists on the Crimson editorial board, whose favorite punching bag is J Lorand Matory, but who bend over backwards to defend their fellows...
And hey, let's say you actually did call out one of the war's chief architects, chief of the lie factory himself--how would The Crimzion and the Harvard "Democrats" respond?
Now, before anyone thinks that the last editorial had some redeeming qualities, note that it was only printed after RT wrote them a letter pointing out how hypocritical they were in not voicing similar disapproval when the Harvard "Democrats" heckled and shouted down Ralph Nader months before...
But hey, sensible folks finally put two and two together with Larry Sumemrs and Andrei Schleifer and put an end to the Summers' presidency, but not before he could put his old friend Robert "Can you help bail out Enron for Citibank" Rubin on the corporation board. Yes, visualizing the back scratching is pretty gross, even when you consider that in the Crimson's opinion Summers is a "sex god" (what was that about decorum?) If you want to know more about the slime here be sure to check out the book Haravrd Rules...
It's alive, it's alive!
Phew, I was really worried.
Indoctrination central, as I said. Get in line, kids! There is one way to success, and that is unquestioning conformity. We'll tell you what to think, and the less you object, the more luxurious the quarters we'll grant you on this crazy train bound to hell. You won't even feel the pain as long as the coke, chicks & champagne remain in supply! Just ask Bill 'O Loofalafel and the rest of the happy crowd.
A lot of blue pills to go 'round. The red pill is cojones (or ovaries, not to discriminate!), apparently a rare extra in people these days. No one hold their breath waiting for Pfizer to step in and assist. But it doesn't matter, as:
"One man with courage makes a majority!" --Andrew Jackson
Lessons from 40 years ago...
Have we learned any?
CHICAGO 10 - OFFICIAL TRAILER
"The Democratic Convention is about to begin... in a police state."
~~ Walter Cronkite, 1968
Will we see blue helmets again this year? Journalists being punched in the stomach?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrlYRWD_tnA (embedding disabled)
Or worse?
Times Square is a “magnet for these crazy people, for anarchists… that’s what I think this is, this bomber isn’t al-Qaeda, isn’t anything like that, he is more like — it’s a man — he’s more like those 9/11 was an inside job kind of guys, they… they protest things in a violent way, but in a violent way almost like the eco-terrorist where they don’t intend the inflict casualties.â€
~~ Geraldo Rivera, 2008, following the same talking points previously uttered by the likes of Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly.
Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act Part 1 of 2
Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act Part 2 of 2
S-1959: Homegrown Terrorism Act - criminalizing US citizens