Or will you be silenced?
In 2007 and 2008, campaigning for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Barack Obama went around giving speeches where his big applause line was "We want to end the war and we want to end it now!" He was referring to the Iraq War.
And he was lying when he claimed he wanted to end it.
The March 7, 2008 Iraq snapshot revealed that. Anyone else could have cited the BBC interview where Samantha Power (national security advisor to the campaign at the time of the interview) explained that Barack was offering just words and would decide what to do or not do on Iraq if elected. Here, we called it "The death of Our Modern Day Carrie Nations" -- sadly, we were wrong. She now advises Barack on ever more war. And we noted how silent the 'independent' media was being on Power's revelations in "Editorial: The Whores of Indymedia." We continued to cover the reality. Even though it took Tom-Tom Hayden four months to discover the BBC interview -- for one brief day before again forgetting it (see "Letters to An Old Sell Out: Where's the honesty?").
But if you remember 2008, you no doubt remember all the claims from the Cult of St. Barack that once he got the nomination, they'd hold his feet to the fire. But they had to be silent for just now! Then it was once he got the presidency they'd hold his feet to the fire.
He's been serving as president for over two years now and the wars continue (he promised to continue the Afghanistan War -- we noted many times, in real time, that numerous members of the peace movement who backed Barack were playing Sophie's Choice with the people of Afghanistan) and what do we here?
We hear that no one can primary him in 2012. We hear that no third party run can be staged in 2012.
When did baby's feet ever get held to the fire?
Answer: Never.
And The Little War Hawk That Could did. And US service members continue to die and Iraqis continue to die and the US props up the thug Nouri al-Maliki who not only faciliates the attacks on Iraqi Christians, he does the same with the attacks on Iraq's LGBT community. In other words, he's got a lot of hate in him.
And he attacks journalists and he attacks Iraqis and he runs secret prisons and his hand-picked Rapid Response Commnader got caught last week in the act of taking a $50,000 bribe and responded by ordering his forces to beat up the Integrity Commission investigators (nine were wounded, three of whom required hospitalization). That's Nouri. That's the US Governmnet's man in Iraq.
What a proud, proud moment.
And that's what your silence supports. And it's what your blind group hug of Barack supports. You can stand up and stand up to the war machine and to War Hawk Barack and stand up for the Iraqi people. But doing so requires more bravery than we're suspecting cult members have.
Non cult members and those who have been successfully deprogrammed can stand up this coming weekend, A.N.S.W.E.R. and March Forward! and others will be taking part in these action:
March 19 is the 8th anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Iraq today remains occupied by 50,000 U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of foreign mercenaries.
The war in Afghanistan is raging. The U.S. is invading and bombing Pakistan. The U.S. is financing endless atrocities against the people of Palestine, relentlessly threatening Iran and bringing Korea to the brink of a new war.
While the United States will spend $1 trillion for war, occupation and weapons in 2011, 30 million people in the United States remain unemployed or severely underemployed, and cuts in education, housing and healthcare are imposing a huge toll on the people.
Actions of civil resistance are spreading.
On Dec. 16, 2010, a veterans-led civil resistance at the White House played an important role in bringing the anti-war movement from protest to resistance. Enduring hours of heavy snow, 131 veterans and other anti-war activists lined the White House fence and were arrested. Some of those arrested will be going to trial, which will be scheduled soon in Washington, D.C.
Saturday, March 19, 2011, the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, will be an international day of action against the war machine.
Protest and resistance actions will take place in cities and towns across the United States. Scores of organizations are coming together. Demonstrations are scheduled for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and more.
Not able to be in DC? A.N.S.W.E.R. offers a list of these other actions:
Click here to list the event in your city or town.
Washington, D.C.
Gather at 12 noon
Rally at Lafayette Park
March to the White House
for a massive veteran-led civil resistancemi
Initiated by Veterans for Peace
Click here for more info
Around the U.S.
Arizona
Phoenix
12 noon
Corner of Central & Roosevelt Avenue
Rally at the sculpture followed by a march; speakers, music at end rally
Contact: endthewarcoalition@cox.net or call (480) 894-2024
California
Laguna Hills
11:00am-12:30pm
Gather on the corner of El Toro Road and Paseo de Valencia
(in front of Chase Bank)
Sponsored by Concerned Citizens of Laguna Woods and Laguna Woods Democratic Club
Contact: Betsy Martin at 949-581-5453
Los Angeles
Gather at 12 noon
Rally at Hollywood and Vine
Click here for more info
Santa Barbara
11:00am-2:00pm
Gather at De la Guerra Plaza (downtown) for a rally
March down State Street to the beach
Arlington West will be set up and there will be a program of speakers
Sponsored by Veterans for Peace - Chapter 54, The People's Coalition, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Society of Friends (Quakers) and individual citizens opposed to war
Contact: hoshidas@yahoo.com
Santa Cruz
12:00pm-2:00pm
Gather at the Santa Cruz Town Clock
corner of North Pacific Ave. and Water St.
Contact: woicle@yahoo.com
San Francisco
Gather at 12 noon
Rally at UN Plaza (7th & Market Sts.)
March to Lo. 2 boycotted hotels
Click here for more info
Colorado
Evergreen
11:00am-12noon
On the Bridge at Hwy 73 & Hwy 74
Sponsored by Evergreen Peace
Contact: group@evergreenpeace.org
Connecticut
Gather at 12 noon
Rally on the Green (Elm St and Church St.)
Sponsored by ANSWER CT
Contact: 203-606-0319, ct@answercoalition.org
Florida
Daytona Beach
12noon-6:00pm
Gather at the NW Corner of Nova Road and Intl Speedway Blvd
(in front of the Steak N Shake restaurant at 1000 W Intl Speedway Blvd)
Sponsored by Veterans For Peace - Central Florida, WeAreChange - Florida, CODEPINK of East Central Florida, Military Families Speak Out - Florida
Contact: Phil Restino, Central Florida Veterans For Peace (VFP Chapter 136) at 386-235-3268 (cell), 386-788-2918 (home), or CentralFlaVFP@aol.com
North Miami
7 p.m.
MOCA Plaza 770 NE 125th St
Progressive Democrats of America - Miami Chapter
Sandy Davies - Local PDA Coordinator - peacetopower@aol.com - (305) 336-1934
See below under Additional Events for another North Miami listing on Friday, March 18.
Orlando
Gather at Black Jacket Park at 12noon
March to the Department of Defense offices
Contact: 484-888-3237, koritfwLB@gmail.com
Illinois
Chicago
Gather at 12 noon
Rally at Michigan and Congress
Followed by a march
Click here for more info
Iowa
Dubuque
Gather at 1:30pm
Rally at public semi-circle at NE corner of Grandview and Dodge, followed by march
Contact: gwyllum@bernardtel.com, DbqPeace@yahoogroups.com to sign up for email updates
Iowa City
Gather at 11:00 a.m.
Iowa Cit Court House
417 South Clinton Street
Sponsored by: Veterans for Peace, Johnson County Greet Party, PEACE Iowa, International Socialist Organization, Workers International League-Eastern Iowa, Campaign for a Mass Party of Labor
Contact: Dawn Jones at dawnj@netins.net, 319-335-2569
Massachusetts
Boston
Gather at 12 noon
Rally at Southwest Corridor Park at Ruggles Station
Followed by a march
Contact: 857-334-5084, boston@answercoalition.org
Minnesota
St. Paul
Gather at 1:00 pm
at the Martin Luther King Community Center, 270 North Kent Street
March through the streets of St. Paul at 1:30 pm
Rally State Capitol Building at 2:15 pm
Initiated by Iraq Peace Action Coalition
Contact: 612 827-5364, 612 522-1861
Mississippi
Biloxi
11am-4pm
South side of Beach Blvd. opposite Biloxi Green.
Sponsored by South MS United for Peace.
Contact: Glen Sandberg, 228-697-5195
New Hampshire
Keene
10:00am-6:00pm
Assemble at Keene State College Arch Gate on Main St.
March to Central Square for program
Sponsored by Keene Peace Vigil
Contact: Chris Hansen at marcuschristain@hotmail.com, 603-835-6190
New Mexico
Albuquerque
Gather at 11 am
at Central Avenue and University
March to Lockheed Martin
Rally at Civic Plaza
Sponsored by the March 19 Coalition
Contact: Stop the War Machine at 505-268-9557 or the ANSWER Coalition at 505-268-2488
New Jersey
Highland Park
Gather at 11:30 am
at Route 27 and the Albany Street Bridge.
Followed by a march through the streets of New Brunswick to various locations to highlight impact of war economy
Rally 1 pm at Bank of America, 410 George S
Sponsored by Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War
Contact: 732-967-9370, spring2011nowar@gmail.com
New York
New Paltz
See below under “Additional events”
Syracuse
See below under “Additional events”
Ohio
Cincinnati
1:00pm-3:00pm
Gather at Fountain Square
520 Vine Street
Sponsored by Coffee Party Cincinnati
Contact: coffeepartycincinnati@gmail.com
Columbus
Gather at 2:00 pm
at the The Ohio Statehouse (High St. Side, near the McKinley Statue)
Sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition
Contact: columbus@answercoalition.org, 614-226-7807
Dayton
Gather at Carillon Park
5pm
Open Mic.
Sponsored by the September 11 Coalition and Dayton Peace Action
Contact: Tim Lingg at 937-291-2008
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
See below under "Additional events"
Oregon
Portland
Rally at 1:00pm
March at 1:30pm
Pioneer Courthouse Square
SW 6th and Yamhill (downtown)
Cosponsored and endorsed by over 50 peace, labor, faith, civil rights and other organizations
Contact: Peace and Justice Works at 505-236-3065 or pjw.info
Pennsylvania
King of Prussia
11am
In front of the King of Prussia Mall(DeKalb Pike at Mall Blvd)
Initiated by Focus on Peace. Click here to RSVP.
Contact: focusonpeace1@hotmail.com
Pittsburgh
See below under “Additional events”
South Carolina
Hilton Head Island
Gather at 10:00am
at the Hilton Head Library
Vigil on Rt. 278 and Beach City Rd.
Sponsored by Hilton Head for Peace
Contact: 603-264-6102
Texas
Amarillo
See below under Additional Events.
Dallas
11 am
Gather at S. side of Mockingbird Dart Station, 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln., march at 11:30am to Potomac Park for rally
Sponsored by Dallas Peace Center, Code Pink Greater Dallas, Code Pink Ft. Worth, North Texas Progressive, North Texas Veterans for Peace
Contact: Trish Major, Dallas Peace Center, 214-823-7793, www.dallaspeacecenter.org
Houston
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bell Park at 4800 Montrose
An anti-war/pro-peace demonstration. BYOT (Bring your own theme). Speakers requested, bring your signs and banners.
Alfred Molison (832-638-5187 Cell, alfredm 123 at sbc global.net)
Utah
Salt Lake City
Gather at 1:00 pm for a rally
Utah State Capitol (350 North Main St # 600)
Initiated by the Revolutionary Students Union
Contact: uvursu@gmail.com, uvursu.com
Virginia
Quantico (Triangle), Virginia
See below under "Additional events"
Washington
Gather at 12 noon
Rally at Westlake Park: 4th and Pine.
March at 1 pm
Return to Westlake for concluding remarks
Sponsored by ANSWER Seattle, SNOW coalition, Seattle Anti-Imperialist Committee, Veterans for Peace 392, World Can't Wait
Contact: seattle@answerseattle.org
Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia
Gather at 12 noon
Rally at Lafayette Park
March to the White House
for a massive veteran-led civil resistance
Click here for more info
Wisconsin
Racine
10:00-11:00 a.m.
End Iraq War Peace Rally at the corner of Hwys 20/31
Flying the large peace dove made by the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice.
Sponsored by the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice
Contact: arademacher@racinedominicans.org or 262-639-4100
Additional events
Amarillo, Texas, on Friday, March 18
5:30 to 7:00 PM
Amarillo Texas City Hall (7th and Buchanan)
Sponsored by March 19 Coalition
QContact: Rusty Tomlinson hftomlinson@riseup.net (765)722-1113
New Paltz, N.Y. on Tuesday, March 15
Gather at 6:30 pm
University of New York, Lecture Center 102 (map)
Contact: jacdon@earthlink.net
North Miami, Fla., on March 18
5pm
Armed Forces Recruitment Center (NE 163rd St & 11th Ave, North Miami Beach)
Sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America - Miami Chapter
Contact: Sandy Davies - Local PDA Coordinator - peacetopower@aol.com - (305)336-1934
Oklahoma City, OK on Friday, March 18
4:00-6:00pm
Gather on the Northeast corner of NW 23rd St & Broadway
Sponsored by Peace House and Oklahoma Center for Conscience
Contact: Peace House at 405-524-5577, peacehouseok.org
Pittsburgh, Pa. on Saturday, March 26
Gather at 12 noon
at 47th and Butler St.
March through Lawrenceville at 1 pm
Contact: info@pittsburghendthewar.org
Syracuse, N.Y. on Friday, March 18
12 noon
Federal Building
Corner of Clinton and Washington
Organized by the Syracuse Peace Council and the ANSWER Coalition
Contact: syracuse@answercoalition.org
Quantico (Triangle), Va. on Sunday, March 20
Rally and march for Bradley Manning's freedom
2:00-6:00pm
Main Street and Rt. 1 (Jeff Davis Hwy.)
Click here to list the event in your city or town.
Illustrations are Isaiah's "Pinocchio Obama" and "Barack and Other War Hawks."