Washington Peace Center blogs

NO BOMB IRAN: Hunger Strike Day 22; Vigil Day 154

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:09:43 -0400

This vigil that started early October 2007 (photo left) continues on Capitol Hill through next week at the end of which Congress goes to golf for the month.

Weekends are spent at the White House (photo right).

The Hunger Strike will continue through day #50 at the Pentagon, where a few heroes have been holding off President Cheney. Hunger Strike is suplemented with about 350 calories per day to offset the up to 50 block round trip walk to Capitol Hill. Health is good. There are as many as a dozen Congressmen that now pointedly seek my attention to give me thanks and encouragement daily when they cross to and from the White House. Once every few days or so some person or persons also, at random, spends time with me from around the country or around the world and seems to leave quite inspired, moved and committed; not unusually there are tears. News is unclear, but maybe positive regarding Iran ( Anti-War Movement Successfully Pushes Back Against Military Confrontation With Iran by Mark Weisbrot (source: Alternet) July 24, 2008). It is conceivable that I will terminate the Hunger Strike earlier than planned if the trend continues positive; saving my body for a more urgent time.

But today, with horrifying echoes of pre-Iraq II: Iran Ends Cooperation With UN Nukes Probe

ps. 6:45pm As I sit on Vigil on Capitol Hill, just this second, a congressman, from Georgia I believe, stopped, drew my attention and very pointedly said, "Friend, please do not stop what you are doing. Now is the most important time. If you can, get others with you, but PLEASE DO NOT STOP."

pps: Just a few minutes later another congressman walked past, stopped, turned, and stuck out his hand to shake mine, "God bless you sir," he said with great sincerity and gusto. In kind I thanked him for stopping, upon which, to set the record strait I think, he added, "I am on the other side of the issue from you, but God bless you." "And God bless you sir," I responded equally, from the heart.

CONVERSION FROM HOSTILITY TO HUMANITY IS THE ENTIRE WORK OF PEACEBUILDING.

Anti-War Movement Successfully Pushes Back Against Military Confrontation With Iran

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:25:17 -0400

Anti-War Movement Successfully Pushes Back Against Military Confrontation With Iran by Mark Weisbrot (source: Alternet) July 24, 2008

Who says there's no anti-war movement in the United States? In the past two months, the anti-war movement has taken on one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States in an important fight. And so far, the anti-war movement is winning. ››read more

ps: "Who says there's no anti-war movement?" I do, but this indicates that even in the absence of a Movement, an extremely few committed folks can make some difference. Imagine what could happen if there ever WERE a real Peace Movement. Start Loving.

US/IRAN: Scowcroft, Brzezinski Urge Bush to Drop Precondition

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:56:30 -0400

Ex-Advisers Warn Against Threatening to Attack Iran Washington Post

US/IRAN: Scowcroft, Brzezinski Urge Bush to Drop Precondition
Inter Press Service (subscription), Italy - 1 hour ago
Burns' direct participation at the talks not only marked the highest-level officially and publicly acknowledged meeting between the US and Iran since the two nations broke off diplomatic relations in late 1979. It also appeared to mark a potentially ...

Army calls it "suicide." She was beaten, bitten, sexually assaulted, burned and shot.

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:41:02 -0400

By Col. Ann Wright

From Col. Wright's article:

"[The parents] met US Army criminal investigators concerning the classification of the death of their daughter who died three years ago on July 19, 2005 in Balad, Iraq. The Army labeled her death as a suicide despite evidence from materials the Army reluctantly provided to the parents that she was beaten, bitten, sexually assaulted, burned and shot. Despite numerous questions from Dr. Johnson about the Army's investigation and determination of suicide, the Army stuck to its guns that Lavena Johnson committed suicide."

The Costs of War: The Parents' Agony
OpEdNews, PA - 12 hours ago

DemocracyNow!: Suicide or Murder? Three Years After the Death of Pfc. LaVena Johnson in Iraq, Her Parents Continue Their Call for a Congressional Investigation

[Bush] allowing foreign multinationals to gain control of Iraq’s oil fields... armed robbery. DemocracyNow!

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:27:29 -0400

... So, one week after these smaller service agreements were announced, the Iraqi Oil Ministry announced that they also will be handing out longer-term management agreements, which will give oil companies the ability to manage existing fields in Iraq and hold onto 75 percent of the worth of those contracts and leave only 25 percent for Iraqis, which is absolutely unheard of in the region, where 51 percent for the country is the baseline for new exploration, for new fields. These are existing fields. They’re already working. The technology is already there. And these foreign companies are going to be taking 75 percent of the worth of those existing fields in Iraq. So it’s daylight robbery. It’s armed robbery, actually, Amy.

Full coverage at: With Crises in Fuel, Food, Housing and Banking, What Gvt. Policies Are Being Pushed Through? Naomi Klein Reexamines “The Shock Doctrine”

Source: Bush will attack Iran

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:06:57 -0400

JERUSALEM, July 20 (UPI) -- An unnamed Israeli security official claims U.S. President George Bush will attack Iran late this year if talks on the Mideast nation's nuclear program falter.
The Israeli Web site DEBKAfile.com, quoting Israel National Radio, reported Sunday that a "highly placed security-political" official said Bush would order the attack between Nov. 4, the date of the U.S. presidential election, and his last day in office in January 2009 should Iran not agree to abandon its efforts to enrich uranium.

Start of the Revolution?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:11:08 -0400

I've been in DC 3 years now doing the work I do. I've never seen what I've seen this past week. Yes Code Pink is awesome, but this Ron Paul Revolution crowd, about 3000 on Saturday - they truly "get" how rotten our system is in a way that is, hmmmm. deeply hopeful. One, Tom, came in a week early. 33, from Detroit, ex Army doing construction, very bright, very well informed... I'm pretty sure he is going to return to Detroit, settle his affairs and return here to fight. Brick, I met him today, 20ish, his dad owns a successful construction firm, he may do the same - return here full time in the fight. Saturday I met a guy at the rally, my age, from VT, extremely well informed, may do the same.

Now, the pattern we have to watch for and foster, is what always brings about change - people start dropping "normal life," and going to the "fight." I often think of the soldiers at Valley Forge - abandoned by their "country" - no pay, "patriots," no matter what the cost, having left "family," farm and security, why? Because it needed to be done; it was the right thing to do.

For the first time I've seen seeds of this in a group of some mass - the Ron Paul Revolution.

Yes Diane, you, I and a few others may stay alone for a long time, but maybe not....

The Longest Walk II

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:16:17 -0400

They are coming. . . they are almost here. . . several
hundred Native Americans and their supporters who
for five months have been walking and running from Alcatraz Island in
San Francisco to convene in D.C. on July 11, 2008 . . . Why brave
the cold? Why endure the heat? Why picking up
garbage along the way?
http://www.longestwalk.org - Schedule Listed Below
The Longest Walk was organized in 1978 to protect the sovereignty of Indian Nations.
Hundreds have walked over 3,600 miles, and ultimately legislation was passed to protect Native American treaty rights.

THIS is what democracy looks like - Code Pink Blockade

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:41:38 -0400

Code Pink Targets Congressman Gary Ackerman's Boat
FOXNews - 20 hours ago
ALAN COLMES, CO-HOST: Early this morning members from anti-war group Code Pink protested at the Washington, DC, Marina outside the house boat of New York ...

The 9/11 Chronicles: Part One, Truth Rising

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:27:21 -0400

There is alot going on in the news and in the community and far be it from me to interrupt without a good reason, but this documentary has come to my attention and I feel it needs to be shared. Its not Loose Change, it shows alot of our ruling elite's take on the prospect that 9/11 was masterminded internally http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-yscpNIxjI

Gandhi: "Nonviolence... the law of self sacrifice...."

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:31:48 -0400

"I have therefore ventured to place before India the ancient law of self-sacrifice. For satyagraha and its off-shoots, non-co-operation and civil resistance, are nothing but new names for the law of suffering. The rishis, who discovered the law of non-violence in the midst of violence, were greater geniuses than Newton. They were themselves greater warriors than Wellington. Having themselves known the use of arms, they realized their uselessness and taught a weary world that its salvation lay not through violence but through nonviolence."
Therefore, that which is NOT SELF SACRIFICE, SUFFERING, IS MURDERING time- Start Loving.

Deconstructing the Blockade-Iran (Declaration of War) Resolutions in Congress TODAY

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:35:48 -0400

Parsing the Anti-Iran Resolutions: M. Sahimi

Due to Severe Illness Hunger Strike Terminated; Vigil Continues Day 141

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:51:28 -0400

The only way I know to describe how I felt the last two days at the White House 7/24 is that it was like I was dying. Only day 14 of this water only hunger strike but day 50 of water only hunger strike within the last 3 months in full sun with no ability to recline - sitting 24 hours per day - my lower back in unbearable agony. This morning I flagged down an officer and requested to be taken to the Hospital, but they said it would cost too much. I seem to have lost the capacity to demonstrate in this way; for now at least. I am so sad - it is such a powerful way to fight.

This week congress is debating the Blockade of Iran - a declaration of war. This morning I began taking calories and my body is responding. Hopefully I will be on Capitol Hill with my "NO BOMB IRAN," and "STOP YOUR WAR" signs during the day as soon as tomorrow, accepting refuge from Thomas and Ellen at night while I recover. Then I expect to go to the Pentagon were there are officers standing against Bush and Cheney's mad lust to war on Iran - the third largest oil reserve in the world. Iran is a country that has not initiated war on any other country in 250 years; and one that the US Intelligence Agency - all agencies - declared had dropped its Nuclear Program in 2003. But Bush and Cheney say otherwise. My hope is to help stiffen the resolve of these brave officers.

As always others are welcome to participate.

Hunger Stike Day 10. "Occupation" Moving to Pentagon Monday.

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:04:24 -0400

Round the clock vigil continues at the White House through Sunday per plan.

A change in plan results from Seymour Hersh...

Democrats Agree to Fund Major Escalation Of Covert Operations Against Iran

June 30, 2008 | Headline
Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh of the New Yorker magazine has revealed the Democratic-led Congress agreed to a request last year from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert …

A major hope for prevention of the Iraq bombing is Mid-level officers in the military.

I expect Monday morning to move the round-the-clock occupation / hunger strike to the Pentagon at the Metro entrance for the purposes of supporting / emboldening / mandating HEROIC PREVENTION of the bombing of Iran.

It may be that such an "Occupation" has never been attempted at the Pentagon; the legalities/police reaction are unknown.
Participation welcome.

Camilo Mejía Speaks Out!

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:51:41 -0400

July 2, 2008 - Washington DC
Over 100 spectators packed into the back room of Busboys and Poets tonight to hear Camilo Mejía relay his heroic tale of war resistance. Camilo Mejía was the first combat veteran to publicly refuse orders to return to Iraq, and served a year in prison for his brave refusal. Since then he has been an inspiration to war resisters everywhere, organizing tirelessly for peace and speaking out against the atrocities he has witnessed. Tonight he chilled his audience with excerpts from his memoir Road From Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejía, telling tales from Iraq and from his experience as a war resister. His powerful speaking, writing, and way of living brought tears, outrage and above all hope to the hearts of his listeners, reminding us that “there is no greater freedom than the freedom to follow one’s conscience.”