Sign the "Letter to the Anti-War Movement"
"That which you do not resist and mobilize to stop you will learn – or be forced – to accept.”
from The Call to Drive Out the Bush Regime, 2005
Barack Obama is sending a surge of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. An antiwar movement that does not move immediately to oppose the Obama doctrine of shifting the central front of the war on terror to Afghanistan, no longer deserves to be called an anti -war movement. Millions of people voted for Obama because they thought he would end the war. Yet Obama filled his cabinet with Hillary “Obliterate Iran” Clinton, Robert Gates, James Jones and Susan Rice (“a kettle of hawks,” said Jeremy Scahill). He is not only continuing an unjust war by leaving 80,000 troops and 17 permanent bases in Iraq, but enlisting many progressive sections of society to support and be complicit in waging a spreading war for U.S. hegemony and imperialist expansion known as the “war on terror.”
The election of the first Black president is effectively re-branding preemptive and illegal wars of aggression to make us feel good about them. Massive antiwar sentiment and action is already being transformed into flag-waving patriotism, passivity and capitulation in the face of horrors.
The U.S. military, stretched thin and full of discontent after six years of carnage in Iraq, is now being replenished. Military recruiters are targeting Black and Latino youth, telling them if they sign up now they’ll be fighting for Obama. Their lives will be expended as cannon fodder in a brutal war of occupation that is not in their interests.
The U.S. war on Afghanistan is an unjust war of aggression—the supreme war crime. The Bush regime occupied Afghanistan and drove out the Taliban regime, not to bring democracy and liberation to the Afghan people, but to control Afghanistan and spread the U.S. empire, with the goal of permanent domination of the Middle East.
The “war on terror” begun after 9/11 by the U.S. was not just a campaign against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and Osama bin Laden, but a broad, global war to keep the U.S. as the unchallenged global superpower. This is not a war to free people from warlords of Islamic fundamentalism, a movement the U.S. funded and armed, and ironically, spread, when it was aligned with the U.S. against the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
The war in Afghanistan is and will be fought the same way the war in Iraq is being fought. Most of the people killed are civilians, with the U.S. justifying collateral damage and collective punishment, secret prisons, denial of due process and torture. It is wrong, unjust, illegitimate and immoral. And it won’t be otherwise, no matter who is president. There is no such thing as a “good” war on terror. The U.S. occupiers consider any large gathering of Afghans inherently hostile, hence the repeated bombings of wedding parties. Even the U.S. puppet Hamid Karzai is warning the U.S. to stop killing civilians.
And it is NOT a war to free women. According to afghan-web.com/woman, after 7 years of U.S. occupation:
• Every 30 minutes, an Afghan woman dies during childbirth
• 87 percent of Afghan women are illiterate
• 30 percent of girls have access to education in Afghanistan
• 1 in every 3 Afghan women experience physical, psychological or sexual violence
• 44 years is the average life expectancy rate for women in Afghanistan
• 70 to 80 percent of women face forced marriages in Afghanistan
The deadly and self-perpetuating cycle between the terror directed at civilians by the Islamic fundamentalists fighting against the U.S. and the terror of the U.S. wars of aggression directed at civilians can only be stopped by the people of those countries, combined with the actions of people in this country who refuse to strengthen either side.
We in this country and those of us in this movement have a choice. We can side with “our” government, with the “good war” fought in our names, and act like American lives are more important than anyone else’s lives. Or we can show the people living in the Middle East, and the world, that in the U.S. there is a difference between the people and their government, and that the people are taking responsibility to end an unjust war and the war crimes that have been carried out in our name. We can act like we care about the whole planet.
In 2001, in the shadow of 9/11 this antiwar movement asked, “How can people in the U.S. communicate to the people halfway across the planet that there is a difference between the U.S. power structure and the great majority of the people in the U.S. – who have no fundamental interest in oppressing and ripping off the people of the world?” The antiwar movement of the last several years which confined itself to lobbying and campaigning served to demobilize mass protest. Now this movement must shake off this passive complicity and act once again, in a way that is so visible and powerful it can be seen all over the world, especially in the countries that have been targets of this aggression.
An antiwar movement that does not have the principle and the conviction to oppose the crimes carried out by our government; that dodges the immediate escalation of the war in Afghanistan, and the threat of war on other places; that chooses to focus on “domestic issues” when people of the Middle East are counting on us, will commit unconscionable betrayal.
An antiwar movement needs to show common cause with the people of the world and not common cause with war criminals. Too much is at stake for the progressive movement to consult with or sound like the generals or the Commander-in-Chief. Too much is at stake to “wait and see” whether this is all going in the direction Obama says it is.
VISIBLE ACTION IS URGENTLY NEEDED:
The USA PATRIOT Act, the Military Commissions Act, and Obama’s FISA Act must be repealed; the U.S. torture state must be dismantled, and secret rendition ended.
Resist the Recruiters!
• THURSDAY MARCH 19 Local protests including school walk-outs
• SATURDAY MARCH 21
United mass protests
We in World Can’t Wait pledge to work with everyone who wants to build an ANTI-war movement. Real change happens when people take independent action – outside the confines of government and in their own interests. If we want to stop the continued horror of the largest imperialist power on earth dropping bombs, sending death squads and torturers anywhere with impunity – in our names – the only way is face up to reality, tell the truth, and get out to the people with the message that we must stop the crimes of our government.
Worldcantwait.org • 866.973.4463
I would like to see the new administration use new strategies– of diplomacy rather than militarism–in dealing with Afghanistan. Further militarism will not help us fight terrorism, it will only create more terror. I also worry about the civilians of Afghanistan who do not deserve American bombs dropped on them. They deserve safety and security and America as an ally.
IN ANTI-IMPERIALIST FRIENDSHIP PEACE AND SOLIDARITY FOR KOREA IS ONE!
To Mr. James McMillin,
First off, it’s taken me a while to reply. I would like to say thank you to the non-biased comment and your willingness to try and understand two sides. I have been doing much studying on the Middle East situation, mainly on the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Do I believe that we are making any difference over here; I would love to say yes, but I don’t. It is not due to anything other than the Arab-Islam religious beliefs. I have been reading the Koran, translation by Ali’ Yusef and by speaking to one Arab whom has been willing to also put it aside the Arabic written version of the Koran to clarify the translations as accurate. I mean not to offend anyone, but this is not only a large group of people with beliefs, but many with beliefs of pure hate. Direct from the Qur’an in Surah 8:12 “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite(cut off) ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them.” In fact as I’ve been studying and learning from my Arab counterpart who would likely be killed for even speaking with me on the subject; (can’t get more accurate than that) I’ve found that in about 1 in every 55 verses in the Koran incite Muslims to make war on non-believers. Islam translated to English is Submission. My point isn’t to speak of religion, my point is that people need to study past and present future. Dig deep and spend time searching both sides. That goes mainly for the leaders of our nation, but also those whom vote for them. If our leaders had studied the Middle East, they would have realized that coming to the Middle East was pointless and that nothing in the world was going to bring democracy to a feud that has been going on since biblical days. I could write another huge article on that and why the Jewish Nation is completely mislead by the media and the so called “Palestinian Refugees.” Here’s a Quote from a local Arab leader in 1937 named Auni Bey Abdul-Hadi that he told the Peel Commission:”There is no such country! Palestine is a term the Zionists invented! There is no Palestine in the Bible. Our country was for centuries part of Syria.” I could go on with more quotes, but it’s really a different subject. I only placed it in this to further signify that there is way more to this story than anyone I believe that had decisions in America’s actions didn’t predict. See also, the Balfour Declaration of 1917 (signed formally in 1922) which is the Mandate for a new country of Israel that was revised with about 80 percent of the land being given over to the Arabs. I recommend actually finding the Mandate that was formally written and not looking at more personal views. I also write this because of that poem written in the part of the mercy of an American rifle in the hands of an Israeli sniper. He obviously hasn’t read the atrocities on the Jews by the Arabs, one being the decapitation of 900 Jews by Muhammad on refusal to convert to Islam; but that’s just in the past right? It’s not what’s going on now is it? Oh wait, not just to the Jews but Arab hate against their own people. Reference the actual Sharia Laws of Iran. Article 104 of the Iranian Penal Code states “Stones used for execution (stoning) should not be large enough to kill the person by one or two strikes, nor should they be so small that they could not be defined as stones” They bury the convicted to just below the shoulders with the arms tied and stone them. Well, no more room. Want more? Comment
life is……….f’ed up
“Military recruiters are targeting Black and Latino youth, telling them if they sign up now they’ll be fighting for Obama.” still using this crap commies….
dont attack people like justin, they are good people
Wow, I’m sick of Obama already. Sorry I voted for him. Wanted Dennis, then Cynthia, opted for what I thought was a more peacefull choice..Shoulda went with Cynthia McKinney! You’re getting my vote in 2012!
love Dave
Wow, that’s fucking heavy Rick, good poem
Little Girls
Three small bodies in Gaza.
Lined on linen in a row.
Like triplets,
all the same.
No blood distracts from their toddler trance
No grimace of death pain.
I cannot but stare at the innocence.
Missing limbs are but there, still attached.
Someone points and the pale sleep speaks.
How neatly is this death?
See the circle-symmetry of centered targets,
slow moving.
Cleansed by the echo of cleansing shots.
Exit wounds all the size of an infant’s fist.
Each one, small-chest center.
Already mother-cleansed
and lifetime-wept.
The crowd stirs in uniform misery.
A dance in the greed of hell.
Lonely witness to
the mercy of an American rifle
in the hands of an Israeli sniper
making room for his sister’s house.
To Justin,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. It is an honor to hear from you and to know what you are experiencing. This my second attempt at replying to you. The first was not recorded for whatever reason, so if you got the other, please excuse the repetition.
It is not the norm for folks in the anti-war/peace movement to have much dialogue with soldiers in the field, so I hope we can continue to hear from each other, because it sounds like we all have a lot more to learn.
I do want you to know that I, along with hundreds of others in our city alone have been on the streets since before Bush sent you into Iraq. We have been in the media, the public’s, our local, state and federal representatives’ face constantly with letters, demonstrations, flyers, brochures, emails and vigils to name a few actions we have taken.
This happened all across the country and internationally. It was ignored by the past administration even though it was clear to all of us that their action was and still is against international law, set up and agreed to by our government.
It is terribly important that we not continue to try and resolve our conflicts with other nations through military means, except through defense and absolute last option. There are so many more ways at solving differences that we all must learn to use – even and perhaps most of all, governments.
Humanity’s development of religions over thousands of years of experience with conflict is proof enough that we can exist together in spite of our differences.
There are many peoples and nations who do not need or want to adopt our lifestyle or system of government. It is not the be all and end all of perfection. We can see examples every day of how it can be improved. So, we do not have all the answers and cannot speak for all peoples that they must have our systems to satisfactorily survive.
We cannot continue to kill dictators because we don’t agree or because they are killing their own. We can stop them in other ways. When we kill them, we simply give them the reason to want to return the favor in whatever way they can find possible – example 9/11.
We all have our part and I know of very few who would not respect you for doing what you thing is your duty. We can disagree and still respect and treat each other with respect.
Just as a Captain in the U.S. Army did recently in Iraq, we can find a way to talk to our enemies rather than determine to kill them. He did this against local pressure and command orders and still created a working relationship with locals who he found out, wanted peace as much as he.
I hope you will continue to write and share your thoughts with those of us who can hear you and want to learn what this experience is for you.
We are not many or enough at times. When we have experiences as in the latest elections however, or see bravery we did not expect to see, we know we can make a difference.
Please keep your thoughts coming and sharing your peace.
d
These terrible wars need to end, they were build on lies, and only to achieve corporate gains. Now, Barack Obama is going to escalate the war in Afghanistan- this is despicable.
Stop the genocide!!!
I have written many organizations, businesses, educators, etc. about the only way the will world will ever be at peace, but so far, none of them have said they understand and have gotten involved in the program proven to be able to create world peace. The statement: “If you’re not a part of the solution, then you are part of the problems.” applies to the current world situation. If everyone who wants peace were participating in this proven program, peace would be achieved almost overnight. Everyone who wants peace should do a search for “yogic flying” and look at http://www.permanentpeace.org, http://www.uspeacegovernment.org, http://www.invincibility.org, http://www.invincibleamerica.org, http://www.globalgoodnews.com and join the ones who already are involved.
Please stop the US military fighting in Afghanistan.
You know Elle,
I’m not going to tear apart what you’ve written like most people would. I will say that you are right on the fact that Americans did do horrible atrocities to Native Americans. Slaves from African Americans, so so. They weren’t kidnapped, if you read your history you will find that the original settlers purchased them from several different tribes in Africa. I’m not at all saying it’s even close to right, it’s atrocious really, however they were sold by their own people due to tribal differences. I am in the military, currently in Baqubah on my third tour. I do know that substantially a lot don’t want us here, however instances like from my above comment are all true and did happen on my first tour here in 04-05. This government you all seem to hate so much is still going to coexist in society. I’m not saying that there’s no reason for you all to not stand up for what you believe in, but you all too were able to grow up in a much much much better society than what I’ve seen in my tours. I won’t say that I agree with our government as far as invading Iraq, I will say that no one questioned it when we went in. It’s here now, we’re still here and we’re going to be in Iraq for many years to come. You really think that I nor anyone else really wants to be here. A very small percent maybe, but I along with others in the military signed a contract and I intend to see that through. I will do my job with honor as far as what comes to effect me in my career, although I am sure that if it came down to it and if we were ever overun in our country by an outsider I’d say that about the same amount of people who are in the military now, would be about the same percentage of people that would stand up and fight against it. Less than 10 percent. That’s truly sad. If you guys are so for fighting than why isn’t anything being done. You guys must not be doing much because I didn’t hear about anything having to do with you guys until I read a small article about it. As far as me doing something, I’ve already paid my dues in sweat, blood, tears and service for a country whom I’m sadly seeing turn their backs on war heroes. Do I care, overall yes, but as far as me personally I couldn’t give a shit how anyone percieves me becaue I’ve done my part and I have my family to tell me what kind of man I truly am. Get shot at, lose a friend close to you in combat, work 36 hours straight multiple times in 150 degree heat, come back to the states and get shit on and see how you like it. However, I keep attention only to those who care. Things like this just keep me going because I’m not one sided and I’m here really trying to see how influential you guys are. Thus far I’ve only encountered those whom are angry, lazy, ignorant, with a one sided mind. Everyone I’ve encountered have also had historical mishaps as far as the truth in which they speak or write about. If you really want to bring up history, read about the Jews throughout the times because I promise you, they’ve had it worse than anyone. Reading their history will show you why they react the way they do with other countries in todays world.
The military is not about spreading freedom and democracy. The military is a reflection of the society that it defends. What does America mean to people around the globe? Not freedom, not democracy but death, destruction for the financial vampire of empire. Who committed genocide on the native americans to conquer America? Who kidnapped millions of black people from their homes, piled them up like animals on ships to be brought back as slaves because it was profitable to have them produce cotton? Who illegally invade a sorveign country and unleashed murder, rape and torture upon the people of the middle east? Come on, if you were in the military, you have to know that the Iraiq people hate them and want them to leave. This is at the heart of what america is about whether people choose to face it or not. This is what it is in its essence. World Can’t Wait have been dedicated since the beginning of its inception to stopping endless wars for empire and we won’t stop until this whole direction its brought to a halt. The question is what are YOU going to do?
To all,
My name is Justin. This is some of the reply that a man named Eric had to say to another comment I made on a different piece.
And Justin, the horrors that you are assisting with, and perhaps even directly carrying out as a part of the US military are immoral, and no one here is going to kiss your ass because you brag about how you’re taking part in a fucking war crime. That is NOTHING to be proud of.
Now, having not said I was proud of anything that I’ve had to do here in Iraq as an Infantryman serving in the United States Army, currently on my third tour here; I’d like to say it’s sad. Until anyone of you have had to walk the streets of Baghdad with the smell of shit, piss and blood on your boots after having been in a fire fight for yours and the guy next to yours’ life than you have no right to say anything. I read these things written and though some are true, many others are taken out of great context. Eric, the guy whom replied also stated that he’s not for America, he’s for Humanity. Well Eric, you can move the fuck out. Like freedom, everyone living in the United States has the FREEDOM, thanks to men and women like me, to move out of America. You all ask for change, but really what are any of you doing. Now I may not believe in everything done in America, I do care about those around me and for anyone to say that it’s wrong to be proud of saving the life of another American Soldier, I’d like to be in that direct conflict. You all and your all about humanity. Who was there to help the Jews, the Native Americans, the Africans in which genocide is being brought on tribes everyday. Yeah, troops are over there too, helping to protect people in Africa too, you all just let the propaganda do the talking without looking at the whole picture. This Eric also said that genocide was going on within the walls of Israel. Well Eric and all you others, I’ve been there too. No pictures and videos like you all look to, and there’s no genocide going on. You all sit in your nice houses and look out your windows and turn on your T.V’s without ever stoping to think for a moment. Maybe I should do some research or buy a plane ticket and get my happy ass on over to somewhere to see with my own two eyes if it’s really happening like I’m reading it or watching it. Ignorance runs both ways and it’s sad to say that you, pityfull people whom say you want change really do little, especially when it has to do with all of you making self sacrifices, whether it be financially, physically or mentally. I’ve earned the right to speak, I’ve been there physically in places to see with my own two eyes what’s really going on. It’s funny you speak of illegal actions by our government, but haven’t physically had to pull any dead Iraqi’s down from being chained up by Saddam’s Regime simply because they couldn’t win a soccer game, you haven’t had to see little Iraqi kids shattered because their father or mother tried to kill us in some horrific way because the terrorist regime paid them 150 dollars to try and kill just one of us. You all don’t see the big picture, you let the media do your bidding. Maybe we didn’t enter this war for the reasons told, but we’re here now and though you don’t support the cause, I can’t believe you can’t support those who take to battle so that you don’t have to. It’s funny, you all complain and yet so so many other countries are so worse off. You’re all not even made to serve as is required in most other countries. It’s sad really
Dear admin,
So now you are going to obey the Bush regime and keep free speech from occuring? That’s interesting and also proves my point.
I have either said nothing illegal or everything illegal, take your pick. Under current regime its either/or.
Yes, revolution is the ONLY solution and I mean mass destruction everywhere, that’s what real revolution is. It provides a chance to start over again and hopefully get it right or everyone dies. It’s very simple.
As for the “sexist” remarks, I made no such remark! I call them like I see them and that’s what Pelosi is! Face it!
I am anti-american. I own that. It’s because I refuse to be connected to the things the US has done and currently does and I can’t handle the stupidity of the society. I am also anti-semetic I guess, at least that’s what I have been called and I accept and own that.
I voice my views the only way I know how, but if you feel the need to shut me down, I won’t mind at all. I was shut down permanently a long time ago back in the daddy Bush regime.
Good article, but I have one question: What anti-war movement in the US? There was an effective one when I was growing up in 1968, but it is non-existent today. That is unless you count the few hours long ago at the start of the illegal invasion of Iraq. Whoopie, a few hours…big fucking deal!
The only thing I have seen since is a lot of bullshit! One anti-war group talking to another and socializing, preaching to the choir. Nothing that constitutes a movement.
I have seen zero action except from Code Pink. They are the only ones who ever did anything. Sadly like the rest now they have fallen by the wayside.
Everybody put down their protest signs and picked up the imperialist flag a long time ago. In fact, it was right after those few hours at the start of the Iraq conquest. Now everybody is running around praising that mother fucker Obama who is Bush/Cheney with different make up. When are you fucking idiots going to see that? (I’m not talking about you Mr. Hedges, you seem to get it. I’m talking to everyone else).
Hello! wake the fuck up people! For example,Condi Rice is still in power or hasn’t anyone noticed that her sister has now taken the baton in this race to the bottom?
We also still have Gates, Mr “bomb everything that moves” as well as the rest of the Bush cabal including that fucking Pelosi and Hilary bomb Iran off the map” Clinton and just look at the positions these fuckers are in now!!!!!
It’s time for revolution!
Just look at what they have done to the economy!!! That should be enough motivation alone, but there is so much more that it is overwhelming. So how can everyone just sit on their fat asses watching stupid fucking TV and wave the imperialist flag??
I used to be a total peace person, but I have now been forced to foresaken that.
You american idiots always talk about how “It’s time to take back the government by the people and for the people”. When the fuck are you going to do that?
Other countries have done successfully, what the fuck is our fucking problem?
You have a choice:
1) Crawl off with your flags and patriotism and die somewhere or
2) Stand up and fight like hell seriously! No more fucking fluffy bunny shit!
The decision is yours, Live on you knees or die on your feet.
EDIT: I have edited this post for legal reasons and also removed one instance of sexist language. Please refrain from saying things on this site that would put the legality of the site in jeopardy. If you think the ultimate solution is a revolution, there is space for that (we have all kinds of people in World Cant Wait with all kinds of views, from revolutionary communists to defenders of the US constitution, and that is a strength), but it should be voiced in a way that is not going to get you, or this site shut down. -admin