Like many of you, we are aghast at the fascist freak show in Clevend, watching extreme racist caricatures like the guy from Duck Dynasty be lifted up to the main stage and allowed to bolster the “law and order” platform of the Republicans. This “new” platform is both coded as racist oppression to all who have ears to hear it, as well as the height of hypocrisy since these same forces enthusiastically support serious crimes against the people: championing police who murder, the extrajudicial killings by drones, and torture as a sort of governing principal rather than one of the most heinous forms of crimes against humanity.
Whether Donald Trump’s “pernicious politics of hatred and exclusion and authoritarianism” will prevail or not is undecided. What we should have learned over the past 7.5 years, however, is that if we are going to see a better future, those of us, the millions of us, who care about people, the future of humanity and the planet need to act together to stop this whole direction independent of the electoral process.
Hillary Clinton has a solid history of allegiance to the ‘Endless War Doctrine’ that propels U.S. foreign policy. What you see is what you’ll get. It isn’t pretty…
Invading Iraq: A War of Aggression + Crime Against Humanity
“Former senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton is the only candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination who supported the invasion of Iraq,” observes University of San Francisco professor Stephen Zunes, as he lists the five lamest excuses Clinton supporters make to justify her October 2002 vote for the authorization of military force.
Clinton now says her Iraq war vote was a “mistake.”
Escalating The Destructive War in Afghanistan
“Somewhere around 220,000 Afghans have died since the 2001 U.S. invasion, and millions of others are refugees,” counts Foreign Policy in Focus columnist Conn Hallinan. Clinton’s alliance with then secretary of defense Robert Gates was instrumental in the crucial decision to escalate the Afghan war in 2009, and then to slow drawdown the following year.
Expanding “The War On Terrror” & Further Enflaming A Region In Turmoil
Clinton is even more inclined toward aggressive foreign policy than Obama, advocating that “American exceptionalism gives the U.S. the right to intervene in other countries.”
One of Clinton’s last actions as Secretary of State was to call for the arming of Syrian rebels fighting Assad, a disastrous plan also backed by former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and CIA director David Petraeus, and General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Activist and author Zach Cartwright finds Clinton one of those responsible for the fall of Iraq and Syria and the rise of ISIS, using weapons funded by the U.S. government.
“It is not unusual for a president to want to be his own secretary of state, but rarely has a secretary so badly wanted to be her own president,” wrote University of San Francisco professor Stephen Zunes in 2013. “Hillary Clinton [left] her position as Secretary of State with a legacy of supporting autocratic regimes and occupation armies, opposing enforcement of international humanitarian law, undermining arms control and defending military solutions to complex political problems.
“She was appointed to her position following eight years in the U.S. Senate, during which she became an outspoken supporter of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, lied about Iraq’s military capabilities to frighten the public into supporting the illegal war, unleashed repeated attacks against the United Nations, opposed restrictions on land mines and cluster bombs, defended war crimes by allied right-wing governments and largely embraced Bush’s unilateralist agenda.”
No More Endless War Protests Planned During DNC in Philadelphia
Protesters will be in the streets of Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention with the message that, “no one seeking the position of Commander in Chief will stop the war on terror or end the culture of violence, bigotry and hatred that this has given rise to. The change we need is not on the ballot.”
Activists will stage Anti-War Truth Displays daily from 10:30 am-2:30 pm at the Arch St. United Methodist Church including model Reaper drones to clearly and visually protest the U.S. campaign of targeted killing and special operations in seven countries, run by a Democratic administration. The true toll of civilian casualties and a worldwide refugee crisis stemming from this borderless war without end will be illustrated and denounced as an unconscionable price for presumed “security” for people living in the U.S. People around the world will be watching the conventions, looking to see if there are people in this country who recognize the damage that these wars have done.
World Can’t Wait Director Debra Sweet states, “At a time when many millions are rightfully frightened of the possibility of life and war under a Trump presidency, we are saying Hillary Clinton has a solid record of allegiance to the ‘Endless War Doctrine’ that propels U.S. foreign policy. If we are going to see a better future, those of us, the millions of us, who care about people, the future of humanity and the planet need to act together to stop this whole direction independent of the electoral process.”
These actions are sponsored by World Can’t Wait and cosponsors Brandywine Peace Community, CodePink, KnowDrones.com and the Philadelphia Area Anti-Drone Network. Endorsed by the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Catholic Peace Fellowship/Philadelphia Chapter, Green Party of Philadelphia, Manhattan Green Party, NYC Metro Raging Grannies, NY Granny Peace Brigade, Peace Center of Delaware County, Veterans for Peace Chapters 31 & 34 and Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (Greater Philadelphia Branch).
Sunday, July 24
Noon starting at Philadelphia City Hall
On the eve of the DNC connect with us at the March for a Climate Revolution. March with the Peace & Environmental Justice Contingent. We will be gathering under the “Humanity and the Planet Come First” banners. Look for our model drones!
Monday, July 25 — Thursday, July 28
Daily: Anti-War Truth Displays
10:30 am – 2:30 pm Arch St. United Methodist Church at Broad & Arch
Join World Can’t Wait and participating organizations in presenting Anti-War Truth Displays. Clearly and visually protest the U.S. campaign of targeted killing and special operations in seven countries, run by a Democratic administration. Work will be based out of the church and from where we will display model drones, do outreach to protests happening at City Hall and spread out to the community.
Wednesday, July 27th
No More Endless Wars Speak-Out
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Southside of Second Bank (420 Chestnut St.)
With global attention on what happens at the DNC it’s up to us make sure there is opportunity for people to speak- out against the U.S. “war on the world” that has been waged for the past almost 8 years under a Democratic Commander in Chief. We are going to use this space to show attendees and people around the world that that there are people living in this country who represent another way, giving them heart, courage and common cause.