9.09.07

It is absurd and obscene for the Congress, specifically members of the Senate (and the House next week) to be fighting over this non-binding resolution to cease sending more troops to Iraq. Apoplectic over following the rules – proponents need a so-called “super” majority of 60 votes to get the damn thing passed – our elected representatives are forgetting a very simple fact: the Bush administration has never followed the rules. Or bent them so out of shape, old T. Jefferson has asked for political asylum in France while waiting to get his copy of the Koran back from Congressman Keith Ellison.

No, what our representatives¹ in Washington need to do is trade their beltway bunkers for the streets, get their behinds outside in the cold, and surround the White House. I mean literally form a human wall around the most recognizable, media-saturated symbol of this imperial presidency.

And they should call upon all of their constituents to do the same.

When they reach a hundred thousand or more people camped out and vigiling on Pennsylvania Avenue, they should pick up a megaphone and demand that G.W. poke his head out and listen. Then they should shout so loud that even FOX News hears them and tell Bush to leave office immediately.

The Center for Constitutional Rights in New York should have a lawsuit ready charging Bush with crimes against humanity.

Is there any precedence for this kind of persistent, in your face, refuse to budge type demonstration? One that simultaneously recognizes the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers and the malfeasance of our political leaders? Yes, actually.

“Moratorium”  

On October 15^th, 1969, a group of activists protesting the Vietnam War and inspired by Jerome Grossman (founder of the Council for a Livable World and a long time Massachusetts-based businessman) and Dr. Benjamin Spock, declared a one day moratorium on business as usual. Upwards of two million people marched to the White House and Capitol building that day to demand a withdrawal of troops and an end to the war.

According to a recent entry on the “On This Day” page of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s website:²

Supporters of the Vietnam Moratorium wore black armbands to signify their dissent and paid tribute to American personnel killed in the war since 1961.

The focal point was the capital, Washington DC, where more than 40 different activities were planned and about 250,000 demonstrators gathered to make their voices heard.

Addressing a rally in Washington, Dr Benjamin Spock, the child care expert, said the war was a "total abomination" that was crippling America and must be stopped.

Will this be easy to accomplish? Of course not. The enormous economic and social pressures to stay at home and remain muzzled have been well documented. Not to mention real fears that the police, National Guard, and other authorities will react to the protest with violent measures. Again, from the BBC’s feature on the 1969 events:

Outside the White House, there were scuffles and several arrests made when police clamped down on black activists.

In Portland, Oregon, 400 protesters clashed with police after an attempt to prevent conscripts entering an army induction centre.

Notes:
1. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&defl=en&q=define:representative&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/15/newsid_2533000/2533131.stm

3.

8.22.03

The United States wants the rest of the world to supply troops to help occupy Iraq.  Given the attacks on US and UN targets - and the assumption that partisans will continue to commit acts of sabotage and insurgency - wouldn't any self-preserving country to do the same? The Bush administration and the Pentagon don't want to give up control of the country though; they just need help insuring safe passage for representatives of the World Bank and IMF. I wonder if the president regrets his "bring it on" comments...

During a press conference yesterday at the United nations in New York, US Secretary of State Colin Powell responded to calls from other Security Council members who want jurisdiction of the Iraq transition to "democracy" transferred to the UN: "We have said all along that we want the UN to play a vital role. The issue of ceding authority is not an issue we have had to discuss today... You have to have control of a large military organization. That's what US leadership brings to the coalition."

It certainly is a large and expensive military organization.  Reports in today's news indicate another $60 Billion will be needed for the Iraq operation.

But control seems to be in the eye of the beholder as Iraqi citizens continue to face food, water, and power shortages and home invasions by US and British troops and press censorship. Control seems to be in the eye of the beholder if you're a soldier or humanitarian aid worker facing snipers and suicide bombers.  Control seems to be in the eye of the beholder if you're a journalist covering the invasion and its repercussions. 

And if you're a veteran, everything may seem out of control. [Aug. 21 2003 Boston Globe story]

Meanwhile, has everyone just forgotten that Afghanistan continues to disintegrate into warring tribal factions - and remnants of the deposed Taliban - beyond the borders of Kabul? [AP story]

Among the dead and wounded at UN headquarters in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday were members of the IMF and World Bank teams laying the groundwork for a western style capitalist economy. It's likely plans were being drawn up for some "structural adjustment." But I don't think they expected to get blown up themselves.

Documents revealed in recent years through the work of investigative journalists and non-governmental organizations show that the international financial institutions design local unrest and government repression right into their economic models.

Here are a few critical organizations and their websites:

Global Exchange (site)
50 Years is Enough Network (site)
Journalist Greg Palast (site)

I.B.I.S. Homepage