Saturday, August 31, 2013

Statement on Syria, August 28 2013

HANDS OFF SYRIA!

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday August 26th called Syria’s use of chemical weapons “undeniable,” setting the stage for a military intervention.  With this, more U.S. warships are threatening to attack Syria with cruise missiles.

What are the real motives of the U.S. government? It should be obvious that they don’t care about the humanitarian crisis facing the people of Syria.  According to studies by John Hopkins School of Public Health, and the Lancet, a highly respected, British medical journal, the U.S. military, by 2006 had caused the deaths of an estimated 650,000 Iraqis.  The U.S. occupation continued for another five years, leading to 100s of thousands more deaths.  When combined with the tens of thousands killed in Afghanistan and Libya, perhaps 1,000,000 Arabsand Muslims have died because of U.S. wars in the past decade.

The U.S. escalation of this war to a bombing campaign shows their true objective, which is the same as in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya:  they want regime change to a government that will serve U.S. corporate control of the Middle East, especially oil and gas. The Chicago Anti War Committee is firmly opposed to US, NATO or other military intervention in Syria.

CHEMICAL WEAPONS, PRETEXT FOR ESCALATION


Use of chemical weapons in Syria as the U.S. pretext for war is a replay of the lie that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.  The truth is the U.S. is already at war in Syria, backing armies that attack civilians.  The same model of warfare was used in the past by the U.S. to justify war in Vietnam, El Salvador and Iraq under General Petraeus.  The Obama administration claims that they know how to pick ”the good rebels,” but arms have gone to al Qaeda fighters, Jabhat al Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and Shams (ISIS).

The chemical weapons incident appears to be a “false flag,” a covert military action made to seem it was done by forces other than the actual perpetrators.  This tactic has been used several times by the foreign led armies to blame the Syrian Arab Army, the military of the government of Syria. 

What’s different this time is that the foreign led armies are losing ground, losing hearts and minds of the Syrians. The foreign led armies’ entire project is falling apart all over the country.  Why would the Syrian government choose now to use chemical gas as a weapon, when they just welcomed the U.N. into the country to investigate suspected uses of gas that the west has used to escalate tensions in Syria and the region?

MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION, NOT FOR WAR!

U.S. General Martin Dempsey warned the Senate recently that a no-fly zone over Syria could cost $1B a day.  The U.S. has already spent over a billion dollars on ‘non-lethal’ aid: armored vehicles, battlefield support equipment, body armor, communication gear, and night vision goggles for the foreign led armies, and a new command center in Amman, Jordan.  U.S. politicians Carl Levin and John McCain and President Obama are pushing the administration to spend even more tax dollars on weapons.

- After more than a decade of wars for a corporate empire, a Reuter’s poll taken August 19-23 on the alleged use of chemical weapons, shows steady opposition to U.S. military involvement from a wary American public.

- The Syrian government is willing to take part in UN backed negotiations.

- There is no circumstance in which violent force by the U.S. is desirable or acceptable.

We oppose war on Syria and we will do everything in our power to stop it.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Save the Date: Midwest Action Against Drones Sept 28 & 29

Join Medea Benjamin, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans For Peace, US Palestinian Community Network, & Anti-War Committee – Chicago
for a
Midwest Action Against Drones
End Drone Warfare Abroad &
Drone Spying at Home

March on Boeing
Sat., Sept. 28
3:00 p.m.
Millennium Park 

Despite the growing controversy about the use of drones, the Obama administration has made it clear that the drone wars are not ending soon.  That’s why we’ve called this regional protest.

No Killer Drone for Boeing
No New Wars on Iran and Syria

Money for Jobs, Healthcare, and Education - NOT FOR WAR

Boeing Company is vying for a contract with the Navy for a new combat drone – a contract that they must win to stay competitive among arms manufacturers. It’s time to end the drone wars, not prepare to build another generation of deadly weapons.

Conference: Building the Movement Against Drones
Sun., Sept. 29
9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Kent College of Law,
525 W. Adams in Chicago


For more information and a full list of endorsers, click here!