OMNI
IRAN NEWSLETTER,
July 11, 2019.
COMPILED
BY DICK BENNETT FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE AND JUSTICE
(#11 Oct. 8, 2011; #12 Jan. 31, 2012; #13 Feb.
22, 2012; #14 Feb. 26, 2012; #15 March 17, 2012; #16 April 12, 2012; #17 May
21, 2012; #18, July 9, 2012; #19 August 13, 2012; #20 Sept. 10, 2012; #21, Dec.
14, 2012; #22 March 5, 2013; #23 Nov. 12, 2013; #24 March 5, 2014; #25 January
17, 2015; #26, July 28, 2015; #27, June 3, 2018; #28, June 21, 2019.)
CONTENTS: IRAN NEWSLETTER #29, July 11, 2019
OMNI’S NO IRAN WAR DEMONSTRATIONS SATURDAYS
11AM, COURT HOUSE (Abel Tomlinson)
Contact Congress on War Powers, Action
Support House Amendment to Curb Trump (J Street)
Cut Pentagon $$ (Peace Action)
Criticisms
of US Aggression
Have We Learned Nothing from Iraq?
Jeremy Scahill, Col. Wilkerson (The Intercept)
Veterans for Peace
Against Sanctions
Take to the Streets
Congress for Peace
Representative Omar
Senator Bernie Sanders
The Iranian People Are Not Our Enemies (Larison)
Democrats (Tveten)
US Empire by Economic Siege
Johnstone, Starvation Sanctions Worse than Overt Warfare
Dan Beeton, Iran and Venezuela
Donald Trump, Crushing Iran
Iran Newsletter #28
TEXTS
PROTEST IRAN WAR THIS SATURDAY
COURT HOUSE, 11A.M.
OMNI's No Iran War/Anti-Imperialism Protests
(Week 5)
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 3:12 PM (40 minutes ago) |
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Dear friends,
Our 4th No Iran War
peace protest went well again, and we continue getting a lot of support from
passing cars. Here are some pictures from the
event:
This week we expanded
the content of the protest to highlight that the U.S. is already waging
economic warfare on Iran with crippling sanctions, and that this war is yet
another disastrous example of U.S. imperialism. The protest
included this speech:
(https://www.facebook.com/noahautumn.tomlinson/videos/10157404752100775/)
and the attached handout on these
subjects. Far too few understand that the U.S. is an empire and the
intersectionality of imperialism is connected to so many other issues, from
immigration to the environment.
.
We need your help
speaking up for peace. Please join us at our next weekly protest,
every Saturday in July at 11 AM in front of the Washington County Courthouse in
Fayetteville. I'm also attaching flyers for this month’s event
again, in case anyone can help distribute them.
Thank you,
Abel Tomlinson
No Iran
War &
Anti-Imperialism
Peace Protests
OMNI Center | July 2019
Recognizing US
Imperialism in Iran and Globally
We must help
our fellow citizens see this war on Iran is yet another example of imperialism,
a word very rarely mentioned in mainstream media. The U.S. is indeed an empire of over 800
foreign military bases in over 80 nations (1).
Marine General Smedley Butler warned us clearly about U.S.
corporate-military imperialism and the “war racket” a long time ago (2). We must also rekindle the proud memory of
Mark Twain and the Anti-Imperialist League, which arose in 1898 in response to
U.S. annexation of the Philippines, an imperialist war that killed over 200,000
civilians.
Iran Sanctions are
Economic Warfare
We must help
our fellow citizens see or remember that the U.S. has already been waging war
on Iran, and many other nations, for a long time. Although no physical bombs have been
dropped, crippling economic warfare of sanctions have been devastating Iran,
including the civilian population (3).
Sanctions can be deadly. For
example, U.S.-led sanctions killed 1.5 million Iraqis in the 1990’s (4),
including over 500,000 children (5).
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was asked on national
television about these sanctions killing more children than the nuclear
bombings of Japan, and she notoriously said the price was “worth it” (6). More recently, U.S. sanctions killed 40,000
civilians in Venezuela (7).
Imperialism is a
Principle Cause of Refugees
Many of our
interlocked problems and consequent solutions are difficult to fully understand
unless the existence of empire is recognized, especially the refugee
crisis. Imperialism is deeply
interlocked with the global refugee crisis from Latin America to the Middle
East. The current U.S. immigration
debate focuses only on symptoms of how to treat migrants, while ignoring the
actual causes of Latin American refugees.
Most of the people are fleeing violent instability and poverty caused by
economic warfare, coups and other machinations of corporate-military
imperialism (8,9).
Imperialism Harms the
Environment, Economy & Democracy
Imperialism is
also very much a climate and environmental issue since the U.S. military is the
world’s largest institutional consumer of oil (10), among a litany of other
environmental harms (11). It is also
very much an economic issue, with the military empire costing over $1 trillion
per year at the expense of peaceful human needs like education and clean energy
(12). Lastly, as Professor Chalmers
Johnson writes in his books, imperialism is corrosive to democracy not just to
its victims, and “History tells us that one of the most unstable political
combinations is a country—like the U.S. today—that tries to be a domestic
democracy and a foreign imperialist”
(13).
References:
1.
U.S.
Empire of Over 800 Military Bases: shorturl.at/sEFNU
2.
General
Smedley Butler on U.S. Imperialism: https://fas.org/man/smedley.htm
3.
Iran
Sanctions Are Economic Warfare: shorturl.at/boyU7
4.
Iraq
Sanctions Killed 1.5 Million People: shorturl.at/myPXY
5.
Iraq
Sanctions Killed Over 500,000 Iraqi Children:
shorturl.at/dGHOU
6.
Madeleine
Albright says sanctions were “worth it”:
shorturl.at/cjwAR
7.
Venezuela
Sanctions Kill 40,000 People: shorturl.at/csEK0
8.
Imperialism
and Latin American Refugees: shorturl.at/dghG0
9.
Corporate
Economic Imperialism and Refugees: shorturl.at/dtvFW
10. Military Consumption of Oil: shorturl.at/sKUX7
11. War and the Environment: shorturl.at/gBR49
12. Economic Cost of Military Empire: shorturl.at/FKQUZ
13. Chalmers Johnson on Empire and
Democracy: shorturl.at/oAOY0
General Smedley Butler
Describing the Nature of U.S. Imperialism (1933)
War is just a racket. A
racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to
the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is
conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.
I believe in adequate defense
at the coastline and nothing else. If a nation comes over here to fight, then
we'll fight. The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6
percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent.
Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag. https://fas.org/man/smedley.htm
CONTACT
CONGRESS
[Vote Alert] House amendment to restrain Trump on
Iran
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10:51 AM (30 minutes ago)
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A FEW MINUTES TO CALL OUR REPRESENTATIVES
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More Votes to Stop Iran War, Cut Pentagon
$$$
Friend, did you see Jon's email from last week? The
House will be voting on the National Defense Authorization Act this
week, and maybe as soon as tomorrow! If you took the time to
email your representative at Jon's urging, thank you so much! Now, we're in
the final sprint, with real opportunities to pass amendments that will
improve U.S. foreign policy, and the time for one last action is here. Even
if you emailed your representative, today I need you to call their offices to
ensure they keep feeling the pressure!
Here's all I need you to do:
1) Call the Congressional Switchboard
at 202-224-3121
2) Ask for your representative, and
when connected say (in your own words as much as possible):
3) My name is
_______________ and I'm calling as a voting constituent living at (your
address) . I am calling about the National Defense Authorization
Act, and I urge the representative to support all efforts to cut wasteful
Pentagon spending, and any amendments that help to end our country’s endless
wars. Specifically, I urge the representative to support the Khanna-Gaetz
Amendment #423 to prevent an unauthorized war with Iran. Additionally, I
want the representative to vote for the Khanna Amendment #217 to support diplomacy
with North Korea. Thank you.
I know we've asked you to take multiple actions around this
legislation, but It takes a massive outpouring to impact
a three-quarter trillion dollar bill like the NDAA. Thank you so much
for everything you've done to bend U.S foreign policy in a more progressive
direction!
Sincerely,
Jeff Jurgens
Peace Action |
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CRITICISMS
OF THE WAR
FROM THE INTERCEPT
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VETERANS FOR PEACE
Veterans For Peace firmly opposes U.S.
attempts to increase tensions in the Persian Gulf and create the conditions for
war against Iran.
The U.S. has created ongoing tensions with
Iran by leaving the Iran Nuclear Deal, by imposing punishing economic
sanctions, and by making questionable accusations against Iran. Veterans
know first-hand how dangerous lies and exaggerations can lead the American
public into war.
It is imperative that the U.S. immediately
begins seeking diplomatic solutions to conflicts instead of creating pretexts
for war. Veterans For Peace calls on the U.S. to:
· Draw down all its military forces from the
Persian Gulf
· End its economic war against Iran, lifting
sanctions immediately
· Re-join the six-country Iran Nuclear Deal
· End the 2001 Authorization of Use of Military
Force (AUMF) that administration after administration has used to fund
military expeditions around the globe under the guise of fighting the
Islamophobic “War on Terror”
Fast Against U.S. Sanctions
Veterans For Peace member, Sally Alice Thompson has been
Fasting Against Sanctions and Siege since June 16th.
Sally is 95 years old and she is on a hunger strike for the child victims of
the U.S. government's sanctions and war mongering on the countries where they
live--Yemen, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela.
Sally-Alice said, "I am fasting because I
empathize with the many hungry children of the world, so I am joining them in
their suffering. I am outraged that our country is engaging in sanctions and
sieges that result in starvation of babies and children. I am profoundly
saddened that my government interferes in the affairs of other countries,
refusing to acknowledge their sovereignty and to respect their dignity."
She invites
anyone who shares these feelings to join her in her fast, by skipping
a meal or fasting for a day or longer. She would like to know if
anyone joins her! Please contact her at sally-aliceanddon@juno.com.
Take to the Streets!
It's important to be
visible during this time to show our opposition to war! Join in or
initiate public protests or vigils agains the war in Iran! If you do take
action, please email press@veteransforpeace.org!
Veterans For Peace 1404
North Broadway Blvd.St. Louis, Missouri 63102
(314) 725-6005
(314) 725-6005
War is hell’: as survivor of conflict, Rep. Ilhan Omar makes impassioned case against U.S. attack on Iran. Mronline.org (6-23-19).
Addressing President Donald Trump directly, the Minnesota
congresswoman said, “Do not listen to the warmongers and war profiteers
whispering in your ear.”
Bernie
Sanders Burns Trump on Iran Strike: ‘It’s Like Setting a Fire, Then Putting It
Out’
“He helped create the crisis and then he stopped the attacks,” the
candidate said
The Iranian People Are Not Our Enemy
Ardeshir
Zahedi and Ali Vaez have written a very thoughtful and important op-ed pleading for a change in U.S. Iran
policy before it is too late: .
Bullying
and crude threats will achieve little beyond entangling the United States and
the region in another senseless war while deepening the two countries’ 40-year
estrangement. The United States should strive for an Iran that is
stable with a strong middle class and highly educated youths connected to the
moderating influence of the outside world [bold mine-DL]. The Iranian
people want to restore the friendship between Iran and the United States, two
countries that enjoyed 123 years of cordial ties before 1979. But the path to
their hearts and minds is not through sanctions and military intervention.our
policy should never be to suffocate the civilian population of another country
with ruinous sanctions. In addition to being unjust and cruel, it hardens
attitudes against the U.S. and provokes stronger resistance. No genuine U.S.
interests are served by immiserating tens of millions of people for the actions
of their government, and by inflicting collective punishment on an entire
nation our government commits a terrible injustice that should shame us all. If
the Iranian people are not our enemy, we
must halt the economic war our government is waging against them and pursue
a course of diplomatic and economic engagement instead. MORE
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-iranian-people-are-not-our-enemy/?fbclid=IwAR1XmplbjT1-G-MK9yofRAHkUZEnQGrLwV_PykslWmETHMCMyomEm_mt4sM
OUR TWO PARTIES AND IRAN
JULIANNE TVETEN Any Democrat Who Wants to Be
President Should Reject War with Iran, Not Hide Behind Process Criticisms. In These Times (June 22, 2019).
US EMPIRE VIA ECONOMIC SIEGE WARFARE
Starvation Sanctions Are Worse Than
Overt Warfare
CAITLIN JOHNSTONE. JUNE
23, 2019.
“We are putting
major additional Sanctions on Iran on Monday,” President Trump tweeted today. “I look forward to the day
that Sanctions come off Iran, and they become a productive and prosperous
nation again – The sooner the better!”
Iran’s
economy is
already floundering due to the steadily mounting sanctions that the Trump administration has
been heaping upon it since its withdrawal from the JCPOA last year. Crucial
goods are four times the price they used to be, sick Iranians are having difficulty obtaining life-saving medicine, and life
in general has been getting much more difficult for the poorest and frailest Iranian civilians.
For this reason, it is a very safe
bet that there have been Iranians who have died because of the sanctions. Being
unable to obtain enough life-saving medicine will inevitably increase mortality
rates, as will inadequate nutrition and care for those whose health is at risk.
There’s not really any way around that, and it’s only going to get worse.
And that’s exactly what was supposed
to happen. As far as their intended purpose is concerned, the sanctions are
working. They’re doing exactly what they were intended to do: hurt Iranian
civilians.
How do I know
this? Well for one thing America’s Secretary of State has said it openly. The New York Times reports the following:
Last week, Mr. Pompeo acknowledged to Michael J. Morrell, a
former acting director of the C.I.A., that the administration’s
strategy would not persuade Iranian leaders to change their behavior.
“I think what can change is the people can change the
government,” he said on a podcast hosted by Mr. Morrell, in what appeared to be
an endorsement of regime change.
The Trump
administration isn’t leveling these sanctions because it believes they’ll cause
Tehran to capitulate to Washington’s impossible list of demands; they know full well
that that will never happen. What they claim, based on no evidence or
historical precedent whatsoever, is that by making life so painful for the
hungry and malnourished Iranian people they’ll be forced to rise up against
their government to effect regime change themselves.
Can you think of anything more
sociopathic than this? Off the top of my head, I personally cannot.
President Obama made a
desperate and terrible deal with Iran - Gave them 150 Billion Dollars plus I.8
Billion Dollars in CASH! Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave
them a free path to Nuclear Weapons, and SOON. Instead of saying thank you,
Iran yelled.....
....Death to America. I terminated deal,
which was not even ratified by Congress, and imposed strong sanctions. They are
a much weakened nation today than at the beginning of my Presidency, when they
were causing major problems throughout the Middle East. Now they are Bust!....
What does is say about MSM that Fox News is
the only MSM outlet to have covered the @ceprdc
study showing that US sanctions have killed 40,000 Venezuelans? NYT, WaPo,
MSNBC and CNN have all ignored it and promoted murderous sanctions and regime
change. https://twitter.com/Dan_Beeton/status/1125872190442885120 …
It’s great that more people are starting to
understand the cost of war, to the extent that we’re even seeing US
presidential candidates make opposing it central to their platforms, but this
is happening at a time when overt warfare is becoming more obsolete and
replaced with something subtler and more sinister. We must as a society
evolve our understanding of what starvation sanctions are and what they do, and
stop seeing them as in any way superior or preferable to overt warfare.
The fact that people
generally oppose senseless military violence but are unable to see and
comprehend a slow, boa constrictor-like act of slaughter via economic
strangulation is why these siege warfare tactics have become the weapon of
choice for the US-centralized empire. It is a more gradual way of murdering
people than overt warfare, but when you control all the resources and have an
underlying power structure which maintains itself amid the comings and goings
of your officially elected government, you’re in no hurry. The absence of any
public accountability makes the need for patience a very worthwhile trade-off.
So you see this siege warfare
strategy employed everywhere by the US-centralized empire:
·
You see it with Iran
and Venezuela.
·
You see it in Yemen, where in
addition to deadly blockades the Saudis have been deliberate targeting farms,
fishing boats, marketplaces, food storage sites and cholera treatment centers with
US-assisted airstrikes.
·
You see it in North Korea,
where boats full of dead people have been
washing up on Japan’s shores because fishermen get stuck out at
sea trying to catch food since they can’t afford enough fuel to get back to
shore, which former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attributed to US sanctions.
·
You see it in Gaza, where people are
being deprived of an adequate amount of
nutrients due to an Israeli blockade designed to “put the
Palestinians on a diet”.
·
You saw it with Julian Assange,
where Ecuador collaborated with the US to slowly make life in the embassy more
and more hellish in the hope that he’d step outside to be arrested by British
police.
·
You’re seeing it now with Chelsea Manning,
who is currently racking up $500 a day fines for her principled stand against a
corrupt grand jury proceeding against Assange, fines which will double next
month to $1,000 a day.
The
US-centralized power alliance is so powerful in its ability to hurt nations with
financial influence that in 1990 when Yemen voted against a UN Security Council
Resolution authorizing the attack against Iran, a senior US diplomat was caught
on a hot mic telling the Yemeni ambassador, “That will be the most expensive
‘no’ vote you ever cast.” According to German author Thomas Pogge,
“The US stopped $70 million in aid to Yemen; other Western countries, the IMF,
and World Bank followed suit. Saudi Arabia expelled some 800,000 Yemeni
workers, many of whom had lived there for years and were sending urgently
needed money to their families.”
That’s real power. Not the ability
to destroy a nation with bombs and missiles, but the ability to destroy it
without firing a shot.
It’s no wonder, then, that the
drivers of this empire work so hard to continue growing and expanding it. The
oligarchs and their allies in opaque government agencies no doubt envision a
world where all noncompliant nations like Iran, Russia and China have been
absorbed into the blob of empire and war becomes obsolete, not because anyone
has become any less violent, but because their economic control will be so
complete that they can obliterate entire populations just by cutting them off
from the world economy whenever any of them become disobedient.
This is the only reason Iran is being targeted right now.
That’s why you’ll never hear a factually and logically sound argument defending
Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal; there is none. There was no problem
with the JCPOA other than the fact that it barred America from inflicting
economic warfare upon Iran, which it needed for the purpose of toppling the
nation’s government so that it can be absorbed into the blob of the
US-centralized empire.
And all the innocent human
beings who die of starvation and disease? They don’t matter. Imperial violence
only matters if there are consequences for it. The price of shoring up the
total hegemony of the empire will have been worth it.
CONTENTS, IRAN NEWSLETTER, June 21, 2019, #28
NADG Reports on
Iran June 19-21
What’s at stake in Arkansas for war between US and Iran
What’s at stake in the world: United Nations Charter
Local direct
Action, Saturday June 22, Abel Tomlinson
National Actions
Win Wthout War
Peace Action
Ground Zero
Center
Iran No Threat, US the Threat
British General
Chris Ghika
Media Benjamin’s
Book, Inside Iran
Defending the US/Iran Nuclear Deal 2016
John Isaacs,
Council for a Liveable World
Win Without War
Repelling the
Warmongers
From 2016 to 2019, US and Iran Peace to Threatened War
Stephen Zunes, 5-15-19
Peace Action,
Stop Trump, 5-22-19
NADG Iran
Headlins
END IRAN NEWSLETTER #29, June 21, 2019
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