[pjw] March/Rally: "17 Years Since the Iraq Invasion: Time to End All US Wars" Fri 3/20/20 5:00 PM

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello Iraq Affinity Group supporters

We previously sent out information about our upcoming March 20 march and 
rally to mark 17 years since the invasion of Iraq, but I think this is the 
first formal announcement. Please share widely. The event current has four 
cosponsoring organizations and we welcome more.

Meanwhile, the Senate voted yesterday to pass a resolution limiting 
President Trump's ability to go to war with Iran, with eight Republicans 
voting for it with a final tally of 55-45. The House passed a similar 
measure in January on a vote of 228-175 (with four Republicans in 
support). Trump, of course, has promised a veto. The House would need 292 
votes to over-ride the veto and the senate 67. Maybe allies in states not 
as solidly anti-war as ours need a push-- not to mention Oregon Rep. Kurt 
Schrader who voted against the resolution (one of only three Democrats to 
do so).

By the way, the announcement and the link to the flyer can also be found 
on our website at http://www.pjw.info/iraq17yl.html .

--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

Peace and Justice Works
   Iraq Affinity Group
   PO Box 42456
   Portland, OR   97242
   (503) 236-3065  (Office)
   iraq at pjw.info
   http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html

CALENDAR LISTING

For immediate release         February 14, 2020

                      "17 Years Since the Iraq Invasion:
                           Time to End All US Wars"

            Rally and march marking 17 years since the US Invasion
                            *Friday, March 20, 2020
                                    5:00 PM
              Pioneer Courthouse Square- SW Yamhill and Broadway

    Join Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group for a march and rally
    marking 17 years since the US invaded Iraq in 2003. The event will take
    place at the weekly Portland Peaceful Response Coalition Friday Rally
    on Friday, March 20, 2020 at 5:00 PM, at Pioneer Courthouse Square (SW
    Yamhill and Broadway).

    The US invasion and occupation was based on the knowingly false
    information presented by the George W Bush administration alleging that
    Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. After the invasion, no such
    weapons were found. Similar lies about the alleged attack on a US naval
    destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin helped justify the Viet Nam war. The
    current President, who criticized the Iraq war, has made up similar
    lies to justify violence against Iranian nationals inside Iraq (and
    Syria)'s borders. Following the US assassination of an Iranian general
    in January, the Iraqi parliament voted to demand the US leave their
    country. Rather than respect their sovereignty, President Trump
    threatened sanctions and demanded to be paid for the US military bases
    set up in Iraq as part of this 17-year-long occupation.

    Regardless of whether the troops leave, the US embassy in Baghdad is
    the world's largest, despite Iraq being the 36th largest country by
    population and 58th largest in size. It is clear the US wants to stay
    in Iraq to control the oil resources not just in Iraq but in the entire
    region. It is time to end all US wars and bring the troops home!

    In a bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives voted 236-166 on
    January 30 to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force
    in Iraq, which was controversially created based on the WMD lies, and
    has been used to justify continued US presence. Eleven Republicans
    voted for the measure.

    The PPRC weekly Friday rally began shortly after the US invasion of
    Afghanistan in 2001. The protests have also focused on the well as
    other foreign and domestic policies.

    The event is cosponsored by Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity
    Group, Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, CODEPINK, and Veterans For
    Peace Chapter 72.

    A flyer for the event is available at
    http://www.pjw.info/iraq_17yl_flyer.pdf .

    For more information or to get involved contact the Peace and Justice
    Works Iraq Affinity Group at 503-236-3065 (voice or text), or email
    iraq at pjw.info .