[pjw] REPORT BACK: going in circles: Friday rally #146 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters

A sign calling for "No War on Iran" drew in a new person to last night's 
Friday Rally for Peace and Justice, filling out our number to 10 people. 
The person was from Iran, and while they had criticisms of that 
government, supported our message for no war. We also had a noticeably 
large number of cars honking at us in agreement, a great way to start the 
new year! Oh, and also one person was returning from a few months away 
recuperating from an injury. Masked up and distanced, we rallied at the 
Square and did our usual circular march, but that's not what this week's 
subject line refers to.

Here are the headlines we talked about:

--The Republicans in the House were going in circles, having voted 13 
times by then and failing to elect a speaker, the longest such process 
since 1859... when the US was on the brink of a civil war. Notably this 
was the Republican party which fomented the Capitol incursion two years 
ago exactly which this time was halting the work of the government... 
against itself.

  https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-speaker-leadership-vote-01-05-23/h_b852cd274dc849e8d9783718023235df

(Many of you may have heard that Kevin McCarthy was finally elected at 1 
AM Eastern Time today by a slim 4 vote margin.)

--In 2017 we protested President Trump's use of the "Mother of All Bombs" 
in Afghanistan. This week it was reported that the residents in the area 
still can't rebuild their homes and have unexplained illnesses from that 
weapon, the largest bomb the US has that's not nuclear.

  https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-181486

--Perhaps to compete with Barack Obama's nickname as "deporter in chief," 
President Biden has ordered that people from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti 
will automatically be expelled if they cross the border.

  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-lay-out-new-cuba-nicaragua-haiti-migrant-policy-border-speech-2023-01-05/

He's probably trying to get out ahead of an inevitable push by the 
Republicans to "do something about immigration" but this is not a good 
look for a government that is supposed to stand for human rights.

--Turkey is negotiating about moving its troops out of Northern Syria, 
but the US opposes them talking because it legitimizes the Assad 
government. Well, also it would imply the US has to get its troops out 
too.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-syria-meeting-no-deals-made-first-high-level-talks
  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/01/04/us-says-it-opposes-countries-normalizing-with-assad-after-syria-turkey-talks/

---Speaking of which, there was another rocket attack on a US base in 
Syria; once again, remind me of the authority that was used for the US to 
establish bases there? Hint: This article talks about the base's proximity 
to Conoco oil fields.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/01/04/rockets-hit-base-housing-us-troops-in-eastern-syria/

--The US is sending US sending 50 light tanks (oh, sorry, they're 
Bradley armored vehicles) to Ukraine. Nothing like pouring more fuel on 
the fire to ensure the war continues (and the weapons manufacturers keep 
making money).

  https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-news/2023/01/us-to-send-ukraine-dozens-of-bradleys-in-2-85b-aid-package/

--In Yemen, where the ceasefire has been expired for about four months, 
military attacks traced back to Saudi Arabia and the UAE killed and 
wounded people this week, a sign that the war is still dragging on.

  https://thecradle.co/Article/News/19950

In local news, the Portland Police changed their rule last month about 
releasing officers' names after deadly force incidents. They said they did 
so "in consultation" with the US Dept. of Justice. Wednesday night the DOJ 
said that was a "misstatement" and that DOJ was given the policy but has 
not reviewed or commented on it yet. Misstatement, sounds like... a lie?

There's no link for this story because Portland Copwatch raised this 
question at a public meeting and no media were present. So, breaking news.

Along the march route I talked about how new Israeli Security Minister 
Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al Aqsa mosque in a provocative move. The US, 
to its credit, expressed concern about moving away from the status quo in 
the disputed area. But not concern that the status quo is occupation.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-ben-gvir-storms-al-aqsa-deliberate-provocation

As we headed back to the Square, in talking about money for human needs 
and not war, I asked if anyone could wrap their heads around this: The far 
right Republicans' demands of McCarthy included cutting $75 billion from 
the defense budget. There are places where the right and the left can 
sometimes agree, I guess.

  https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/01/06/mccarthy-weighing-75b-defense-budget-cut-in-quest-for-speakership/


Now that the holidays are over, the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign went 
out again right by the Gucci store as it had been doing until three weeks 
ago, even with the display light turned off. I'm thinking gremlins.

Finally, I reminded everyone twice that this coming week's rally on 
January 13 starts early (at 4:30 PM) to talk about the Guantanamo Bay 
prison being open for 21 years and still having over 30 people held there. 
Hope to see some of you there-- remember to mask up and stay distanced!

  https://pjw.info/guantanamo21yl.html

thanks
--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group