[pjw] REPORT BACK: our bombs blow up better: Friday rally #172 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Supporters of a peaceful planet

We had a new participant again at yesterday's Friday Rally for Peace and 
Justice, bringing the total to ten at the rally and nine who marched. We 
had a large number of people honking horns in support. One person saw a 
sign for Palestinian rights and yelled "Israel's the best." Maybe, the 
best at killing and getting away with it? Considering the 90 degree plus 
days we had earlier this week, the weather was mild and even pleasant.

So what did we talk about at the rally?

--The US is defending its providing cluster bombs to Ukraine by saying 
our cluster bombs (reminder: banned in over 100 countries) have a lower 
"dud rate" than most. Only 3% fail to explode instead of 40%. Oh, that's 
so much better. Kind of ignores the maiming done by the "good" ones.

  https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-provide-cluster-munitions-ukraine-part-new-military-100788567

---The CIA is bragging that the war in Ukraine is a great opportunity for 
them to recruit spies in Russia. In addition to making money for weapons 
manufacturers perhaps another reason the US opposes a cease fire and 
diplomacy.

  https://thehill.com/policy/international/4079238-cia-calls-russian-war-in-ukraine-a-prime-opportunity-for-recruiting-spies/

--President Biden told the media the US hasn't sent in troops 
to attack Al Qaeda members in Afghanistan, implying that there are no 
such people there. In a rare moment, the Afghan government agreed with 
Biden.

  https://www.newarab.com/news/taliban-say-biden-acknowledged-reality-about-al-qaeda

--However, the US says there are still Islamic State members operating 
Iraq and Syria, leading to 37 military operations in those two countries 
in June which supposedly killed 13 ISIS members. These are the operations 
not involving US aircraft. Again, Iraq invited the US to stay, Syria never 
invited the US at all.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/07/06/centcom-says-it-conducted-37-operations-against-isis-in-iraq-and-syria-in-june/

---Along those lines, America's upset about Russian aircraft "harassing" 
US drones in Syria. Here's an idea to stop the problem: GET OUT OF SYRIA.

  https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-military/2023/07/07/russian-jets-harass-us-drones-over-syria-for-second-time-in-24-hours/

--For reasons unknown (except that, as Norman Solomon said, there's little 
daylight between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to war), 
President Biden named Elliott Abrams, a war criminal (see: Iran-Contra 
affair, cover-up of El Salvador massacre) to a diplomacy commission.

  https://us.cnn.com/2023/07/03/politics/elliott-abrams-public-diplomacy-nomination/index.html

In local news, a US Marshal shot a man who allegedly tried to push his way 
in to Pioneer Courthouse on Monday. The man was wounded. Even if he 
was attacking, was a firearm really the only possible response? This is 
the second US Marshal shooting in Portland since April last year. (Note: 
I was able to gesture to the east to show this happened a block away from 
where we hold the rally.)

  https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/05/oregon-pioneer-courthouse-shooting-security-officer-jett-thomas/

Along the march route I talked about the horrible Israeli two-day bombing 
and military raids in Jenin, West Bank, which killed twelve people 
including five children and destroyed the water infrastructure. Yet the US 
keeps on sending aid.

   https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jenin-israel-west-bank-buries-dead-inspects-destruction-aggression

Toward the end of the march I noted that Senator Mitch McConnell thinks 
the $886 billion "defense" budget is insufficient, hoping to pressure the 
house to raise the amount to "send a message to China." Maybe sending 
warships and aircraft close to their country and shooting their balloon 
down is enough of a message?

  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/baby-steps-and-brinkmanship-defense-spending-debate-to-test-mcconnell-mccarthy-unity/ar-AA1dzWFm

I forgot to report about the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign last 
week. This is what happened: It worked properly until midway up 
Yamhill between 4th and 5th again. This week, that happened again but 
I hurried past a metal junction box we suspect may be part of the 
problem and managed to keep it running for an extra 50 feet or so. 
Then I passed a smaller junction box and out it went.

At the original corner I also plugged the availability of the Norman 
Solomon livestream which you can watch at
  https://youtube.com/peaceandjusticeworks
or, more directly,
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_eOLIkJMl8

ALSO I forgot to include the Washington Post link to that COVID article 
last week, which was:

  https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/06/25/covid-precautions-summer-vaccines-deaths/

So while it's not MANDATORY we do ask people to mask up and stay distanced 
at the rallies, which are every single Friday at 5 PM at SW Yamhill and 
Broadway. Join us if you can!

OH also don't forget the Iraq Affinity Group meeting is this Tuesday July 
11 at 4 PM, our new start time.

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