[pjw] REPORT BACK: Hypocirsy kils: Friday rally #154 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters

Last night five of us got a little wet from the rain as we attended the 
Friday Rally for Peace and Justice. Actually, a sixth person was there for 
a short time-- the same person who showed up in the snow with no coat, had 
a new coat. That was good to see! Once again we got a lot of honks and 
waves of support at the corner and along the march route. Scary moment: we 
came across a man who was face down with his face on the sidewalk and his 
legs out in the street. He groaned. We asked if he was ok. A bystander was 
already on the phone to 9-1-1. When I doubled back later the EMTs were 
ready to take him away and I saw he was breathing, so, phew.

Probably mostly due to the rain we didn't hand out any leaflets for the 
Iraq 20 years later event coming up in just two weeks.

   https://pjw.info/iraq20yl.html

As I usually say in the announcements, "we talk about peace, we talk about 
justice, we connect international, national and local news." Here's a 
recap:

--Secretary of State Blinken spoke to his Russian counterpart at the G-20 
summit, saying the US supports Ukraine all the way and urging them to 
rejoin the START treaty. No mention of how the US pulled out of the Iran 
nuclear deal.

  https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-ukraine-g20-blinken-lavrov-1af60a2c2918e9c0777b33b3e71bd54b

---However, the Russians brought up the US hypocrisy of saying not to 
invade another country buy pointing to Iraq, Libya and Yugoslavia.

  https://news.yahoo.com/russia-us-exchange-barbs-diplomatic-153531981.html

---Also, there were sizable protests in Germany, France and Italy against 
Ukraine war. In Germany, pro-Ukrainian activists somehow placed a burned 
out Russian tank on display to show their support; the peace activists 
covered the tank in flowers.

  https://countercurrents.org/2023/02/anti-nato-anti-eu-anti-war-protest-rallies-hit-germany-france-italy/

--The US Army Secretary says the US must get prepared to win a war with 
China over Taiwan. Not that it will happen any time soon but, you know, 
let's ramp up to make sure it does.

  https://www.voanews.com/a/us-army-secretary-lays-out-strategy-for-war-with-china/6985136.html

--As for those who continue to ask us if the US is at war, there was a new 
airstrike in Yemen which supposedly killed an Al Qaeda in the Arabian 
Peninsula leader. For the umpteenth time.

  https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/03/01/top-al-qaeda-figure-killed-yemen/

--Back at home, the House voted 414-2 to keep sanctions on Syria after 
the earthquake. Strangely, the two "no" votes were Marjorie Taylor Greene 
and her fellow Republican Thomas Massie.

  https://thecradle.co/article-view/22065/us-lawmakers-approve-resolution-to-uphold-economic-sanctions-on-syria

(I didn't know at the time, but ALL SIX Oregon reps voted to keep 
strangling the people of Syria in the name of saving them:

  https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023120 )

--Israel is worried that new defense systems from Russia will "close the 
window" on their ability to attack Iran. Let's hope they opt not to attack 
instead of speeding up their nefarious plan.

  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-02/israel-rethinks-iran-strike-scenarios-on-nuclear-program-because-of-russia-s-400
  https://archive.is/GLhHZ

--The CIA has concluded that so-called "Havana Syndrome," where US 
diplomats have gotten unexplained physiological symptoms, was not caused 
by Foreign weapon... but nobody seems to have asked them if, then, it 
could be caused by an _American_ weapon.

  https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/01/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report-weapon/

--The US is conducting counterterrorism trainings with African armies in 
Ghana, which probably means showing them how to use drones and conduct 
terroristic night raids. The article doesn't specify which countries are 
participating.

  https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-special-forces-launch-counter-terrorism-drills-with-african-armies-2023-03-01/

--The UN Secretary General visited Iraq for the first time in six years to 
show solidarity. This article doesn't say what exactly they are doing to 
help Iraq get a stable government, be free from foreign interference 
(including the US), and ensure their economy works for all.

  https://www.newarab.com/news/un-chief-visits-iraq-first-time-six-years

In local news, the City Council will be voting Wednesday to pay out 
another $55,000 for someone injured in the 2020 racial justice protests, 
in this case a woman whose wrist was broken. Portland Copwatch counts the 
payouts for such violence perpetrated from 2017-2020 at over $1.1 
million at this point. This story is about the incident:

  https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/06/protester-files-9th-lawsuit-against-city-of-portland-saying-police-broke-her-wrist.html

Here's the agenda item, which again describes the police brutality as an 
"encounter."

  https://www.portland.gov/council/documents/ordinance/settlement-dominique-bouchards-bodily-injury-lawsuit

Along the march route, I talked about the horrific mob violence 
perpetrated by Israeli settlers, who burned Palestinian homes and wrecked 
their businesses. Even the Israeli Defense Forces called this an act of 
"terror." To me it invoked echoes of Kristallnacht where Germans destroyed 
Jewish homes and businesses during the rise of Nazism. This shows how 
trauma imposed on a generation can come back in the form of the survivors 
becoming the perpetrators.

  https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/27/middleeast/idf-settler-revenge-attacks-west-bank-intl/index.html

As we headed back to the Square, I noted that 
now-not-in-charge-of-half-the-Senate Mitch McConnell wants to add to to 
the US' already bloated $858 billion  military budget. I guess he doesn't 
care to spend money on housing, education, health care and other human 
needs.

   https://news.yahoo.com/mcconnell-calls-higher-us-defense-201352024.html

The Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign stayed on for half a block in front 
of the Gucci store... it seems to do so when there are large trucks parked 
at the curb. This makes me wonder if the interference causing it to black 
out is coming from across the street and not the Mall itself.

We had a few folks out this week taking care of their well being. We hope 
to see them back soon but all of you remember to take care and that you 
need to be in the right frame of mind before you can help others. We're 
still out every Friday, masked up and distanced. We'll discuss the Oregon 
Health Authority lifting its mask mandates on April 3 and get back to you 
if PJW changes its policies.

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