[pjw] REPORT BACK: military democracies: Friday rally #246 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters:

Last night at the Friday Rally for Peace and Justice, six of us rallied 
and four marched in the slightly cold but blissfully dry weather. Starting 
when just one person was there, we had a lot of supportive comments, 
though one man who saw my "IRAQ US Out" sign said "Iraq is attacking 
Israel." "Not the government," I said. He then launched into a monologue 
about how Hamas had started it. I said "If your kids were fighting and the 
second one said 'he started it' would it be ok if the second kid killed 
40,000 people?" He walked away.

We had lots of honking horns of support including a Trimet bus driver, 
which is always uplifting. A person coming out of bar #1 said "F***" and I 
was nervous we'd need to run away, but they then added "yeah!!!!" That 
second word was the all important clue that they were liking our message 
not condemning it. A slightly inebriated veteran near bar #2 was surprised 
that there were people protesting war.

OK, now on to the news where you will see echoes of this week's theme 
about democracies which seem to revel in militarism instead of, say, 
supporting human rights.

--Amnesty International concluded (duh) that Israel is committing a 
genocide in Gaza. Leaders of that "democracy" and "ours" said no, we 
don't agree with you, so we'll keep killing folks.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/12/05/us-denies-amnestys-conclusion-that-israel-is-committing-genocide/

---If you've ever been near a mosque when the call to prayer is 
broadcast from its speakers, you'll understand how much it's an 
affront to freedom that Israel has banned the Islamic call to prayer, 
saying it's disturbing to residents. They are confiscating the 
loudspeakers of those who violate the ban.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-bans-islamic-call-prayer-escalating-discrimination

---Though the US is still courting them aggressively, the Saudis are still 
saying they won't recognize Israel until there is a Palestinian state. 
They dialed back a defense agreement that was almost finalized with 
America over the issue.

  https://thecradle.co/articles/ksa-abandons-us-defense-pact-over-palestinian-statehood-stalemate-report

---In Lebanon, Hezbollah finally fired back after many Israeli violations 
of the ceasefire, which then led the US-backed Israeli Defense Forces to 
kill more than 11 people with airstrikes.

  https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-lebanon-hezbollah-iran-news-12-02-2024-3f334fcb469ac465c7ae2df6922c2c17

--You've probably heard about the chaos going on in Syria after over 13 
years of "civil war," with an Islamic militant group known as HTS taking 
over large parts of the country. Oh, and Turkey is sort of playing it both 
ways, supporting the insurgents but also telling Syria they will negotiate 
with them.

   https://thecradle.co/articles/turkish-backed-extremists-headed-to-damascus-says-erdogan

---For its part the White House says the won't cry about offensive, even 
though they would call this a "terrorist group" in any other context.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/12/02/jake-sullivan-says-us-wont-cry-about-the-pressure-syria-is-facing-from-al-qaeda-linked-fighters/

---Not wanting to besmirch their brand, HTS had US-backed Kurdish rebels 
of the Syrian Defense Forces evacuate from an area they overtook.

  https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/02122024

---Meanwhile, three US soldiers were injured in Syria after they 
launched "self defense strikes." Our ongoing question remains-- why are 
US troops in Syria in the first place? Can you invade someone's country 
and then claim self-defense?

  https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/12/05/three-us-troops-being-evaluated-for-brain-injuries-after-syria-attack-pentagon

--Another somewhat fragile democracy relying on military force, South 
Korea saw its president declare martial law because (checks notes) the 
parliament wouldn't pass a budget??? The parliament unanimously (among the 
people who were present) voted to overturn martial law, and now are 
considering impeachment.

  https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-yoon-martial-law-25a2a7c957e77a19f771b6b7c56a2173

--Ukraine has said it might cede territory to Russia if that means getting 
more support from NATO to end the war. OK, well remember as you negotiate 
for peace that if it's wrong for people to take land by force that the 
Israelis should have to leave the West Bank and Gaza as Russia leaves 
Ukraine. Oh, am I expecting consistency in US-led policies?

  https://archive.vn/IcreW
  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/29/zelensky-russia-war-territory-ukraine/

--Due to the turmoil in Syria, Iraq closed its borders to be sure things 
would not spill into their fragile democracy.

  https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iraq-closes-all-borders-amid-rising-security-concerns/3409779

In local news, a few weeks ago City Council voted to extend their contract 
for 10 years with a business conglomerate known as Downtown Clean and Safe 
for their enhanced taxes-- er, fees to pay for extra security. It's a bit 
outrageous as the current contract expires late in 2025, so it was in 
essence an 11 year extension and cut the new Council out of negotiations. 
That said, Portland Copwatch's interest has been that since its inception 
Clean and Safe paid the salaries of four Portland officers (aka private 
mercenary cops), but that part of the contract ends in June 2025. (The 
mention of the private police WAS in this article... I don't see it any 
more... but don't worry, we fact-checked it.)

  https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2024/11/city-council-approves-downtown-portland-clean-safe-expansion.html

Along the march route I mentioned that the IDF raided a hospital in the 
West Bank to go after one person, leading to the Palestinian Authority 
telling them to stop attacking medical facilities. Which they shouldn't 
have to do because it's a war crime. But Israel and their benefactor (the 
US of A) don't really care about that.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/5/palestinians-call-for-action-to-halt-israeli-attacks-on-west-bank-hospitals

Good news/bad news for the money for human needs, not war story of the 
week: the bad news is that in a recent poll, 79% of Americans said the 
military budget needs to be bigger (were they told how ridiculously large 
it is?) But the good news is, 84% said we need more money for health care 
and 89% said we need more to fund Social Security.

  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/record-share-of-americans-support-higher-defense-spending/ar-AA1viTaY

The Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign made it around the corner from the 
Gucci Store but went out again in the mystery spot across from the Apple 
Store. Its week off going around the Square didn't change things much.

Remember to join us any Friday at 5 PM at SW Yamhill and Broadway. I've 
finally posted our four-up flyers if you want to print them and hand them 
out.

  https://pjw.info/friday_rally4_up1023generic.pdf

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