[pjw] EVENT: "Remembering the Relentless Bombing of Iraq Since 2003" Fri 3/22/24 5 PM

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hi again PJW supporters
Below is the full announcement for the March 22 event remembering the 
invasion of Iraq, 21 years later.

We've built the theme around the idea that maybe, just maybe, the US might 
be out of Iraq by March 22.

The event page is at
  https://www.pjw.info/iraq21yl.html

and as noted yesterday the flyer can be found at

  https://www.pjw.info/iraq_21yl_flyer.pdf

Feel free to share widely, and as noted in the announcement, if your 
group wants to sign on let us know.

dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

                      Remembering the Relentless Bombing
                              of Iraq Since 2003
                        Friday, March 22, 2024 5:00 PM
                   Weekly Friday Rally for Peace and Justice
                                Please mask up
                         and stay distanced for safety
                          Pioneer Courthouse Square,
                            SW Yamhill and Broadway

    On March 19, 2003, the US launched a massive invasion and occupation of
    Iraq, based on George W. Bush's false assertions of weapons of mass
    destruction (WMDs) and leading to mass devastation from a "shock and
    awe" bombing campaign. In 2011, President Barack Obama withdrew most of
    the troops. In 2014, Obama sent more US military back into Iraq to
    engage in warfare against the Islamic State. In 2017, President Donald
    Trump stepped up the bombing, destroying most of the Iraqi city of
    Mosul. In 2020, Trump ordered the assassination in Iraq of Iranian
    General Qasem Soleimani, leading to a vote by the Iraqi Parliament to
    eject all US troops. In December 2021, President Joe Biden decided to
    leave 2500 American military personnel in Iraq, where they remain to
    this day. As of late January, US forces in Iraq have been the target of
    attacks over 55 times (and the 900 troops in Syria over 85 times)
    largely due to American support for Israel's bombardment of Gaza in
    October. The US has conducted what it says are defensive retaliatory
    strikes, which Iraq sees as a violation of its sovereignty.

    The world seems to respond differently to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
    and Hamas' attack on Israel when compared to Israel's disproportionate
    response and the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan or countless
    other military and economic acts of warfare. Some say the US' disregard
    for international law has opened the proverbial floodgates.

    Iraqis have been subject to US interference by war, sanctions and
    occupation since August, 1990. Iraq's infrastructure has never fully
    recovered from the the 1991 "Gulf War," the 2003 invasion and other
    American-led actions. Even if the US removes its troops, as is being
    considered, their influence-- and the world's largest embassy-- will
    remain in Baghdad. Join us to remember the past, call attention to the
    present and call for a better future.

    Coordinated by Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group as part of
    the weekly Friday Rally for Peace and Justice, held since Nov. 2001.

    For more information, or if your group would like to cosponsor or
    endorse this event, contact Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group
    at 503-236-3065 or iraq at pjw.info.