[pjw] REPORT BACK: still not at war?: Friday rally #235 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters

It was much cooler last night at the Friday Rally for Peace and Justice 
than in recent weeks, but fairly humid. There was a reasonable amount of 
foot and vehicle traffic, leading to some expressions of support including 
peace signs, a person who took a leaflet from the distribution rack on 
their own initiative (!), and a few honking horns. I'm sure at least nine 
of us rallied, with eight going on the march (but one person breaking off 
early), though I told someone it was ten. Maybe I'll figure it out later. 
Anyway, larger, too, than in recent weeks.

In addition to announcing the Sept. 27 special Friday rally about the US 
in Syria, 10 years later

  https://pjw.info/syria10yl.html

I also let folks know that next Saturday, Sept. 21 is International Peace 
Day, and the Alliance For Democracy sign-holding event is looking to have 
at least 21 people at their corner on the east end of the Burnside Bridge 
(E Burnside and SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd), from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. As 
usual they will have their own signs and encourage more generic signs 
against war and military spending than ones about specific conflicts.

So, what did we talk about at this week's Friday rally?

--The US conducted airstrikes in Yemen on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

  https://www.arabnews.com/node/2570699/middle-east

---The third strike killed two girls at a school.

  https://www.saba.ye/en/news3370108.htm

--I mention this because you may recall that in his "concession speech," 
President Biden said the US is not at war. Well, apparently during the 
"debate" on Tuesday Kamala Harris said there are no US troops in combat 
zones. Huh, how about the 7 US troops injured in a raid on "militants" in 
Iraq last week, or the barrages of missiles fired at bases in Syria...?

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/09/10/harris-lies-in-debate-with-trump-by-claiming-no-us-troops-are-deployed-in-combat-zones/

--In "hot war" news this week, Palestine made history by taking a seat in 
the UN General Assembly. Earlier this year it was voted on (not by the US 
or Israel, naturally) to let them sit in, though they don't get a vote 
yet.

  https://www.newarab.com/news/palestine-makes-history-taking-seat-un-general-assembly

---Despite other outrage, including from Secretary of War Antony Blinken, 
President Biden says the shooting of Aysenur Eygi ... who was from 
Seattle... was an accident.

  https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-president-calls-israeli-killing-of-turkish-american-activist-in-west-bank-an-accident/3326984

---Israel also struck Lebanon a few times this week, with the most recent 
one killing three people.

  https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/3-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-in-southern-lebanon-health-ministry/3328926

---...and they also launched strikes on Syria again, killing at least 25 
people. When will their monetary benefactors (THAT IS YOU USA) put a stop 
to their rampant warmaking?

  https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/sep/09/israeli-strikes-syria-masyaf


--In another hot zone, Ukraine lost some of whatever moral high ground it 
can claim by killing a civilian with a drone attack on Russia.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/10/one-killed-in-moscow-as-dozens-of-ukrainian-drones-target-russia

--It's not clear we're talking about the world's largest embassy here, but 
in Baghdad, two rockets were fired at a "US diplomatic facility," with no 
casualties. Though these buildings usually have military personnel posted 
at them so let's also count this as a reason for the US to get out.

  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/two-rockets-fall-near-us-forces-baghdad-sources-say-2024-09-10/

---On that note, Reuters reports that hundreds of US troops should be 
leaving Iraq ONE YEAR FROM NOW, September 2025, and the rest are supposed 
to be out by the end of 2026. We've heard this song before though, 
remember the troops were all going to be out at the end of 2021.

  https://www.reuters.com/world/us-iraq-deal-would-see-hundreds-troops-withdraw-first-year-sources-say-2024-09-06/

In local news, the Portland Police released body camera footage from the 
August 24 non-fatal shooting of Robert Seeger. But not the RAW footage, a 
heavily edited story manipulation starting with a narrative claiming the 
officers used de-escalation. Maybe that's not on the video because all I 
see is them yelling "we will use force if you don't cooperate." Threats 
are not de-escalation folks.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD2VIRCnli4

Also, City Council voted 4-1 to adopt their weakened version of the new 
oversight system on Wednesday, and then on Thursday filed a request for 
Judge Simon to reconsider his decision to delay implementation until the 
new Council is in place in January.

  https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2024/09/portland-city-attorneys-urge-judge-to-reconsider-delay-of-standing-up-new-community-board-for-police-oversight.html

Along the march route, the extra Israel/Palestine news is that a series of 
airstrikes and raids this week, culminating in one incident that killed 
five Palestinians, brought the death toll there to 699 since October 7. 
Yes, it pales to the 40,000 dead in Gaza but that's still roughly two 
people per day killed by weapons likely supplied by the US of A.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-raids-west-bank-kills-palestinians-detains-medics

And in what seems to be a rush to see who can be the most warlike major 
party, the Democrats are opposing a Republican spending bill saying its 
delay of increasing military funds for six months is too long. Defense 
(/War) Secretary Lloyd Austin says it will tie the military's hands behind 
their backs. Huh, that's what they said in Viet Nam too. Neither party 
seems to be redirecting these death dollars to things like housing, 
healthcare, environmental repair, education or other human needs.

  https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4871568-democrats-gop-short-term-spending-package/

About on cue, the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign made it 10 feet past 
the old Mystery Spot again before turning itself off. Taking a cue from my 
shoe-tying last week, I paused in front of the Apple Store to organize 
some literature for the rally and the sign scrolled for about a full 
minute, drawing attention from some folks inside.

OK, we're now in that what-do-I-wear phase as temperatures cool and rain's 
starting in. Think about joining us some Friday-- maybe for the special 
event on the 27th?-- if you are willing and able.

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