[pjw] REPORT BACK: normalizing imperialism: Friday rally #257 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hi again supporters of the Iraq Affinity Group

It was quite an unusual night yesterday at the Friday Rally for Peace and 
Justice. A Veteran For Peace we hadn't seen for a while joined us with a 
VFP flag (along with a Palestinian one) on a tall pole. A person who 
wandered by asked about what we were doing and ended up joining us for 
most of the rally and all of the march. And another person who wandered
by-- who is from Kyrgyzstan-- joined the first half of the march, just 
long enough to take a selfie of them holding a "Free Palestine" sign to 
share with a friend in Chicago. This is a little better than the sometimes 
protest tourism we experience when people just ask to hold a sign, take a 
picture, and go away.

A weird tension grew near the beginning of the rally when a Transit 
security guard started yelling "free the Black people in America!" and 
standing next to us trying to urge people to join the event. Given that 
many folks we consider allies do not take kindly to active-duty (and by 
that I mean both not retired AND actually on the job at the time) 
uniformed law enforcement types, I asked whether their supervisor knew 
they were with us. They responded saying "oh, you're one of THOSE" and 
storming off. Uh, ok-- appropriate outcome even if a weird encounter.

ANYWAY, overall there were 11 people involved in the event, with 10 at the 
rally and 9 at the outset of the march, seven of us there at the end. 
There was only a little drizzle in the warming February weather as a 
prelude to an "atmospheric river" we're supposed to get starting today.

In addition to our two new friends and oddball security officer, we had a 
lot of people sending us supportive vibes through honking car horns and 
verbal thanks. We had a share of hecklers, too. Another person who seemed 
to think we were the cause of world strife, one who cursed at us, and a 
few walk-by and one drive-by insult-throwing types.
I was able to announce our March 21 Friday Rally which will mark 22 years 
since the invasion of Iraq, but we only got around to handing out a few 
flyers.

  https://pjw.info/iraq22yl_flyer.pdf .

As for the news, gee, it all looks so bad, where do we start.

--Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have added exiling 
Hamas as part of the Gaza ceasefire demands. I don't think that you can 
take an agreement and make a major change in it like that once it's been 
signed (so to speak). Also, the Trump plan of full ethnic cleansing would 
take care of this idea so why would Netanyahu need exile as well?

  https://news.antiwar.com/2025/02/20/report-netanyahu-adds-new-demands-in-talks-on-second-phase-of-gaza-deal/

---For its part, Hamas offered to release all the captives (thanks, Al 
Jazeera, for using a better term than "hostages" which can also be 
applied to Palestinians being held by Israel) in exchange for an end to
the war and occupation.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/19/hamas-offers-to-release-all-captives-for-end-to-israels-war-on-gaza

---Despite the ceasefire mostly holding, an Israeli strike killed three 
Gazan police officers. Maybe they learned from January 6 that Trump 
doesn't care about police officers who disagree with him.

  https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-drone-strike-kills-three-gaza-police-officers-violates-ceasefire/

--In Lebanon, despite _that_ ceasefire, Israeli troops killed a 13 year 
old girl this week.

  https://thecradle.co/articles/israeli-troops-kill-13-year-old-girl-kidnap-several-in-south-lebanon

--The US military flew B-52s over nine middle east countries in a show of 
force against Iran. But this military-based news site says officials 
refused to name the countries (so, not a very effective propaganda tactic 
then?) and _dropped live munitions_ in the "partner" nations. What???

  https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-52s-fly-middle-east-live-munitions/

--Most of you have probably already heard that Trump talked a lot about 
Ukraine this week, claiming they started the war (not true) but also that 
NATO's insistence on moving closer to Russia's borders was a major factor 
(which IS true). Russia noted that was the first time a Western leader 
acknowledged the issue (which violated a promise made after the Berlin 
wall fell).

  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-ukraine-should-never-have-started-it-remarks-war-russia-rcna192710

...Take a look at the details in this politifact article which says this 
is a mostly false claim but then documents statements made by the US and 
its allies not to move "one inch further east" than Germany:

  https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/feb/28/candace-owens/fact-checking-claims-nato-us-broke-agreement-again/

... and then this op-ed by Phyllis Bennis from 2022

  https://www.myjournalcourier.com/opinion/article/Commentary-XXXXXXXXXXXXX-16975040.php

...Anyway, note how US policy on Russia entering Ukraine was opposite to 
Israel sitting in the West Bank and Gaza. At least it's more consistent 
now, but unfortunately pro-imperialism consistent instead of "we don't 
take territory by force on this planet any more" consistent.

--In Syria a "Coalition" drone (probably US) killed two people, even 
though America's interests in bombing that nation should be nil with the 
Assad regime gone.

  https://www.syriahr.com/en/355995/

---Moreover, the US-sponsored Kurdish militants have agreed to be part 
of new Syrian army. Which could pave the way to end the US' 10-1/2 year 
war there.

  https://www.newarab.com/news/kurdish-led-sdf-agree-integrate-forces-syrian-army

--Speaking of drone strikes, Shadow President Elon Musk said that labeling 
drug cartels "terrorists" means it is ok to attack them with drones. Uh, 
who are you, a tech billionaire, to be making statements about 
state-sanctioned violence???

  https://news.antiwar.com/2025/02/19/musk-claims-cartels-designated-as-terrorists-are-now-eligible-for-drone-strikes/

--Continuing its policies such as sailing warships and flying warplanes in 
disputed territories near China, the US this week removed its statement 
that America does not support Taiwan's independents from its website. Yep, 
our country really wants peace. By the way I guess this example doesn't 
fit this week's subject line, since the US is trying to buck an 
imperialist state... but don't expect consistency in US (or Trumpian) 
foreign policy.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2025/02/17/china-says-trump-admins-change-to-us-fact-sheet-on-taiwan-damages-relations/

--As for the President wanting to end war, perhaps ask why the US 
conducted an airstrike in Somalia this week that killed two (so say the 
US) or 16 (so say people on the ground) people.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2025/02/17/us-launches-airstrike-in-somalias-puntland-says-two-isis-fighters-killed/

--OK, maybe there is some good news... the Iraqi government says that the 
planned withdrawal of US troops in September... just 7 months from now!... 
is still on.

  https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/170220251

Two local news headlines this week: First, there is a bill in the 
legislature we only recently became aware of about not letting the Oregon 
National Guard be deployed overseas without a declaration of war. There 
are some concerning flaws in the bill which cite constitutionally 
permissible uses of the Guard to repel invasions and suppress 
insurrections. These terms will likely lead Trump to call the Guard to the 
Mexican border and the streets of Portland. We'll likely testify about 
that this Thursday, the 27th at 1 PM at a Senate committee hearing.

  https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB667

Also, on Wednesday, the City Council FINALLY heard the 2025 annual report 
on the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Participants in our campaign to stop 
cooperation with the FBI spoke very well, and Council members raised deep 
concerns. Highlight was Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane noting it was th 
anniversary of EO 9066 which allowed the US-- via the FBI-- to put 
Japanese Americans in internment camps.

  https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/02/21/47656550/will-portland-police-cooperate-with-trumps-fbi

The same night the Council grilled Chief Bob Day about what he would do 
about redirecting calls that don't need armed officers, the new oversight 
system, and more.

  https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/02/portland-vote-to-extend-police-chiefs-tenure-speaks-to-citys-focus-on-stability-and-consistency.html

Along the march route, I noted that after three EMPTY buses exploded in 
Israel, the US-backed Israeli Defense Forces were orders to step up their 
already ridiculously oppressive raids in the West Bank.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/21/netanyahu-takes-aim-at-west-bank-after-bus-explosions-near-tel-aviv

Back to the inconsistencies of the Trump administration, last week they 
said they were cutting the military budget and sent stocks plummeting. 
This week they're saying they didn't mean they would CUT $50 billion a 
year, just find places they don't like it being spent and divert it to 
more macho, belligerent things that Trump likes.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2025/02/20/pentagon-says-hegseths-order-will-redirect-spending-not-make-actual-cuts/

After a week off, the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign at first went off 
while we were in the Square. But that's because I somehow managed to 
unplug the power cord (!!). I was then able to show my psychic powers by 
telling our new participant to watch the sign as we rolled up to the 
mystery spot across from the Apple Store. On cue, the power cut out again.

Be sure to get your dose of uplifting community interactions (well, except 
for those few hecklers, but they're few and far between) by joining us 
some Friday evening at the corner of SW Yamhill and Broadway.

peace
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group