Check for web archive captures
What we asked Senator Gillibrand to do about ISIS, in
early October.
By mickielynn on 2014-11-12 11:19:54
[caption id="attachment_6388" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
“The only winners in war
are the arms makers and
war profiteers. Everyone
else loses, no matter which
side they are on ... the
losses measured in lives,
resources, and our
collective humanity."
—Leah Bolger
Greed Kills and so does
thoughtless military action, Leah Bolger of Veterans for Peace.[/caption] On Monday, October 6, 2014 six members of the
Beyond Afghanistan/No Drones Project of Women Against War met with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's regional director,
David Connors. We received an hour of very active listening at the time, although we would have preferred to meet directly
with the Senator. Five of the presentations concerned reasons to stop using weaponized drones and the sixth was a request to
stop the bombing of Syria and Iraq and instead take genuine steps to protect the people of Iraq and Syria. That was my
presentation. I'd like to supply a brief description here. [caption id="attachment_6393" align="aligncenter" width="450"]
Sign on barricade at Hancock Air Base, October 5,
2014[/caption] At the time that we met with David Connors US bombs had been falling on Iraq and Syria for several weeks
and Congress was just about to go into recess until after the elections. In fact Congress returns to work on November 17th,
this coming Monday. We want Senator Gillibrand to take the lead in addressing the carnage that has been taking place in
both Iraq and Syria without legitimate authorization. It was extremely disappointing that Secretary of State, John Kerry
spent what ought to have been diplomatic energy to gather military cooperation from five very repressive governments.
Instead of using that energy to create genuine regional, and all party negotiations that would have led towards ceasefires and
eventual political solutions. [caption id="attachment_6394" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Peace through war has
had a nice 100-year try.
Poe
+)
Should we give peace
through peace a chance?
Peace through peacemaking
not through war. From Win Without War website[/caption] Phyllis Bennis said something similar in her excellent article:
"Instead of a coalition of the Killing, President Obama should have announced a new broad coalition with a
political and diplomatic, not military, mandate. It should aim to use diplomatic power and financial pressures,
not military strikes to undermine ISIS power. Such a coalition would be far broader and far less fragile than a
military alliance.[...]
During the past few days President Obama has agreed to come to Congress for authorization of the bombing of Syria and
Iraq. He has also asked for almost $60 billion more for his war actions. As will become clear in the remainder of this article
-- we want Congress to debate these requests and reject them. Here are a few aspects of our doomed policy that haven't
been well explored in the mainstream media during the early panic created around ISIS. First we need to clarify just whom
we are bombing. What is the end goal? How long can these actions last? We need a call for a ceasefire. Any authorization
needs to be time limited. If it happens at all. Now that 37 days have passed we need to examine whether ISIS presents an
external threat to countries outside of Iraq and Syria. We also need to look at the creation of a so-called new external threat
called the Khorasan group, which suddenly provided an excuse for the bombing of Syria. Then just disappeared from view.
Then there are the human costs that are adding greatly to the already suffering people of Syria and Iraq. The Iraqi army has
been causing civilian casualties during their bombings within Iraq. The Yazidi women and children held by ISIS have not
been freed and are still suffering. We have been at war in Iraq for several decades and have not created safety or stability. In
fact more civilians are being killed and more infrastructure is being destroyed. In Syria we are creating difficulties for
progressive forces and aiding the Syrian dictator, Bashar al Assad through our air strikes, while uniting groups such as ISIS
and the al Nusra front who now see us as acommon enemy. The incredible suffering of the Syrian people is only being
increased while winter is approaching and food shortages are leading to another crisis for internally and externally displaced
civilians. Out of a population of about 23 million Syrians more than 12 million within and outside Syria were suffering
extreme food insecurity and malnutrition. Now the UNHCR and World Food Program are falling extremely short of the
funding needed to feed them. While the bombing near the border with Turkey is leading to increased malnutrition,
displacement and civilian deaths. 2/3 of the Syrian refugee population are women and children. [caption
id="attachment_6390" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
NEWS ITEM: PRESIDENT CONSIDERING BOMBING SYRIA
Bombing Syria, which side
are we on?[/caption] To add to this blind and instinctive military violence; the US administration says that the 2013 reforms
that were supposed to strengthen standards to reduce civilian deaths won't apply to the expanding war against ISIS. These
were the ideas we shared more than a month ago for alternatives to military actions against Iraq and Syria:
Arms embargo with Sunni "allies" and a complete arms embargo in Syria and Iraq.
Moratorium on bombing in Syria and Iraq until a debate and discussion is held and goals are clearly defined.
Humanitarian aid instead of missiles and bombs.
Negotiated ceasefire in Syria [Now the UN envoy is recommending “freeze zones" to halt fighting and allow
humanitarian aid. Starting with the area around Aleppo. |
¢ Negotiated truce between Iran and Saudi Arabia (since they are fueling the proxy war.)
e Rein in Presidential War Powers by repealing the 2001 AUMF
e Reject any new war authorizations.
This article lays out the requests that we made on October 6th. There have been some changes on the ground, in the world,
and in the region since then. I'll continue to update those and revise ideas for just what is needed instead of bombing in
another article next week. So please watch this space! [caption id="attachment_6395" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Syrian sign with Martin
Luther King, Jr. quote in 2011.. More true than ever today[/caption]
