Salute And Build The Resistance: No War Against Iran!
The pro war Democrats are leading the charge for war against Iran, a charge unanimously supported by the Senate. By a vote of 97-0, the Senate passed an amendment targeting Iran. This occurred right as negotiations between the United Nations and Iran on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program were making progress. The U.S. already has about half of its warships with their bombers in the area, threatening use of “tactical nuclear weapons,” in planned airstrikes against Iran.
The amendment itself and statements by senators supporting it are now calling on the military to provide “consequences” and “counter efforts,” against Iran. Senator Lieberman, who sponsored the amendment, left no doubt that this means military action: “We cannot just talk to them. If they do not play by the rules, we have got to use our force. And to me that would include taking military action.”
This U.S. aggression is being planned, promoted and now likely put into law — all crimes against the peace — even though Iran has carried out no aggression and poses no threat to the U.S. What Iran has done is refused to submit to U.S. dictate, defended its sovereignty and stood in support of resistance to U.S. imperialism and its aggression and occupations in the region. This is its right and is a contribution toward peace. It is Iran’s defense of her sovereignty and the resistance in Iraq and elsewhere that is serving to block U.S. aggression.
The Senate vote again confirms, like all the other votes of the Democratic majority on the issue of war since the 2006 election, that the Democrats are pro war, pro aggression, pro interference in the affairs of other countries, pro U.S. imperialism. What the American people want and need is an anti-war government, which means the Democrats have got to go.
The main language utilized in the amendment, that “the murder of members of the United States Armed Forces by a foreign government or its agents is an intolerable and unacceptable act of hostility against the United States by the foreign government in question,” can be used not only against Iran but any other country. And it can be used in an arbitrary manner, with the U.S. deciding which organizations are “agents of a foreign government” and acting with impunity against them.
The resurrection of the Cold War McCarthyite language of “agents of a foreign government,” shows that the U.S. cannot go forward to solve problems, only backward. And that far from reasoned argument and justification it can only use disinformation, with all its hearsay, “might be,” “may intend,” guilt by association, and outright revenge to try divert and stop resistance.
The whole notion of “agents of a foreign government” was used in the McCarthy period to target resistance, just as this amendment tries to do. It targets Hizbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, the Iraqi resistance and the anti-imperialist stand of Iran. Senator Lieberman in his comments showed the U.S. is also out for revenge against the 1979 revolution in Iran, which threw out the U.S. installed and backed puppet, the Shah of Iran.
While the amendment is designed to try and incite support among the American people for this brutal revenge against the Iranian people, repeating over and over that soldiers are being killed, this effort too will fail. Americans are taking their stand against war and for the peoples. They are rejecting the pro-war Democrats and pro war government and organizing to bring forward new arrangements.
The movements for change in the U.S. remember well that it was workers, trade union activists, communists and all those standing for progress inside the U.S. that were the target of the McCarthyite attacks. The necessity for change and revolution in the U.S. was also targeted, painted as something foreign. This tired tune simply will not play again today.
The consciousness among the American people is affirming that Another World is Possible and Another U.S. is Necessary and that the U.S. movement for change has its origins here, in the conditions in the U.S. and in the necessity to change them. Taking responsibility for winning this change, and remaining staunchly on the side of the world’s peoples together against U.S. imperialism is how the movement is advancing.
No War Against Iran!
Salute and Build the Resistance!
JULY 20 & 21
Rise to Freedom Conference
The third annual Rise to Freedom conference is taking place at True Bethel Baptist Church from July 20-21. The conference this year is organized around the theme “The Role of the Church in the African American Rise to Freedom.” It brings together a number of the organizations active in the fight for rights in Buffalo, including True Bethel, the Community Action Organization (CAO) the Buffalo Local Action Committee (BLAC), Millions More Movement, 100 Mighty Men, and others. These organizations have participated in struggles against racism and police brutality, for housing and healthcare rights, and more. True Bethel exemplifies the spirit of the African American church, as it does not hesitate to take its stand with the people, whether it is to oppose police brutality or oppose unjust war. The same can be said of Buffalo’s Nation of Islam chapter, which is also participating.
The conference includes numerous speakers and workshop on several topics, including the Role of the Church in the Post Civil Rights Era; Physical Health and Community health: The Vital Connection; and Rebuilding Our Nation. Workshops will take up a variety of issues with speakers from Buffalo playing the main role. These include Reverend Darius Pridgen from True Bethel, Minister Abdul Halim Muhammad, of the Muhammad Mosque #23 and BLAC and Dr. Henry Taylor of UB. Art and culture will also be addressed and there will be a Gospelfest on Friday evening, including performances by the Legendary Varsons, Henri Muhammad’s School of Music and Moe Badger.
The keynote speaker for Saturday evening will be Ismael Muhammad of the Nation of Islam. His topic is titled, “Connecting the Dots: Where do We Go From Here?” He will be speaking as part of a dinner, with tickets $25 per person.
Registration for the conference begins at 9am both Friday and Saturday with workshops beginning at 10:30am on Friday and 9:45am on Saturday. Registration is $15 for one day or $25 for both days.
The amendment itself and statements by senators supporting it are now calling on the military to provide “consequences” and “counter efforts,” against Iran. Senator Lieberman, who sponsored the amendment, left no doubt that this means military action: “We cannot just talk to them. If they do not play by the rules, we have got to use our force. And to me that would include taking military action.”
This U.S. aggression is being planned, promoted and now likely put into law — all crimes against the peace — even though Iran has carried out no aggression and poses no threat to the U.S. What Iran has done is refused to submit to U.S. dictate, defended its sovereignty and stood in support of resistance to U.S. imperialism and its aggression and occupations in the region. This is its right and is a contribution toward peace. It is Iran’s defense of her sovereignty and the resistance in Iraq and elsewhere that is serving to block U.S. aggression.
The Senate vote again confirms, like all the other votes of the Democratic majority on the issue of war since the 2006 election, that the Democrats are pro war, pro aggression, pro interference in the affairs of other countries, pro U.S. imperialism. What the American people want and need is an anti-war government, which means the Democrats have got to go.
The main language utilized in the amendment, that “the murder of members of the United States Armed Forces by a foreign government or its agents is an intolerable and unacceptable act of hostility against the United States by the foreign government in question,” can be used not only against Iran but any other country. And it can be used in an arbitrary manner, with the U.S. deciding which organizations are “agents of a foreign government” and acting with impunity against them.
The resurrection of the Cold War McCarthyite language of “agents of a foreign government,” shows that the U.S. cannot go forward to solve problems, only backward. And that far from reasoned argument and justification it can only use disinformation, with all its hearsay, “might be,” “may intend,” guilt by association, and outright revenge to try divert and stop resistance.
The whole notion of “agents of a foreign government” was used in the McCarthy period to target resistance, just as this amendment tries to do. It targets Hizbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, the Iraqi resistance and the anti-imperialist stand of Iran. Senator Lieberman in his comments showed the U.S. is also out for revenge against the 1979 revolution in Iran, which threw out the U.S. installed and backed puppet, the Shah of Iran.
While the amendment is designed to try and incite support among the American people for this brutal revenge against the Iranian people, repeating over and over that soldiers are being killed, this effort too will fail. Americans are taking their stand against war and for the peoples. They are rejecting the pro-war Democrats and pro war government and organizing to bring forward new arrangements.
The movements for change in the U.S. remember well that it was workers, trade union activists, communists and all those standing for progress inside the U.S. that were the target of the McCarthyite attacks. The necessity for change and revolution in the U.S. was also targeted, painted as something foreign. This tired tune simply will not play again today.
The consciousness among the American people is affirming that Another World is Possible and Another U.S. is Necessary and that the U.S. movement for change has its origins here, in the conditions in the U.S. and in the necessity to change them. Taking responsibility for winning this change, and remaining staunchly on the side of the world’s peoples together against U.S. imperialism is how the movement is advancing.
No War Against Iran!
Salute and Build the Resistance!
JULY 20 & 21
Rise to Freedom Conference
The third annual Rise to Freedom conference is taking place at True Bethel Baptist Church from July 20-21. The conference this year is organized around the theme “The Role of the Church in the African American Rise to Freedom.” It brings together a number of the organizations active in the fight for rights in Buffalo, including True Bethel, the Community Action Organization (CAO) the Buffalo Local Action Committee (BLAC), Millions More Movement, 100 Mighty Men, and others. These organizations have participated in struggles against racism and police brutality, for housing and healthcare rights, and more. True Bethel exemplifies the spirit of the African American church, as it does not hesitate to take its stand with the people, whether it is to oppose police brutality or oppose unjust war. The same can be said of Buffalo’s Nation of Islam chapter, which is also participating.
The conference includes numerous speakers and workshop on several topics, including the Role of the Church in the Post Civil Rights Era; Physical Health and Community health: The Vital Connection; and Rebuilding Our Nation. Workshops will take up a variety of issues with speakers from Buffalo playing the main role. These include Reverend Darius Pridgen from True Bethel, Minister Abdul Halim Muhammad, of the Muhammad Mosque #23 and BLAC and Dr. Henry Taylor of UB. Art and culture will also be addressed and there will be a Gospelfest on Friday evening, including performances by the Legendary Varsons, Henri Muhammad’s School of Music and Moe Badger.
The keynote speaker for Saturday evening will be Ismael Muhammad of the Nation of Islam. His topic is titled, “Connecting the Dots: Where do We Go From Here?” He will be speaking as part of a dinner, with tickets $25 per person.
Registration for the conference begins at 9am both Friday and Saturday with workshops beginning at 10:30am on Friday and 9:45am on Saturday. Registration is $15 for one day or $25 for both days.
