Last night, the U.S. began bombing Iraq once
again.
Don't believe the "humanitarian"
lies used to justify it. They are no more true coming from the Obama
administration than the humanitarian lies used by previous administrations to
justify U.S. military attacks.
This
bombing is about reasserting U.S. power in the region, against local powers,
and against its world power rivals, China and Russia.
In
the cynical chess game of foreign relations so aptly revealed by Chelsea
Manning and others, the bombing is real
politic aimed at reestablishing "American relevance" – their term
for U.S. domination – in a region where U.S. power is widely seen as waning.
The
previous U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq took more than 1,000,000 Iraqi
lives and displaced millions more. U.S. policy fueled the sectarian strife that
ISIS and the Maliki government thrive on. Adding more U.S. weaponry to the mix
brings yet more death and destruction, further embittering the peoples of the
region towards the West.
In
justifying the bombing, Obama tonight said that the U.S. can’t “turn a blind
eye to genocide.” In the light of his steadfast support for the month-long
Israeli slaughter of Gaza – resupplying munitions to the Israeli Defense Force
mid-battle – his statement perhaps surpasses even the most hypocritical
statements of George W. Bush.
Once again we must reject a president's war
lies. Once again we must build a movement for peace. Once again, politics is
too dangerous a game to be left to the politicians.
Please participate in the emergency response
demonstration, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM today
(Friday), at Federal Plaza, corner of Dearborn
& Adams Streets, Chicago.
Please share this message widely.
Cosponsored
by the 8th Day Center for Justice, ANSWER-Chicago, Anti-War Committee -
Chicago, Chicago Light Brigade, Food Not Bombs Pilsen, Gay Liberation Network,
NW Indiana Vets for Peace, and World Can't Wait Chicago