KC Iraq Task Force Update - March 4, 2010
Ira Harritt
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Dear Peacemakers,
With two wars being waged and efforts to delay withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning, it can be challenging to be hopeful. But the challenge of creating a culture of peace, increasing the justice, love and compassion in the world can also be powerful dreams to work and hope for.
We invite you to join in the work role up your emotional, mental and physical sleeves and pitch in the work of moving toward this hopeful future.
In this alert we invite get involved in work for justice and peace: See six things you can do for peace; mark your calendar and bring yourself and others to the March 20 Remembering Seven Years of War in Iraq: Peace Vigil Rally, Theater and More, and help plan activities to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
With the passing of the grim 1,000th death milestone we begin our 1,000+ Postcards for Peace Campaign. We invite you help turn this tragic event into an impetus for a change in U.S. policy! See how you can be involved in the campaign below.
We are busy planning activities for the 7th anniversary of the Iraq war to be remembered on Saturday, March 20. See action alert to maintain the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Please do not forget don’t become numbed by the violence!
Thanks for your work for a just and peaceful world!
Peace and Blessings,
Ira Harritt
KC American Friends Service Committee
P.S. We are seeking a copy of the documentary “No War On Sundays” and would like to be in touch with the film maker J. Stapleton. If you can loan us a copy or let us know how to get in touch with Jeff please contact me!
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Here Are 6 Things You Can Do For A More Just And Peaceful World
ÿ Volunteer to be in “Through Their Mother's Eyes” or and “The Human Cost of War” readers theater project- The performances are based upon comment made in listening sessions with Iraqi mothers, family members of Iraq war veterans and U.S. soldiers
ÿ Host or organize a showing of ReThink Afghanistan documentary-.Rethink Afghanistan is a ground-breaking, full-length documentary which raises critical questions about Afghanistan which inform the public and challenge policymakers
ÿ Help plan the 2010 Festival for Justice and Peace -The Festival theme will be “Stories of Justice and Peace.” We are seeking collaborations with arts organizations and want to showcase artistic expressions and visions of peace and justice. Our next Festival planning meeting will take on Monday, February 22 at 6:30pm at the AFSC office
ÿ Organize a presentation on the Iraqi Refugee Crisis and What Can be Done to Help for your school or group– a 30 minute to one hour presentation can be scheduled for school, faith and community groups.
ÿ Bring the AFSC some old shoes to use in the new Afghanistan Eyes Wide Open exhibit to use in the new Afghanistan Eyes Wide Open exhibit
ÿ Volunteer to collect signatures after the Vigil to mark the Death of the 1,000th service person in Afghanistan.
We welcome your help! Contact us at 816 931-5256 or ihar...@afsc.org
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Sadly we have surpassed 1,000 U.S. fatalities in the Afghanistan War and Operation Enduring Freedom.
With your support we can turn this
tragic milestone into an impetus for a change in U.S. policy!
Help Send a Message to Congress
1,000+ Postcards For Peace Campaign
We are now beginning a campaign to send 1,000+ postcards to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi each with the name of one of the U.S. service persons killed in Operation Enduring Freedom.
· Help us collect signed postcards.
· Contact us and let us know how many cards you want to borrow.
· All Cards need to be returned to AFSC by March 20th.
Contact us at 816 931-5256 or ihar...@afsc.org.
Monday, March 22,
We invited to
KC Iraq Task Force meeting – 6:30pm
Community Festival for Justice and Peace Planning meeting – 7:30pm
Fourth Monday of each month, 6:30pm
at American Friends Service Committee office,
4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO.
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Upcoming Peace and Justice Activities
Click on link or scroll down for more information about the peace and justice activity
March 7 and 13, Sunday and Saturday, Celebrate Sr. Mary McNellis’ 100th Birthday! After the 10 a.m. Mass Sunday at St. James Church at 39th and Troost, party with Sr. Mary at St. James Place, 3936 Troost. On Saturday, March 13, celebrate her at Argentine Family Health, 3200 Strong, KC, Kan., from 2 to 5 p.m. For info, call Sr. Barbara Doak, 816-221-7417. No gifts, please; donations are encouraged to the Sisters of Loretto.
March 20, Saturday, Remembering Seven Years of War in Iraq: Peace Vigil Rally, Theater and More, 3:00-4:15 J.C. Nichols Fountain, 47 & Main, KCMO and 4:15-5:15pm Unity Temple, 707 W. 47 St., KCMO
March 21, Mondays, 6 p.m., Plan National Gatherings vs. KC Plant, which makes non-nuclear parts for nuclear weapons. Join this potluck group on March 1 in the café next to Cherith Brook, 3308 E. 12th St., KC, Mo., across from Victory Temple, just east of Benton. On March 22, join the potluck at KKFI, 900 Westport Rd. (at 39th St.), KC, Mo. For info, call Jane Stoever at 913-206-4088 and see www.kcnukeswatch.wordpress.com.
March 22, Monday, 6:30pm, KC Iraq Task Force Monthly Meeting, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO we will review recent activities and plan upcoming campaigns re. ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Join us in this important work!
March 22, Monday, 7:30pm, Planning Meeting for Festival for Justice and Peace, date and location to be determined. The proposed theme this year is “Stories of Justice and Peace.” At the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO. Call 816 931-5256 for more information.
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EVERY Sunday: Iraq Peace Vigil, 4pm, JC Nichols Fountain, 47th & Main, Streets, Kansas City, MO http://www.kciraqtaskforce.org/
EVERY Tuesday, JOIN THIS Peace Demonstration Every Tuesday between 5PM - 6 PM in the median strip on the south corner of the intersection at 63rd & Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. For more information email '63rd Street Patriots' at schwar...@sbcglobal.net
Afraid that President Obama has been taken over
by the military industrial complex?
Hold a house party to show the documentary film
to help educate your family and friends!
Simply invite ten, fifteen or more people to a viewing party in your home or for your school or religious group. We will provide a DVD, informational handouts and a volunteer to help facilitate discussion if desired.
Contact us to find out how to organize a Rethink Afghanistan House Party or to get more information!
Contact American Friends Service Committee
at ihar...@afsc.org or 816 931-5256.
RETHINK Afghanistan is a ground-breaking, full-length documentary focusing on the key issues surrounding this war. The film raises critical questions regarding Afghanistan which inform the public and challenge policymakers.
The film is broken into six segments (Afghanistan Catastrophe, Pakistan, Cost of War, Women of Afghanistan, Civilian Casualties and Security / Solutions) which can be shown in parts so that the length of the showing can vary in length.
To preview the film go to http://rethinkafghanistan.com/videos.php
News and Alerts
Urgent Action Needed
Don’t Postpone Withdrawal Of Troops From Iraq
Last week the Generals in Iraq announced the need for contingency plans to extend the presence of U.S. forces if violence worsens. We object, and have outlined a letter you can send to President Obama. It is important, and it does matter. Time for Grassroots Oversight on Iraq Today’s New York Times again raises the issue in the article ‘U.S. Fears Election Strife in Iraq Could Affect Pullout.’
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Dear Peacemakers,
Last week the Pentagon revealed contingency plans to delay the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq if conditions on the ground worsen.
When President Obama affirmed the bi-lateral agreement with Iraq to remove all U.S. forces from the country we felt the timeline was too long, but applauded the commitment to end the war. We believe it is critical to long-term stability and peace in the country. Let’s make sure Mr. Obama knows we are paying attention and that we support complete withdrawal from Iraq.
The first benchmark of the agreement, to remove all US forces from Iraqi cities, was implemented last June. In order to honor the final language of the agreement – the removal of all U.S. forces by the end of 2011 - the President also pledged to remove all combat forces by August 31, 2010. This important milestone is only six months away.
The time is now for grassroots oversight on Iraq.
It is up to us to let President Obama know that we are watching and we expect him to make good on his commitments.
Next week elections will create a new government in Iraq. Elections in countries emerging from war and occupation often heighten divisions. Extending the presence of the US military in Iraq will not address these divisions or heal the wounds of war. Only Iraqis can do that.
Help us keep the spotlight on Iraq in March, as the Iraqis hold elections and we mark the 7th anniversary of the war:
- By emailing President Obama in support of his commitment to withdraw combat forces from Iraq by August 31, 2010
- By joining or hosting local vigils marking the 7th anniversary of the war and occupation in Iraq
- By joining AFSC for an open conference call on March 10th, featuring AFSC Iraq consultant Raed Jarrar, who has just returned from Iraq
Wage Peace,
Peter Lems and Mary Zerkel
American Friends Service Committee
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Forward this
message to your friends.
Help support AFSC's worldwide work for peace, justice and human dignity. Make a
donation today.
American Friends Service
Committee
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
http://www.afsc.org/
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Organizational Sign On letter to be sent to President Obama
If you represent an organization and can sign on by the end of the day on Friday, March 5 send an email with the organization’s name and your contact info to PL...@afsc.org
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Dear President Obama,
We are deeply concerned by recent indications that the Pentagon is developing contingency plans to delay the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq if conditions on the ground worsen. Our organizations strongly support your Administration’s clear commitment to withdraw all combat forces from Iraq by the end of August 2010, and to comply with the bilateral security agreement requiring all U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq by December 31 2011. Reneging on these commitments by returning to a conditions-based withdrawal plan would undermine conditions in Iraq, break this Administration’s promises to the American people, and violate our binding agreement with a sovereign nation.
News of General Odierno’s suggestion that the U.S. should keep troops in Iraq beyond the agreed timeline made front page news in Iraq and sparked alarm across the political spectrum there. Any attempt to link withdrawal to conditions on the ground would not only violate Iraqi sovereignty, it would provide disastrous incentive for further violence: any group fearing a loss of power in the wake of U.S. withdrawal need only seed further violent conflict to ensure perpetual occupation. This is not acceptable to either the American or Iraqi people.
It is likely there will be increased violence in Iraq as the U.S. withdraws – whether we leave next month, next year, or two decades from now this transition will not be easy. The US military and political impact on the Iraqi government has delayed the development of a political system accountable to all Iraqis. We must be clear that violent attempts to disrupt this transition and reignite conflict will not be grounds for the U.S. to break its commitment to withdraw from Iraq. Fulfillment of our withdrawal commitment on the agreed timeline is essential to make way for restored Iraqi sovereignty, meaningful political reconciliation, and future peace.
We have appreciated your Administration’s consistent confirmation of its unwavering commitment to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by August 31, 2010 and withdraw all non-combat troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011. We ask you to restore clarity in the wake of recent mixed messages by re-confirming your Administration’s absolute commitment to a time-based withdrawal in accordance with your existing plan and the bilateral security agreement, not linked to conditions on the ground.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen McNish
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee
ETC…
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How Kucinich's Resolution to End the War Will Help Us End the War
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/50486
By David Swanson
Tomorrow, Thursday, March 24th, Congressman Dennis Kucinich plans to introduce a privileged resolution to end the Afghan War. The resolution requires that the House debate, within the next week, the continuing war in Afghanistan, now the second longest war in American history.
While we may not win a majority vote in the House on this first go-round, and would still have to get past the Senate and the President (a good time if ever there was one to throw Scylla and Charybdis into a blog), we will completely change the conversation and put many congress members on record claiming to oppose the war. While the president can send congressional Democrats out to fall on their swords for unpopular wars and healthcare mandates, they may be less willing to do so if the end of their careers is held up to their noses. To keep their careers alive, congress members in progressive districts will have to claim to oppose the war in/on Afghanistan.
Once they've done that, however, it will be much harder for them to turn around next month and vote for another $33 billion to escalate the same war they just pretended to oppose. It's already harder for them than it was last June when we came within 8 votes in the House of stopping the war money. They can't lie that they're voting for a war supplemental "because it's the last one" because nobody can be found who will believe that again (yes, I checked, and even Sarah Palin calls BS on it). They can't lie that they just want to support their new president, because he's not new anymore, he's not up for reelection like they are, and voters are demanding that their representatives choose jobs and healthcare and green energy instead of war.
Last June, all the Republicans in the House voted No because of unrelated measures included in the bill. That may happen again this time. But whether it does or not, and whether we block the money this time or not, we are building a movement that will eventually do so, and next week's debate on the floor of the House will be a huge step forward. If you can get to Washington, D.C., I recommend being there. If you can't, get C-Span and record what your misrepresentative pontificates. You're going to need that tape next month. Specifically, you're going to want to bring it to your local Brown Bag Vigil on March 17th.
On Tuesday night, March 2nd, Rep. Kucinich recorded a special message for Progressive Democrats of America. Click here to listen to it and to an hour-long phone call with activists from around the country organizing efforts to defund the war. You can find and contribute to a whip list of congress members' positions on Kucinich's resolution and on voting for the next $33 billion at http://defundwar.org.
Please also, right now, contact your member of Congress and ask them to be an original co-sponsor of the Kucinich resolution. Then use the link to ask your friends to do the same.
Here's the text of the resolution, which will not have a number on it until Thursday:
(Original Signature of Member)
111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. ___
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. KUCINICH submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on _________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM AFGHANISTAN.
Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan—
(1) by no later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning on the day on which this concurrent resolution is adopted; or
(2) if the President determines that it is not safe to remove the United States Armed Forces before the end of that period, by no later than December 31, 2010, or such earlier date as the President determines that the Armed Forces can safely be removed.
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Environmentalist Pants on Fire
Curtis White on why the environmental movement needs to stop lying to itself
In your previous work, you’ve
played the Socratic gadfly, uncovering sinister things even the “educated”
among us fail to see. How does The Barbaric Heart continue
that attack?
The question the book asks is, “Given that we are
destroying the world, but why?” The usual implicit answers are, I think,
lame and not thought through: We’re greedy sinners; we’re naturally
destructive; it’s the work of evildoer CEOs.
My answer is that it’s not our sins but our virtues that are the cause—the virtues of the warrior ethic: If you can profit from the skillful use of violence, then you should go ahead and be violent. This “barbaric heart” is as old as humanity. It is obviously the ethic of capitalism, but it also penetrates into culture through our respect for athletes, the military, business wealth, and every action movie where the hero uses überskillful violence to “fight his way through” the enemy in the name of preserving the good.
The major environmental organizations are formed in the image of their purported foe. Environmentalism consorts with the enemy when it makes science and quantitative reasoning its primary voice, and when it agrees—as it does in the utterly failed Kyoto protocols—that economic growth is a desideratum of the future and that any negative environmental consequences will be handled by wiser bureaucracies, laws, and technological fixes.
More > http://www.utne.com/Environment/Environmentalist-Pants-on-Fire.aspx
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Ira Harritt
KC Program Coordinator
American Friends Service Committee