Note from Dan: The following was sent to me last week by Brent Riley, a member of the Plowshare Peace and Justice Center in Roanoke. They demonstrated outside the Taubman Museum of Art this past Saturday, and these photos are from that.
Currently, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is lobbying Congress hard to co-sponsor their bill to contaminate Obama's negotiating with Iran toward resolving the nuclear weapon problem. Additionally, the bill would obligate the US to back up Israel in the event Israel determined it needed to initiate war on Iran in self defense .... with a pre-emptive attack.
The President has said he would veto the bill because it would compromise the integrity of the negotiations already behind him. AIPAC is trying to work up the list of Senate co-sponsors to a veto-proof number before putting the bill to a vote. This is an epic battle for control of Middle East policy and the stakes are very high. It could make a difference in a regional Middle East war or not.
A big problem for Virginians is Sen. Mark Warner was an early co-signer. He betrayed Obama's appeal not to meddle at this point and he jumped on board with Netanyahu's lobby ... a big problem for those who expect diplomacy before war.
Saturday is the last day for Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Event at the Taubman.
Please consider making it down to the Taubman at noon, Saturday to show you want respectful diplomacy with Iran, not threats of additional sanctions. We'll make sure Sen. Warner knows some think he's allowing himself to be a fundamental part of our war problem.
Please tell Warner that you would like him to withdraw his co-sponsorship for the Menendez-Kirk bill, which increases sanctions against Iran. Tell him to support President Obama's negotiations to settle the nuclear proliferation issue without further violence in the Middle East.
Contact Sen. Warner at his Roanoke office: 540-857-2676
Contact him via email.
