October 27 2007 reports

By Dave Lindorff

So New York Times columnist Tom Friedman and former Times executive editor Bill Keller are both saying that the massive NSA spying program on all Americans’ communications is a needed thing because if they don’t do it, then maybe there could be another major terrorist strike on the US, and democracy would be erased in the US.

U.S. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE VIEWS IRAN'S NAVAL FORCES
By Steven Aftergood | Secrecy News

A new report (pdf) from the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence describes Iran's naval order of battle, as well as the Iranian Navy's history, strategic options, and favored tactics.

"Today, Iran's naval forces protect Iranian waters and natural resources, especially Iran's petroleum-related assets and industries. Iranian maritime security operations guard against the smuggling of illegal goods (especially drugs) and immigrants, and protect against the poaching and stealing of fish in territorial waters."

"Additionally, Iran uses its naval forces for political ends such as naval diplomacy and strategic messaging. Most of all, Iranian naval forces are equipped to defend against perceived external threats. Public statements by Iranian leaders indicate that they would consider closing or controlling the Strait of Hormuz if provoked, thereby cutting off almost 30 percent of the world's oil supply."

The unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment was published on the Office of Naval Intelligence website, but last week it was abruptly withdrawn, along with another ONI report on China's navy. A copy of the report was obtained by Secrecy News. See "Iran's Naval Forces: From Guerilla (sic) Warfare to a Modern Naval Strategy," Fall 2009.

"Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union," by David Swanson is due in stores September 1st, but the publisher has it now and you can get it straight from Seven Stories Press.

Bush overstates threat posed by a nuclear Iran
By Ward Wilson | ChicagoTribune.com

Strength is often judged by how you carry yourself. Are you cocky and shouting? Or measured and calm? The Bush administration is acting more cocky than calm, not like the leaders of a superpower but like unsure freshmen.

President George W. Bush (and others) argue that Iran is evil (because its leaders support terrorists) and that if Iran gets nuclear weapons, it might use them (because they are fanatics, and Islam invites martyrdom). According to the Bush administration, we have to do everything in our power—not excluding a military attack—to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

Report by DNTC member L.D., of Kinsport, Democracy Now Tri-Cities

IT IS PERHAPS NOT SURPRISING to see that our region's media failed once again to give an accurate account of Saturday's large peace rally in Jonesborough, TN. The event's organizers, United for Peace and Justice and First Tennessee Progressives, used a clever system of small stickers to get an accurate headcount of the event. As soon as protestors entered the Mill Spring Park gate (after being frisked by police), they were given small stickers to wear. By 2:30 p.m., half an hour before the start of the march through the city, well over 400 of these stickers had been handed out.

End the War in Iraq! No Military Action Against Iran!
By Stephanie Westbrook, U.S. Citizens for Peace and Justice

As the October 27 mass demonstrations calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq and opposing military action against Iran were getting underway in 11 cities across the U.S, a solidarity protest was unfolding on the tourist-filled Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy.

By Jerry Lanson, Christian Science Monitor

Newspapers have a duty to inform citizens about such democratic events.

Boston - Coordinated antiwar protests in at least 11 American cities this weekend raised anew an interesting question about the nature of news coverage: Are the media ignoring rallies against the Iraq war because of their low turnout or is the turnout dampened by the lack of news coverage?

After six years of America's mainstream media bowing to its corporate mandate to ignore all opposition to George W. Bush, a media miracle has happened. Thanks to the great camera work of AP photographer, Charles Dharapak, the American anti-war movement has been revealed to the world. In one flash of a magical millisecond, photographer Dharapak captured CODEPINK peacemaker Desiree Fairooz confronting George Bush warmaker Condoleeza Rice. It was the shot SEEN 'round the world:

A huge thank you to photographer Charles Dharapak and to the Associated Press for letting the truth be told - for passing the message to the world that within the boundaries of imperial America thrives a valiant peace movement that opposes George W. Bush, and works hard to overthrow him.

Every American who opposes the immoral wars on Afghanistan and Iraq, and fears an encore on Iran, owes a heart-felt thanks to Desiree Fairooz for placing herself in the cross hairs for peace. The responses to Fairooz' patriotism, and to the brazen women of CODEPINK, have been astounding. Across the nation, on blogs, on television, and on radio, there has been a steady stream of support. Fairooz has shown that the opposition to Bush from inside America equals the opposition of the outside world.

From People's Voice

[Orlando, Fl. October 27, 2007] As a veteran of justice and peace marches, my estimate is that 3,000 concerned justice and peace patriotic Americans and 50 counter demonstrators took it to the streets of Orlando on a humid overcast Saturday. A comrade from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and a member of the Steering Committee of United for Peace and Justice, Omar Masri, American Lebanese, kicked off the happening and roused the crowd, "I f-----g believe in peace! 70% of Americans say NO more occupation of Iraq, bring back the troops! Power to the people and we will not be silent! End the occupation now!"

By David Swanson

Of the eleven major peace rallies organized around the country by United for Peace and Justice last Saturday the smallest and most unusual took place in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Jonesborough is a town of about 4,000 people in the northeast corner of Tennessee, within a couple of dozen miles of both Virginia and North Carolina. The people of Jonesborough can imagine the number of U.S. troops who have died in Iraq by imagining their entire local population dead.

Salt Lake City, Utah --

Today, as we come together once again in this great city, we raise our voices in unison to say to President Bush, to Vice President Cheney, to other members of the Bush Administration (past and present), to a majority of Congress, including Utah’s entire congressional delegation, and to much of the mainstream media: “You have failed us miserably and we won’t take it any more.”

www.impeachbush.org

The October 27 demonstrations represented another important step forward for the impeachment and anti-war movement in the United States.

Over 100,000 people took to the streets in coordinated regional and local protests to demand an immediate end to the war in Iraq. The October 27 demonstrations took place just six weeks after the September 15 National March and Die-In in Washington, D.C. that was led by Iraq War Veterans and family members of soldiers and marines.

Weather not a barrier to dozens of protesters
By BOB GROVES and ELIZABETH LLORENTE, New Jersey Record

Wind and rain did not stop a small group of North Jersey peace marchers from parading across the George Washington Bridge on Saturday to protest the Iraq war.

"What do we want?" Paula Rogovin and Mauro Camporeale shouted into the thick mist, high above the Hudson River.

Raging against war
Protesters gathered in Orlando on Saturday to march and speak against the Iraq war and the Bush administration.
Susan Jacobson, OrlandoSentinel.com

Two thousand anti-war protesters brought their message to Lake Eola Park on Saturday with speeches, signs and fervor redolent of rallies of the Vietnam era.

War Protest
By Madelyn Jarrett, KULR

watch video

BILLINGS - Two different organizations got together Saturday to illicit honks and shouts in support and opposition on Grand Avenue Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They were calling for the immediate end to the war in Iraq.

The people we talked to feel very strongly that the country is heading in a bad direction due to our current foreign policy and occupation of Iraq. They want to raise awareness in the community and prompt people to voice their concern about the war.

By James Circello

Speech delivered to the men, women and children of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region by James Circello on October 27, 2007 in Washington Square Park.

I am standing here today on behalf of the men, women and children of the Middle
East, who have fallen victim to this Administration and it's complete lack of
compassion and total disregard for both U.S. and International laws of war.

My thoughts on Oct 27th Anti-War Demonstration
By Michael Gellman, Green Party of Camden County
ccgreenparty@hotmail.com www.myspace.com/ccgreenparty

I am very disappointed in the way I was treated yesterday at the demonstration in Camden, and I think it is important to point out what happened in an effort to prevent this from happening in future anti-war demonstrations.

I was standing inside the Walt Whitman Performing Arts Center in Camden holding a Green Party flag. The flag is about 24 inches long and 12 inches tall. On one side says “Green Party” and the other side says “Vote for Peace.” This message is consistent with anti-war theme of the demonstration. As I was simply standing there, a member of Citizen Action approached me and asked me to put the flag away due to the non-partisan nature of the event. After I responded that holding and displaying the flag was my right of free expression, the individual persisted in asking me to put the flag away again, highlighting the “non-partisan nature” of the event.

www.worldcantwait.net

World Can’t Wait- Drive Out the Bush Regime reports police once again used excessive force when they arrested one minor and two college students who were en route to a large anti-war rally. As stated in the World Can’t Wait’s Call, “If we speak the truth they will try to silence us. If we act they will try to stop us.” This statement is especially relevant in this incident.

October 27 Mobilization Chicago
By Nick Egnatz, Munster, IN

A group of about 30 peace activists boarded the South Shore 'peace
train' in East Chicago, Indiana bound for the October 27 Mobilization
in Chicago. Hailing from Munster, Highland, Merrillville,
Schererville, Hammond and representing NW Indiana VFP, Code Pink,
Purdue Campus Greens and the NWICAIW we joined a jovial crowded train

By Clifton Hicks

Remarks at Orlando anti-war Rally / October 27, 2007

I volunteered to fight in Iraq when I was seventeen years old and three of my best friends died there. The first was burned to death when his tank was hit by a rocket, the second was shot by a sniper, and the third was blown to pieces by an I.E.D. Four years later I stand before you in the name of peace and liberty and I stand with you against the illegal, immoral and unnecessary occupation of Iraq. (Applause)

By Rex Barber, Johnson City Press
rbarber@johnsoncitypress.com

Several hundred activists showed up at Mill Spring Park in Jonesborough Saturday to raise awareness of depleted uranium weapons and demand an end to the war in Iraq.
The rally, sponsored by United for Peace and Justice, was one of 11 other rallies that were held around the country in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

By Cindy Sheehan

As I sit sipping my morning cup of coffee and reflect on the anti-war protests sponsored by the Oct27 coalition (where I saw some good collaboration between UFPJ and ANSWER---at least in San Francisco---yea!), I have a few thoughts.

Yesterday, tens of thousands of activists from around Northern California, Northern Nevada and some from Southern Oregon attended the rally in my new hometown, San Francisco. Despite weather in the Eastern part of the country, I hear that the rallies all over the rest of the country were extremely well attended and the energy was high.

By Jim Doyle, Susan Sward, San Francisco Chronicle

On cue from a bullhorn's blast, thousands of protesters fell to the pavement on Market Street in a symbolic "die-in" Saturday as part of a coordinated protest staged in cities across the country against the war in Iraq.

For three minutes the demonstrators lay on the pavement, representing what organizers said were more than 1 million Iraqis killed since the war began in 2003. The protesters then resumed their march from San Francisco's Civic Center to Dolores Park.

END THE WAR NATIONAL ACTION - UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE
By Darla Shelden

Oct. 27, Oklahoma City - - Two Oklahoma Gold Star fathers were keynote speakers at a rally in Oklahoma City Saturday calling for an end to the war in Iraq. About 150 activists gathered at the intersection of North Meridian Ave. and the Northwest Expressway, from 11 am to 12:30 pm, to hold signs, listen to music and hear speakers calling for peace.

By Chris Michaud, Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anti-war demonstrators marched in a dozen U.S. cities on Saturday to call for an immediate end to the war in Iraq and a cut-off of funding by Congress.

The "national day of action," sponsored by the United for Peace and Justice coalition, attracted throngs of protesters in cities from Boston and New Orleans to Chicago and Los Angeles on the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Senate's vote authorizing the invasion of Iraq.

By TOM PAULSON, Seattle Post Intelligencer

Under a brilliant blue sky Saturday, thousands of people sang, chanted and marched through the streets of Seattle, one of 11 cities nationwide participating in a coordinated protest against the war in Iraq.

"Veterans need to take the lead on this," said Chanan Suarez-Diaz, president of the Seattle chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War. "This has been a war for oil, for profits and for corporations. It's time for the occupation to end and veterans should be at the head of the movement to end it."

By David Swanson
Remarks at October 27, 2007, rally in Jonesborough, Tenn., preceding march to Aerojet Ordnance, manufacturers of Depleted Uranium weapons.

There are those who think Congress should keep shelling out our grandchildren's money to continue our occupation of Iraq, and there are those who think Congress should pass a bill opposing the occupation. And they are both wrong. Any decent bill on any issue, much less this one, will be vetoed. The way to stop funding the occupation of Iraq is for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to announce on Monday that they will not bring to the floor any more bills to fund the occupation.