Author name: davidswanson

WH Memo: Phony UN Airplanes to Provoke War

By David Swanson

The Guardian is reporting that Bush told Blair “that the US was so worried about the failure to find hard evidence against Saddam that it thought of ‘flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft planes with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours’. Mr Bush added: ‘If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach [of UN resolutions]’.”

This came out in a memo obtained by Phillipe Sands, QC, for the new edition of his book “Lawless World.” read more

WH Memo: Phony UN Airplanes to Provoke War Read More »

Going to California to Get Out of Iraq

By David Swanson

Yesterday I spoke on a panel in Los Angeles organized by the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus, a body that is leading the way in promoting a plan to end the occupation. Below are my answers to the moderator’s thoughtful questions.

QUESTION: During the Vietnam War, there was considerable propaganda that was disseminated and incorporated into the discussion about the war around the dreaded “domino effect

Going to California to Get Out of Iraq Read More »

Being a National Activist

By David Swanson

Remarks prepared for California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus meeting in Los Angeles, Jan. 28, 2006

I was asked to speak about “Creating National Action as an Individual,” so here are a few thoughts. Back in May, five of us individuals brought a bunch of groups together as a coalition called “After Downing Street” www.afterdowningstreet.org We used the internet and read more

Being a National Activist Read More »

85 Percent of Democrats in PA Likely to Vote for Pro-Impeachment Candidates

By David Swanson

A new poll conducted in Pennsylvania (a battleground “purple” state) by Zogby International and commissioned by OpEdNews.com found that 84.9 percent of Democrats said they would be likely to vote for a congressional candidate who “supports having impeachment proceedings against President Bush.” Only 7.0 percent said they were not likely to vote for such a candidate.

These questions were included in a poll asking about senatorial candidates in Pennsylvania. read more

85 Percent of Democrats in PA Likely to Vote for Pro-Impeachment Candidates Read More »

Evidence of War Lies

By David Swanson

Testimony for International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration, Riverside Church, New York, Jan 20-22, 2006. Thanks to Jonathan Schwarz and Bob Fertik for assistance.

Accompanying Powerpoint

[Powerpoint Slide 1]

Were I to list all the pieces of evidence that Bush took us to war with lies, we’d have lost tens of thousands of lives and tens of billions of dollars before I finished. So, I’ll give you a short version. But read more

Evidence of War Lies Read More »

Woolsey's Way to Peace

By David Swanson

We’ve all heard the line. “That would make us look weak on national security.” That line is supposed to be based on public opinion, not just the opinions of media corporations and pundits working for Pentagon-funded think tanks. That line is supposed to have something to do with the general American public. But it does not.

Take a look at this survey from last spring by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (University of Maryland): read more

Woolsey's Way to Peace Read More »

Colin Powell, Liar Extraordinaire

By David Swanson, www.blackcommentator.com

Can you imagine having an opportunity to address the United Nations Security Council about a matter of great global importance, with all the world’s media watching, and using it to… well, to make shit up – to lie with a straight face, and with a CIA director propped up behind you, I mean to spew one world-class, for-the-record-books stream of bull, to utter nary a breath without a couple of whoppers in it, and to look like you really mean it read more

Colin Powell, Liar Extraordinaire Read More »

A Peace Movement Demanding the Rule of Law

By David Swanson
[[Remarks prepared for Out of Iraq event in Washington, D.C., on day of 164 Out of Iraq Events around the country, Jan. 7, 2006.]]

President Nixon famously said that if the President does it, it’s legal. And he didn’t think that up on his own – that’s a way of thinking that has long had currency in America.

Today there are over 150 Out of Iraq events like this one happening around the country. A dozen members of Congress are taking part. Numerous candidates read more

A Peace Movement Demanding the Rule of Law Read More »

Forum with Congressmen Moran and Murtha Packs Hall, 500 Turned Away

A town hall forum hosted by Congressman Jim Moran and featuring Congressman Jack Murtha packed a large room in Arlington, Va., Thursday evening, and filled an overflow room, and had to turn away another 500 people. The media was well represented.

Audio: MP3. 75.7 MB, over an hour.

Photo album.

Both Moran and Murtha spoke strongly in support of ending the war as quickly as possible and pulling all U.S. troops out of Iraq. Murtha complained repeatedly that the Bush Administration contributes only read more

Forum with Congressmen Moran and Murtha Packs Hall, 500 Turned Away Read More »