Peace and War

T O W N H A L L M E E T I N G
with guest speaker nationally recognized journalist and peace & justice activist, David Swanson;
and former federal prosecutor Elizabeth de la Vega

Funding the Iraq War, Impeachment, healthcare?

Let your voice be heard, leave with a plan and a group to work with.

Wednesday, April 23
7:00 p.m. Ludwick Center
864 Santa Rosa, SLO
(corner of Santa Rosa & Mill)
suggested donation
$10 /$5 students & seniors

Sponsored by Information Press, Earth Day Alliance, read more

By David Swanson

I recently sent the following note to a friend. The note I was replying to is pasted in below it. You might want to skip down and read it first.

**

Thanks for raising an extremely important topic, one that I think we should all be examining closely and discussing in depth, especially with those who are starting from different positions, and even if we’re afraid we may have to – in the end – agree to disagree.

The author you quote suggests that the United States read more

Linda Bilmes is a full-time faculty member at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She has testified a number of times before Congress on the cost of the occupation of Iraq. Together with Joseph Stiglitz, she has authored “The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict.” Bilmes will be speaking live this evening, April 9th, and taking your questions, between 8 and 9 p.m. ET. Go to: http://thepeoplespeakradio.net read more

By David Swanson

Senator Jim Webb, (D., Va.) and Roger Ebert, a movie reviewer with the Chicago Sun-Times have announced a joint initiative.

“This partnership makes perfect sense,” Ebert said in a press statement. “Over the past year, Senator Webb’s role has been, like mine, that of a critic.” In fact, a survey of media reports finds that Webb is identified as a critic more often than as a senator:

“Webb is an outspoken critic of the war.” – The read more

By David Swanson

This typical pre-Petraeus II article shows well the habit that the AP and most of the rest of the US corporate media have of lying about the funding of the occupation of Iraq:

“Dems Plead With Bush on Iraq
“By ANNE FLAHERTY

“WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic leaders told President Bush on Friday that it’s not too late to change course in Iraq and pleaded with him not to hand the war off to the next president.

“‘We believe there is still time for you read more

Former Marine Corps Sergeant Adam Kokesh served in a Civil Affairs Group in Iraq’s Western Anbar Province from February to September 2004. Since his return from Iraq, Kokesh has become a leading activist with Iraq Veterans Against the War. He was arrested for disrupting General Patreaus’ testimony before Congress last September. He will discuss what he did and saw in Iraq and why he is working to end the occupation. Listen live and call in with your questions tonight 8-9 pm ET: read more

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, and let’s remain vigilant and increase the pressure, but this change in policy from Speaker Pelosi is the most encouraging thing I’ve seen in many months.

By David Swanson

This week’s sermon is from the book of Luke:

And he said, A certain nation had a son.

And the son said to congress, Congress, give me $560 billion. And Congress gave it.

And not many days after, this son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with vicious slaughter and enrichment of sinful people.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty resistance in that land; read more

By David Swanson

Wow. All I did was sign this petition http://www.nonviolence.cz opposing the construction of a U.S. “missile defense” base in the Czech Republic, an outpost of our growing empire actually intended for aggressive war, not “defense.” And I got this Email in reply:

“Dear petitioner,

“Thank you for your e-mail and your concern about Czech foreign policy.

“I have already announced that as member of the Senate of Parliament of the Czech Republic read more

By David Swanson

In 2006 we elected a Congress to end the occupation of Iraq. If we don’t hold that Congress to it, we will not have the power in 2008 to elect anyone for any stated purpose. Fulfillment of campaign promises will be entirely optional in 2009. Our last chance to hold the current Congress to its commitment is in the coming month of April, when the House takes up Bush’s request for another $102 billion of our grandchildren’s money.

All over the country, ordinary read more

I’ll be on Clout on Air America with Richard Greene tonight from approximately 10 to 10:30 p.m. ET discussing Iraq Town Halls and ending the funding of the occupation of Iraq. Join us: http://www.airamerica.com/clout

Audio clip 1.

Clip 2.

Clip 3.

Clip 4.