David Swanson's Blog, page 233
February 16, 2011
Sociocide: Iraq Is No More
As we approach the 8th anniversary of a U.S. invasion of Iraq, and having just passed the 20th anniversary of another, it's worth reflecting on what's been accomplished through two wars and the intervening sanctions that former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright so famously approved of even at the cost of a half million children's lives.
February 15, 2011
How Many Progressive Budget Analysts Does It Take to Notice the Military?
Whether or not one recklessly and misleadingly includes Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid in discussions of the federal discretionary budget, the fact remains that over half of the discretionary budget (of everything other than Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid) is military. The primary talking point coming out of the White House is the need to freeze all non-military discretionary spending. And yet it is difficult to find a progressive analysis of the budget President Obama proposed on Monday that even mentions the existence of the military.
February 14, 2011
Audio: David Swanson and Coy Barefoot on Egypt
Charlottesville--Right Now, Interviews, National politics, New audio, News, Politics, Radio Shows, WINA Add comments
Feb 142011
2.14.11 Best-selling non-fiction author David Swanson joins Coy with an update on the revolution in Egypt. Swanson describes just how inspiring the revolution is to civil rights activists around the world. He notes the impact of non-violent training by the citizen activists in the streets of Egypt, and says that method of protest is more effective than military involvement. Along those lines, Swanson comments on the importance of the writings of noted non-violence author Gene Sharp being translated into Arabic. Finally, David gives his analysis of how the events in Egypt will influence American political action. Be sure to check out Swanson's latest book War Is A Lie.
Standard Podcast [21:24m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download (3)Americans Spent Valentine's Day Thanking Spain for Prosecuting Bush Lawyers
By David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org
On Valentine's Day 2011, yet another U.S. judge agreed with yet another claim that President Obama has the right to protect members of the Bush-Cheney administration from prosecution for torture.
But a coalition of human rights groups spent the day visiting the Spanish Embassy in Washington, D.C., and Spanish colsulates around the United States to share some love for a country that is working to prosecute former top Bush officials for torture.
The Worst Thing Ever Invented
In this age of supposedly fighting against rulers and on behalf of oppressed peoples, the Vietnam War offers an interesting case in which the U.S. policy was to avoid overthrowing the enemy government but to work hard to kill its people. To overthrow the government in Hanoi, it was feared, would draw China or Russia into the war, something the United States hoped to avoid. But destroying the nation ruled by Hanoi was expected to cause it to submit to U.S. rule.
Audio of David Swanson and Marc Steiner on War Lies at Busboys and Poets
From Marc Steiner
David Swanson is a writer and progressive political activist. His latest book is War is a Lie.
We recently interviewed David Swanson at Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC. Here is our interview, along with the lively audience Q & A.
February 10, 2011
Obama Is Hurting Poor People in Ways ACORN Blocked Bush from Achieving
By David Swanson
Obama is seeking to cut off poor people's heat in the winter and AC in the summer, in a move that Bush attempted and saw blocked by ACORN.
This brings a whole new meaning to Obama's "ACORN who? Never met them in my life!" routine when Fox News destroyed the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now with a big assist from Congress.
Let's take a little trip back in time, shall we? All the way baaaaaaaaack to 2003:
U.S. Thanks and Encourages Spain to Prosecute Bush Officials
If you've wanted to be part of a powerful effort to bring Bush-era officials to justice for their crimes, now is your chance. We've joined a national effort to reach out to the people of Spain, whose courts are considering prosecuting six of Bush's lawyers under international law. Our campaign includes an open letter and ads in prominent Spanish newspapers and billboards.
Even though the Obama administration has been working hard behind the scenes to stop this, our friends at the Center for Constitutional Rights have already submitted proof to the Spanish courts that our government is not taking action under international law and treaties. Now is our chance - we can keep the wheels of justice turning by doing people-to-people diplomacy now.
Here's what you do: Read and sign the letter to the Spanish people at http://rootsaction.org
WarIsACrime.org's name is behind it. The letter will go to the Spanish embassy and consulates across the country on Monday - Valentine's Day. We'll also bring Spanish officials flowers and invite the media. You can join us in these events. Get details at http://rootsaction.org
But we can't stop there. We've designed a billboard and newspaper advertisement that says in Spanish, "Please do what the U.S. won't. Prosecute torturers." We are raising money to place ads and billboards around Madrid where the country's leaders will see that there are Americans who want the case to continue.
We need to raise $30k to make this happen, so please consider a generous donation toward bringing the message directly to the Spanish people. Read and sign the letter at http://rootsaction.org
February 9, 2011
Nonviolent Activism Is Middle Eastern
Muslims can look back to the classic nonviolent struggle against British empire waged by the Pashtuns from 1930-1934 in what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan. The leadership of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Khudai Khidmatgar movement makes every list of campaigns chronicling the development of modern nonviolent activism.
Nonviolence is also the dominant tool of resistance in the Middle East -- resistance to local corruption and to foreign occupation alike. Nonviolence doesn't make it into corporate news reporting very much, and there are two main explanations for that. One, terrorism sells newspapers. Two, democracy threatens corporate power.
