ADD YOUR NAME TO PEACE DEMAND TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

Via War Is a Crime

Since he became president, Obama has had three opportunities to work with Congress to reduce military spending, but instead has championed increases in that spending each time, despite the fact that this spending represents a clear threat to the economic future of our country.  he has continued as well to try to hide the true costs of the wars by funding them with off-the-books supplemental spending bills, despite the fact that he campaigned against this very practice.

The President has escalated a war on Afghanistan in which rising civilian deaths and atrocities have become routine.  

He has given the CIA even greater freedom of action to launch lethal drone strikes against civilian houses in Pakistan on mere assumption of some connection with Taliban or other organizations, despite the warning from the U.S. Ambassador in late 2009 — revealed in a Wikileaks cable — that such attacks could “destabilize” the Pakistani government, despite many reports that civilians, including children, are disproportionately victims, and despite the contention of the United Nations and many U.S. allies that this practice is illegal.

Obama has approved an increase in covert operations by CIA-controlled Afghan troops into Pakistan, and his administration has remained silent while the U.S. command in Afghanistan leaked to the New York Times plans for new Special Operations Forces raids into Pakistan aimed at Afghan Taliban targets.

The President has expanded the use of Special Operations Forces (SOF), operating in virtually total secrecy and without any accountability to Congress, in one country after another.  SOF troops are presently in some 75 nations — 15 more than when Obama took office. 

President Obama has, on a later schedule than he campaigned on, finally reduced U.S. troop presence in Iraq.  But he has not fully withdrawn U.S. combat forces from Iraq or ended U.S. combat there, his claims to have done so notwithstanding.  his vice president has suggested, without correction by the President, the possibility of a U.S. military presence in the country even after the deadline for withdrawal under the U.S.-Iraq withdrawal agreement, if only through the use of military contractors.

The Obama administration has announced plans to form an army of mercenary troops from private military contractors in Iraq which is to have its own air force and its own fleet of mine-resistant military vehicles.  the plan includes continued contracts with the company formerly called Blackwater, despite the knowledge that it was guilty of atrocities against civilians in that country, and despite the openly declared opposition of the Iraqi government to such a continued role.

Obama has overseen increased weapons sales to foreign nations, and assisting in those sales has been a major function of his State Department.  he has approved increased funding for work on nuclear weapons, even while supporting an arms control treaty.  he has established a policy of potential nuclear first strike against Iran or North Korea.

President Obama has argued for the justness of war-making in widely watched speeches from the Oval Office and in Oslo, Norway, where he was accepting a Nobel Peace Prize.  he has, in his Oval Office speech last August, defended false statements that took our nation into the current wars and false statements that have prolonged them.

The President has supported sanctions against Iran and Syria that punish the people, especially children, and not the leadership, of those countries.  he has sent ships and missiles to Iran’s border.  he has risked hostilities with North Korea through the ongoing construction of new military bases in South Korea and provocative war games exercises.  his administration has helped a military coup succeed in Honduras.

President Obama has sought to allow more Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.  he has protected Israel’s killing of activists on a humanitarian aid ship, not even protesting at the murder of an unarmed American youth.  he issued a presidential memorandum on October 25, 2010, giving U.S. approval for the use of child soldiers by Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Yemen.  he has backed Indonesian armed forces that assassinated civilian activists in late 2009.  he has expanded the U.S. military presence in Colombia, Costa Rica, Haiti, Guam, Italy, and Diego Garcia, as well as overseeing an enormous military base construction project in Afghanistan.

President Obama has not closed the prison at Guantanamo Bay and continues to maintain a network of detention facilities in Afghanistan through which prisoners, according to the most recent information available, are still being subjected to harsh treatment.  he has claimed the right to imprison people, including American citizens, indefinitely without charge or trial, thus further cementing in place the elimination of the rights of prisoners of war and the elimination of the right of habeas corpus for anyone, as well as the rights found in the Fourth through Eighth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.  the President has claimed the power of rendition.  his CIA Director Leon Panetta and his senior advisor David Axelrod have asserted, without correction by the President, that the President maintains the power to torture.  in the recent case of Gulet Mohamed, the Obama administration, for a time, claimed the power to forbid an American to reenter the country, absent any conviction or even any charge of a crime, and apparently collaborated with Kuwait to torture that American.  the President has also openly claimed the power to order the assassination of Americans abroad.  in Iraq, the U.S. military has continued to work with and protect from accountability an Iraqi military that is known to regularly use torture.

The President has expanded the use of warrantless spying.  Under his leadership, the FBI has infiltrated peace groups and raided the homes of peace activists.  It has set up and entrapped in terrorism charges people whose training and motivation came largely or even entirely from the FBI.  he has supported the re-authorization of the PATRIOT Act, which strips away Americans’ civil liberties.

President Obama, in direct violation of the Nuremberg Charter, a U.S. treaty commitment, has publicly instructed his Attorney General not to prosecute individuals responsible for crimes, including torture.  his administration has worked hard to provide retroactive immunity to corporations engaged in warrantless spying and individuals engaged in sanctioning torture.  he has kept secret a vast trove of documents, photos, and videos pertaining to prisoner abuse.  he has advanced unprecedented claims of secrecy powers in defending the crimes of his predecessor. President Obama’s White House has put great pressure on European states not to investigate or prosecute U.S. war crimes.

This president has restricted the release of the names of White House visitors and has pursued the prosecution and punishment of government whistleblowers more aggressively than any previous president.  his administration is responsible for the cruel and unusual lengthy confinement in a 6′ by 12′ cell, prior to any trial, of alleged whistleblower Bradley Manning.  his vice president, Joe Biden, has publicly labeled an Australian journalist, Julian Assange, a “terrorist.”  President Obama has used a private propaganda firm that had been exposed planting lies in Iraqi media, to screen potential embedded reporters for coverage of the U.S. military. he has used the military to restrict reporting by American journalists on an oil spill in American waters.

Perhaps most perilously, President Obama has claimed the right to engage in many of these activities without the authorization of Congress.  he has even claimed the power first developed by his predecessor to rewrite new laws through the extra-Constitutional use of presidential signing statements.  Expanded powers that are not opposed now will be far more difficult to oppose later with another president able to claim past precedent.

The President’s own deficit commission recommended cuts of $100 billion to the military budget.  the United States spends about $1 trillion each year on the military, through a variety of departments, and has spent over $1 trillion already on the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.  over half of every U.S. dollar of income tax is going to war making.  the Department of Defense budget alone is larger than the military expenditures of the next largest 16 militaries in the world combined.  that budget could be cut by 85% and still be the largest in the world.  in addition to the lessening of hostility toward our country that would result from a significant decrease in U.S. military presence around the world, by shifting our financial resources we could create jobs, green energy, top quality free education, public transportation and infrastructure.  we could also end all talk of reducing our Social Security or health coverage.  we intend to support public servants who put our money where it serves the public.

We are not concerned with whether President Obama is acting enthusiastically or reluctantly in pursuing a militaristic policy abroad and more repression of dissent at home.  It matters little whether he is submitting to powerful forces or freely following his preferred course.  we do not elect his soldiers or spies, his advisors, his campaign funders, or the owners of our major media outlets.  we elect the president.  we will not support his nomination for another term, and we believe that a large proportion of Americans who voted for him in 2008 will not do so again unless he reverses the most egregious policies to which we have referred — especially by taking decisive steps to end the war on Afghanistan and to make deep cuts in the military and war budgets.

Some of those who have signed:

Nic Abramson, U.S. Boat to GazaMeredith Aby, MN Anti-War CommitteeElliott Adams, president, Veterans For PeaceWill Allen, author, the War on BugsMaria Allwine, Pledge of Resistance BaltimoreVicki Andrews, Peace Circle – Grand Rapids MNJean Athey, coordinator of Peace Action Montgomery (MD)* and national board member, Peace Action*Nellie Hester Bailey, Harlem Tenants Council & Black Agenda ReportAnna Baltzer, activistMissy Beattie, activist and writerMark Bebawi, producer/host, the Monitor, KPFTMedea Benjamin,  cofounder, Code Pink*Frida Berrigan, War Resisters League*Toby Blome, activist, Bay Area Code PinkWilliam Blum, author of books on U.S. foreign policyLeah Bolger, CDR, USN (Ret), Vice-President, Veterans For PeaceRoy Bourgeois, founder, School of the Americas WatchLinda Boyd, activistLenni Brenner, author, Zionism in the Age of the DictatorsJean Hay bright, Maine’s 2006 Democratic US Senate candidateElaine Brower, military mom, World Can’t WaitMike Byerly, Alachua County Commissioner, Gainesville, Fla.Scott Camil, President, Gainesville Florida Chapter, Veterans For PeacePatty Casazza, 9/11 widow, former 9/11 Commission Family Steering Committee MemberOskar Castro, board member, War Resisters LeagueZach Choate, operation recovery field organizer, Iraq Veterans against the WarDavid Cobb, Move To Amend coalition*Jeff Cohen, author/media criticWilliam John Cox, Voters Evolt!Catarina Correia, video editor, coordinating committee member, National Campaign for Nonviolent ResistanceBud Courtney, New York Catholic WorkerDavid Culver, publisher, Evergreene DigestRonnie Cummins, national director, Organic Consumers AssociationMatthew W. Daloisio, Witness against Torture*Nicolas J S Davies, author, Blood On our Hands: the American Invasion and Destruction of IraqElena Day, People’s Alliance for clean EnergyLaurie Dobson, director, EndUSWars.orgFrank Dorrel, publisher, Addicted To WarJane Swift Dugdale, Main Line Peace ActionSibel Edmonds, founder & director, National Security Whistleblowers CoalitionCherie Eichholz, national board member, Veterans for PeaceRoy Eidelson, past president, Psychologists for Social ResponsibilityPat Elder, Coordinating Committee, National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth*Daniel Ellsberg, former State and Defense Dept. official, whistleblower of Pentagon PapersSamuel S. Epstein, professorDesiree Fairooz, Northern Virginians for Peace and JusticeMike Ferner, national board member, Veterans for PeaceJoy First, National Campaign for Nonviolent ResistanceRobert Fitrakis, professor, editorLisa Fithian, convenor, United for Peace and JusticeMargaret Flowers, M.D., Physicians for a National Health Program*Glen Ford, executive editor, Black Agenda Report*George Friday, Independent Progressive Politics NetworkSarah Fuhro, board member, Military Families Speak Out*James Clay Fuller, retired newspaper editorMonica Gabrielle, 9/11 widow, former 9/11 Commission Family Steering Committee MemberBruce K. Gagnon, coordinator, Global Network against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space*Lila Garrett, radio hostNate Goldshlag, national board member and treasurer, Veterans For PeaceMichelle Gross, president, Communities United against Police BrutalityThomas John Gumbleton, retired Roman Catholic BishopDeeDee Halleck, founder, Paper Tiger Tv, Deep Dish Network, emerita professor, UCSDConnie Hammond, Progressive Peace Coalition, Columbus, OhioKathy Hass, activist, Central Florida Code PinkBill Habedank, Veterans for PeaceJim Haber, coordinator, Nevada Desert ExperienceSusan Harman, Progressive Democrats of America*, Code Pink*David Harris, Veterans for PeaceDavid Harris, draft resister, authorLeslie Harris, activist, Code Pink Greater Dallas*Bob Heberle, former national board member, Veterans for PeaceChris Hedges, author, Death of the Liberal ClassDud Hendrick, Maine chapter president, Veterans for PeaceSteve Hendricks, author, A Kidnapping in Milan: the CIA on TrialMartha Hennessy, Catholic WorkerJohn Heuer, chair and national board member, NC Peace ActionHerbert J. Hoffman, vice president, Maine Veterans for PeaceConnie Hogarth, Cofounder WESPAC (Westchester Peoples Action Coalition)*Lydia Howell, writer and host, “Catalyst”, KFAI RadioSam Husseini, activistHugh Iglarsh, writer/editorRick Jahnkow, Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft*Dahr Jamail, journalist/authorMark C. Johnson, executive director, Fellowship of ReconciliationLarry Kalb, former Democratic congressional candidateTarak Kauff, Veterans For PeaceKathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence*Nada Khader, WESPAC FoundationJoey King, national board member, Veterans for PeaceHowie Klein, publisher, DownWithTyranny.comMichael Knox, professor and clinical psychologistGeorg Koszulinski, filmmakerJoel Kovel, author, the Enemy of Nature, Overcoming ZionismAndrew Kolin, author, State Power and Democracy: Before and during the Presidency of George W BushSteve Lane, activistJesse Lemisch, Historian, Emeritus Prof, John Jay Coll of Criminal Justice, CUNYRabbi Michael Lerner, Tikkun/Network of Spiritual ProgressivesLinda LeTendre, LMSW Christian Peace WitnessDave Lindorff, editor, Thiscantbehappening.netErik Lobo, Veteran For PeaceRalph Lopez, JobsForAfghans.org  David MacMichael, Ph.D., former CIA analystSarah Martin, subpoenaed antiwar and international solidarity activistGene Marx, national board member, Veterans for PeaceEthan McCord, IVAW, VFP, former army specialist from “collateral murder” videoRay McGovern, former CIA analystCynthia McKinney, former U.S. Congresswoman and 2008 Green Party Nominee for U.S. PresidentDavid McReynolds, Socialist Party USA*Bob Meola, War Resisters League National Committee* and Courage to Resist Organizing Collective*Michael T. McPhearson, co-convenor United For Peace and Justice, former executive director of Veterans For PeaceCamilo E. Mejia, activist, resisterLinda Milazzo,  activist, writerDede Miller, activistMark Crispin Miller, author, professorNick Mottern, Consumers for PeaceGael Murphy, co-chair, Legislative Working Group, United for Peace and Justice*, co-founder, Code Pink*Robert Naiman, just Foreign Policy*Bruce Nestor, past president, National Lawyers GuildBrad Newsham, activistGeorgianne Nienaber, activist and authorStirling Newberry, former military contractorMax Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence CenterJeanne Olson, veteran, activistPaul Ortiz, Veterans for Peace, authorMichael Parenti, author and activistCynthia Papermaster, director, National Accountability Action Network*Judith Mahoney Pasternak, War Resisters League*Jeff Paterson, Courage to ResistLewis Pitts, Legal Aid of NCGareth Porter, author and journalistBill Quigley, Center for Constitutional Rights and professor of law, Loyola University New Orleans*Jesselyn Radack, former Department of Justice legal adviserGarett Reppenhagen, chair of the board of directors, Iraq Veterans against the WarWard Reilly, advisory committee member, Iraq Veterans against the War, Veterans For Peace, VVAWJill Richardson, authorKatie Robbins, national organizer, Healthcare-NOW!David Rovics, singer/song writerColeen Rowley, retired FBI agent, one of TIME’s 2002 Persons of the YearRichard E. Rubenstein, author, Reasons to kill: why Americans Choose WarStephanie Rugoff, project coordinator, War Criminals WatchA.F. Saidy, M.D., Coalition for Peace in M.E. in L.A.Nicole Sandler, radio hostLisa Savage, Code Pink Maine*Linda Schade, WikiLeaksisDemocracy.orgBill Scheurer, PeaceMajority ReportSue Serpa, coordinator, JobsForAfghans.orgJamilla El-Shafei, Peace Action Maine, Code PinkJoanne Sheehan, coordinator, War Resisters League New EnglandRobert Shetterly, artist, Americans who tell the TruthGar Smith, Environmentalists against WarMichael Steven Smith, Law and Disorder Radio; board member, Center for Constitutional Rights*Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, Democracy UnlimitedJeffrey St Clair, CounterPunchJohn Stauber, author, Weapons of Mass DeceptionJosh Stieber, conscientious objectorJohn Stockwell, former intelligence officer, authorDavid Swanson, WarIsACrime.orgRev. James L. Swarts, professor, Veterans For Peace, Progressives in Action Peace Committee ChairDennis Trainor, Jr., NoCureForThat.orgDiane Turco, Cape Codders for Peace and JusticeSue Udry, Defending Dissent Foundation*Elizabeth De La Vega, former assistant U.S. attorney, authorRobert C. Walter, Peace Action Maine, associate member of Veterans for PeaceHarvey Wasserman, authorJanet Weil, military family memberAlison Weir, president, Council for the National InterestBeverley Whipple, Fla. chapter leader, Military Families Speak OutPaki Wieland, activistS. Brian Willson, Viet Nam Veteran, activistDiane Wilson, shrimper, activist, author, Veterans for PeaceMarcy Winograd, former Democratic congressional candidateAnn Wright, US Army Reserve Colonel and former US diplomatBill Wylie-Kellermann, pastor, St Peter’s Episcopal Church – DetroitDan Yaseen, Peace FresnoCharles M. Young, contributing editor, Thiscantbehappening.netKevin Zeese, Voters For PeaceMaggie Zhou, Climate SOS

*for identification purposes only

‘We Will Oppose Obama As Long As He Supports War’