Organizing Notes

Bruce Gagnon is coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. He offers his own reflections on organizing and the state of America's declining empire....

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Location: Brunswick, ME, United States

The collapsing US military & economic empire is making Washington & NATO even more dangerous. US could not beat the Taliban but thinks it can take on China-Russia-Iran...a sign of psychopathology for sure. @BruceKGagnon

Saturday, May 07, 2022

French: Civilians leave steelworks in Mariupol

 

 

Le 6 mai 2022, 50 civils ont enfin pu être évacués de l'usine d'Azovstal, à Marioupol. Nous étions sur place pour assister au processus d'évacuation organisé par l'armée russe, la Croix Rouge et l'ONU. 

Nous retrouver sur : 

- Odysee : https://odysee.com/@donbassinsider:b 

- Rumble : https://rumble.com/c/DonbassInsider 

- VK : https://vk.com/donbass_insider 

- Telegram: https://t.me/donbassinsider
 

Corporate western media says Russia is losing....

 


 

LPR and Russian army capture Ukrainian soldiers every day by dozens. By official and unofficial data Ukrainian daily losses are 300-700 soldiers and hundreds get wounded and (or) captured. 

The situation hasn't changed for several weeks. Kiev regime seems to keep burning out its army.  Plus the US-NATO puppet regime in Ukraine is now forcing their 'Reserves' (18-60 years of age) into battle. Cannon fodder and nothing more. It is despicable.

Of course you can deny this and believe the same western corporate media that sold us the lies in 2003 about WMD in Iraq......

Or try reading the Pentagon Papers created by the Rand Corporation and released to the public in 1971 by whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.

I joined the Air Force that same year. 

Once while browsing the book rack at the base exchange, during lunch at the chow hall at Wheeler AFB in Hawaii, I discovered the controversial papers had been published as a book. I bought the book because it revealed the secret story detailing how the US government lied to the public, the Congress and the media about Vietnam.

I sat at my desk in my office and read some passages out loud (with emphasis when appropriate) to my office mates. I was written up by my Master Sergeant boss but didn't care at that point. 

It was a great lesson for me. I'd grown up in an Air Force family and was mostly educated in military-run schools. I was a near total 'patriot' when I joined the service.

I believe in service very much. But not one that props up an international mafia cartel that runs the west and wishes to take Russia down.

The Pentagon Papers helped me quickly recover from my 'USA is the greatest' illusions. It was in the military that I became a peace and justice activist.

It was also then that I became clear that I should never buy the the lies that emanate from Washington. If you doubt that point, just check in with the Native Americans. 

Over the years I've refined my sense of smell for the BS wafting from our capital city. The joint is run by Wall Street and the war machine.  They go hand-in-hand.

So I don't believe a mumbling word coming out of the mouths of the 'selected officials' who carry water for Mr. Big. Right now they are trying to ram a war with Russia and China down our throats. 

I just spit it out. 

Bruce

Can Washington handle a two-front war?

 


I'm concerned... that the US is pushing hard against China's red lines on Taiwan, just as it pushed Russia's red lines on Ukraine.  Taiwan is different in that unlike Ukraine, Taiwan is officially recognized as part of China, essentially a breakaway province left over from China's civil war 73 years ago.  If such a war happens, it will more likely involve American vs Chinese forces directly, and be potentially much more disastrous and dangerous in terms of quick escalation. We'll hear the same arguments about Chinese aggression against a sovereign nation, even though Taiwan is officially acknowledged as part of China by the US, UN, Taiwan's official name (the Republic of China) and constitution, and of course Beijing. 

When Nixon went to China fifty years ago and the two nations opened relations again starting with the Shanghai Communique (https://peacepivot.org/affirming-the-us-china-joint-shanghai-communique-peace-cooperation-now/ ), one of the critical agreements made was that there is only "one China and that Taiwan is a part of China."  The US agreed to end official contact with Taiwan and to only have unofficial contact.  But lately the US has not only surrounded China with bases and moved 60% of our naval power there, we have been sailing entire carrier battle groups through the Taiwan Straits, flying US military planes to land in Taiwan and then take off from Taiwan to conduct patrols along China's coast (effectively using Taiwan as a US military base), and sending congressional delegations there.
 
Mike Pompeo recently visited there, and some in Congress are openly advocating for a recognition of Taiwan as an independent sovereign nation, which would absolutely cross China's red lines.  How would the US react if China were to declare Hawaii an independent sovereign nation?  My fear right now is that the US seems to be pushing for a second war front in Asia just as in Europe.  To me, this makes no logical sense, but based simply on American actions, this seems to be what the US is doing.  If Taiwan and/or the US declares independence for Taiwan, China has said that this is unacceptable and will be a justification for China to use force.

With a hot war already going in Ukraine, would the US be crazy enough to start a second front in Asia? 

It doesn't seem logical, but it is what American actions appear to be driving towards. If such a war does break out, China is fully capable of sinking American ships, including aircraft carrier battle groups, and possibly US subs as well.  If that were to happen, how far and how fast will the US escalate?  And where will it end?  How will those of us who are Chinese Americans be treated?  Like the Japanese were in WW2?  Worse, will the war go nuclear?
 
I know these things seem unthinkable, but given the current trajectory of the United States, it appears to be time to start thinking about them.  I don't have answers, but I have serious concerns and questions.
 
Mike Wong (VFP)
San Francisco

Friday, May 06, 2022

What Goes Around Comes Around: Whipping Progressive Warmongering 2.0


President Obama, VP Biden, & Hunter Biden in 2014, the year Ukraine’s elected government was toppled by a CIA-sponsored coup and Hunter got a lucrative job in the Ukranian energy sector. Image source: Getty Images via DK.com

 

There are many roots apparent in weaponizing Ukraine as a cat’s paw to fight Russia.

By Lisa Savage

The most significant but least visible is the goal of weakening China’s ally before proceeding to attack them. One of the more visible roots is that our current president was VP during the Obama years when wars became ok with liberals because they were promoted by a handsome, articulate Black man. 

 

Image source:  Shutterstock via Institute for Policy Studies

 

The culture wars we have are meant to replace the revolution we need. 

We are led to believe there is a fundamental difference between wars waged by Democrats vs. wars waged by Republicans. There isn’t, because their corporate sponsors in the weapons industry are the exactly the same and because many in Congress own stock in those corporations. So while Ukranians die, they profit.

My good friend Bruce Gagnon stumbled on an old report back from a “progressive” phone call designed to whip up support for Obama’s surge in Afghanistan. It is of interest primarily because the mechanisms of manufacturing consent are so visible. I’m reposting it here so we have it handy as we reflect on why the U.S. government is galloping toward WW3 and possible nuclear confrontation while suspending women’s reproductive rights, presiding over crushing inflation and runaway climate change, failing to deliver healthcare, and literally looking away as the pandemic death toll reached 1,000,000. Daily assaults on independent voices attempt to silence dissent: Abby MartinLee CampChris HedgesAlice WalkerConsortium NewsMintPress News — a long list, and growing. The Department of Homeland Security, which was created — like the war in Afghanistan — after the unfortunate events of 9/11, now has a Disinformation Governance Board

When you’ve lost the consent of the governed, narrative management is largely futile. Cue the next disaster!

 

First posted Dec 2, 2009 at Organizing Notes

DECEPTIVE PROGRESSIVES CALL FOR SUPPORT OF OBAMA’S WAR

This morning I got an email from a friend who tipped me off to a conference call for “progressives” to discuss Obama’s Afghanistan speech last night.

The call announcement included this: “The narrative so far is that the left is against sending more troops and the right is for it,” said Jim Arkedis, Director of the National Security Project at the Progressive Policy Institute. “But that’s not the reality of the situation. There are reasons for progressives to take heart from much of the President’s new strategy, as well as reasons to tread carefully. We want to make sure all those voices are heard.”

This made me quite interested so I dialed in. The call began with everyone in the audience on mute as the following people make opening statements.

* Rachel Kleinfeld, CEO, Truman National Security Project
* Jim Arkedis, Director of the National Security Project, Progressive Policy Institute
* Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), Senior Adviser, National Security Network
* Andy Johnson, Director, Third Way National Security Program
* Lorelei Kelly, Director, New Strategic Security Initiative
* Brian Katulis, Center for American Progress
* Frankie Sturm, Communications Director, Truman National Security Project (Moderator)

Frankly I had never heard of any of these people before and I’ve been working in the “progressive movement” for the past 30 years. A couple of the organizations they work for I had heard a bit about – they are DC-based “think tanks” that usually are heavily funded by corporations to project their message.

Here is a bit of what some of them said in the opening:

Rachel Kleinfeld: “Thrilled by last night’s speech….it’s a realistic goal we have been given…dismayed that progressives don’t see that this will reduce the violence of this war.”

Jim Arkedis: Described himself as a former counter-terrorism analyst at the Pentagon…..”Think of the US like an NFL defense….by adopting this counter-insurgency strategy it essentially takes the other sides offense off the field…..this is about peace and stability.” He slammed Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) who was on the news this morning criticizing the plan as being from the “far left.”

Lorelei Kelly: “Progressives need to abandon the old talking points from Iraq and Vietnam….progressives need to get inside this debate, President Obama is trying to create a new way….these policies need support….The American military is probably the most progressive agency we have today.”

One of them brought up CodePink’s recent visit to Afghanistan and subsequent statements made by Media[sic] Benjamin to say that some peace groups understand that we need to stay there and stabilize the country. Another called Obama’s plan the “full spectrum approach” that progressives must support – we “need the military” to get to a positive conclusion.

Finally they unmuted the listeners and then opened it up for “questions”. I didn’t ask a question but instead read a quote from the Robert Scheer article which came from former Marine captain Matthew Hoh where he said, “In the course of my five months of service in Afghanistan … I have lost understanding and confidence in the strategic purpose of the United States’ presence in Afghanistan. … I have observed that the bulk of the insurgency fights not for the white banner of the Taliban, but rather against the presence of foreign soldiers and taxes imposed by an unrepresentative government in Kabul.”

A woman listener from West Virginia (CodePink) said she had family killed in these wars and they need to stop. A woman from Georgia said we need to end the wars. A man from upstate New York said they were organizing protests and that Obama had betrayed us.

Next they put us on mute again and told us that we could only ask questions and that we’d better be good. When they unmuted I accused them of trying to silence the voices of the people as it was clear that they only wanted us on the call to listen to the talking points put out by the White House.

I know this is true because last spring I did a couple blogs about the Obama administration daily sending out talking points to groups like these that today hosted this “conference call”. One such story about this was by Jermey[sic] Scahill.

One of the groups mentioned by Scahill in his article is the Center for American Progress which was represented on the call today as one of the “expert” speakers.

While on the call I quickly did an Internet search on the Truman National Security Project just to see what I could learn about them. Their advisory board stands out like a sore thumb:

Advisory Board
Madeleine K. Albright
Principal, The Albright Group LLC

Leslie H. Gelb
President Emeritus, Council on Foreign Relations

William Marshall
President, Progressive Policy Institute

William J. Perry (former Clinton Secretary of Defense)
Senior Fellow, Hoover Institute

John D. Podesta (former Clinton operative)
President and CEO, Center for American Progress

Wendy R. Sherman
Principal, The Albright Group LLC

First chance I got I read the list off and commented that it was now abundantly clear to me that this call was intended to deliver Obama team talking points to us and that they were not in the least interested in what we had to say…..these folks organizing this call came from the right-wing of the Democratic Party I said…… earlier I had strongly challenged one of them who stated that the peace movement should stop protesting and support Obama’s plan!

They couldn’t wait to finish the call and I am happy to say that it did not go as well as they had hoped. I thank Mark Roman for tipping me off and I want to warn everyone to be on the lookout for these “pseudo progressives” who will now be coming out of the woodwork to tell the public and the media that only the far-left is against Obama’s war in Afghanistan. Good “progressives” they will say are going to support Obama’s war surge.

In the old days they used to call these folks “Scoop Jackson Democrats” after the senator from Washington state who was a pro-war leader. They have wised up and now call themselves progressives and will steal the rug out from under our feet if we are not watching closely.

Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space

You no longer need to look for such pro-war progressives. They are shouting at you from every corner that Ukraine must be defended, and that your dissent is not only unwelcome but downright seditious. Trained to hate the Russian Federation’s president and assign blame for Ukranian suffering solely to him, their diatribes have a signature: use of the same nasty and insulting terms for that person. 

 

 

Trained to love Ukraine’s president, whose background as an entertainer has proved almost as convenient as his Jewish heritage, used constantly to deny the truth that it is actual Nazis we are arming. 

Some in Congress would even have us declare war and send troops (rather than just trainers and mercenaries) to fight by their side. How much would your congressperson and senators stand to profit if the U.S. openly declares war on Russia?

How much more dangerous would it be than bullying an impoverished country like Afghanistan?

 

 

What use will money be if humans and their works are reduced to ashes and radioactive rubble by nuclear war?

 ~ ~ Lisa Savage is a retired teacher, grandmother, activist, blogger and citizen journalist. She ran for the US Senate seat, as an Independent, currently held by Susan Collins (R-ME) in 2020.

Claire Daly: 'US does not want peace'

 


 

#European #Parliament Member Clare Daly was interviewed on the sidelines of its plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday. 

Daly said the U.S. benefits the most from the #Ukraine crisis, for which Europe will pay a heavy price, and that the main reason the conflict is still ongoing is because "the U.S. does not want peace. They want the war to continue in order to weaken Russia."

Thursday, May 05, 2022

A new twist: Pope speaks some truth

 


 

NATO may have caused?

Well, let's just say NATO's unrelenting expansion and constant war games on Russia's doorstep indeed are the cause of this war.

Plus US-NATO's absolute refusal to even seriously negotiate 'security guarantees' for Russia that Putin has been pleading for since at least 2008!

Finally though a bit of truth sneaks through all of the western bloviation. 

Don't forget too the US-NATO war games called 'Cold Response' that began at the same time as this war right along the Norway and Russia border in the Arctic region.

Can you say multiple provocations?

Let's get real about all of this -  14,000 dead and 34,000 wounded in the Donbass by the eight years of non-stop shelling by the Nazi-led Ukrainian army. Of course those numbers are rarely if ever acknowledged by the media throughout the west. Why not?

How many peace groups, so-called 'progressive' political leaders, or corrupt media ever expressed their 'deep concern or outrage' since this all began in 2014 - just after the US orchestrated coup d'etat in Kiev?

I am sick and tired of the western mock outrage over Ukrainian lives lost. How about the Russian-ethnic Ukrainian citizens killed at the hands of their own Kiev government? How about all the lives lost on both sides due to Washington's iollegal and immoral coup in Kiev in 2014?

And who armed, trained and directed these Nazi-led Ukie troops killing the innocent civilians in the Donbass? Another subject never reported in the western media during the past eight years.

Bruce

Documentary: Voices from the people



An RT Documentary camera crew has just returned from Mariupol and collected residents’ stories for a film. More than 400,000 lived underground – and the Armed Forces of Ukraine didn’t allow them out of the city. 

In the Donbass: I’m Alive film, there are stories of people who had to survive Ukrainian shelling and even endure torture. They all went through hell. Now Mariupol residents are happy that they are alive and hope for the best. 

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

Declaration of war

 


 

You might know that Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) are part of this delegation to Ukraine and Poland. Both are considered 'peaceniks' but after this united display of Democratic party bullshit it is clear that 'party trumps logic and good reasoning - and peace'.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says 'We are there for the fight!' 

Those are indeed war mongering words. 

Putin must 'surrender'. And if he does not - then what?

The US is going all in on this one. Here is the plan spelled out.

The Democratic party has signed up as the official supporters of the Nazi-led Ukie army.

It's going to crash the US-EU-UK economies for sure.

Watch out for a chemical or nuclear false flag event that will justify wider US-NATO intervention. Likely troops from Poland and Romania will be sent into Ukraine next.

WW III is on the way against Russia and China. How could it not go nuclear at some point?

Those Ukie flag wavers out there - you are promoting the CIA and military industrial complex war agenda. Wake up before it is too late.

Bruce

 

News Flash

Canadian General Trevor Kadier was detained while trying to leave the AzovStal plant.

Canadian General Trevor Kadier, who was in Mariupol, was detained while trying to leave the territory of the surrounded AzovStal metallurgical plant. Earlier, civilians who left the enterprise confirmed the information that a certain general from the mercenaries was on the territory of the plant, however, evidence of the capture of the general appeared only now.

According to the 360 ​​TV channel, the general, while in Ukraine, appeared to manage one of the biological laboratories.

“Canadian General Trevor Kadier was arrested while trying to escape from the territory of Azovstal in Mariupol. Messages about this appeared in the media and social networks. According to widespread reports, the general was in charge of bio-laboratory No. 1, where 18 people worked with deadly viruses. Kadia was taken to Moscow, where he will stand trial."

At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the country's authorities have not yet made any official statements about the detention of Canadian General Trevor Kadier.

Land of the free?

 

 

Joe Biden has announced a [DHS] Department of Homeland Security 'Disinformation Governance Board' to control what 'information' the American people can have access to.

This is fascism - 1984 - except this time 2022-style where you get a call phone. But you'll have to check with Mr. Big to see what the oligarchs will allow you to see, hear and know on your device.
 
Biden’s new Head Of Disinformation & Censorship is Nina Jankowicz, who worked for the National Democratic Institute which is heavily funded by the NED (National Endowment for Democracy) that was signed into law by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to overtly do what the C.I.A covertly does - interfering in foreign elections- utilizing a U.S. 100% Government-Funded-'Non-Governmental Organization' [NGO] facade. 
 
Said Carl Gershman in 1986 while president of the NED: 
 
'We should not have to do this kind of work covertly…It would be terrible for democratic groups around the world to be seen as subsidized by the C.I.A. We saw that in the 1960’s, and that’s why it has been discontinued…We have not had the capability of doing this. And that’s why the National Endowment for Democracy [NED] was created.'

 

This USA is sinking into oblivion more each day. Speak out while you can people - they might make the wearing of masks mandatory for the rest of our lives just to keep us from speaking our truths.

Tuesday, May 03, 2022

Best report yet: Azov Nazis used apartments as bases

 


 

Best report I've seen yet that explains how the Azov Nazis took over the apartments in Mariupol, threw the residents out, and used them as bases to fire on the Russians when the came into the city. 

Then when the Nazis ran from the apartments they set them on fire. That is a war crime for sure.

Report by Italian journalist Vittorio Rangeloni - with English subtitles.

Rising prices, rising concern for peace in Hungary

 
 


 Declaration of the Hungarian Community for Peace

 

The escape of the Prices, especially of food prices, the depreciation of real wages and pensions, declining purchasing power, saving consuming inflation, stalled supply of raw materials, more and more borrowing show that it was a mistake to identify ourselves with the Western powers' sanctions policy against Russia. 

More and more people living on wages, salaries and pensions are facing livelihood problems. Living standards are declining. The price of sanctions policy is paid by peoples across Europe, including the Hungarian people. The deteriorating material situation threatens social destabilization, despite the fact that the energy supply of the population in Hungary seems to be secured for the time being. The almost uncritical service of Western interests not only afflicts our people economically, but also threatens its security. 

The deployment of NATO troops in Hungary and the fulfillment of Western demands on Ukraine weaken the nation's immune system, rocking it in the belief that it can hope to defend its independence and sovereignty by its allies, not in a European collective security system. It is not wise to forget about Hungarian history: about our sacrifice so that the West can live in prosperity! We know what the blood of the peoples of the East is worth to the West. Ukraine is a living example. 

The Community for Peace finds it serious that the government does not recognize the danger posed by the unrest of our own allies, nor does it seek the necessary counterweight to it! Where did the policy of opening up to the East go?

Is only gas interesting? Isn't peace anymore? There is no room for unilateral politicking here in the Carpathian Basin! It is in our national interest to have good relations with both East and West! A balance can only be struck in a pan-European system of security and cooperation. Instead of digging a trench, we have an interest in such a system! 

We need to reach an agreement with Russia to have peace! We have no interest in enlarging NATO with Finland and Sweden. You have to veto! As we did in the case of Ukraine. Weapons in our neighborhood would not have crumbled if, together with our allies, we had recognized the legitimate security guarantees that Russia is demanding. They must be recognized in the name of reciprocity! 

We must act for a peaceful solution, not give our waist to those who get rich from wars! A government responsible for a nation cannot subordinate the country to foreign interests! You have to be sovereign! The government has been authorized to do so. You must pursue a neutral policy! 

The Hungarian Community for Peace is ready to help and strengthen the voice of the peace-loving Hungarian. But the government-controlled media will not allow it. We expect you to change your one-sided outreach practices and give a microphone to all social factors who want peace and help achieve it. We want to avoid sacrificing the interest of Hungarian society in peace on the altar of ill-considered power interests! 

This is our creed, for the sake of our country.

Budapest, 1 May 2022 

Sunday, May 01, 2022

Remember Odessa, Ukraine Nazi massacre May 2, 2014

 


 A Call for an May 2, 2022 International Day of Solidarity with the People of Odessa!



February 2014 saw the overthrow of the elected president of Ukraine in a violent, right-wing coup directed by the U.S. government (Victoria Nuland and V-P Joe Biden in charge). Just three months later, on May 2, Odessa experienced one of Europe’s worst civil disorders in many decades, when more than 50 mostly young progressives were brutally murdered by a fascist-led mob at Odessa’s Kulikovo Square Trades Union Hall.

Ever since that day, relatives, friends and supporters of those who were killed have been demanding an international investigation into the massacre, a demand that has been blocked by the Kiev government working hand-in-hand with the fascist organizations responsible for the deaths. This obstruction by the Ukrainian government has been noted by the United Nations, the Council of Europe and other international bodies, as well as the U.S. State Department.

It should be said that, despite many videos/photos taken of the fascists participating in the massacre, not one of those responsible for the murders has ever been brought to trial, while many anti-fascists arrested that day are still in prison, many never having been charged with a crime. 

Since the massacre, Odessans have gathered in Kulikovo Square to remember their dead and press the demand for an investigation. And regularly, neo-Nazi organizations like the notorious Right Sector and Azov death squads harass and sometimes physically attack them. The police occasionally intervene, but the fascists are never arrested.


 

After all these years there are still 'missing' activists from the May 2, 2014 massacre. No one knows if they are dead or alive - maybe inside one of Kiev's jails. Families get no information about their missing children.

Since the coup of 2014, the right of the Ukrainian people to free speech has been steadily restricted. The continuing demand of Odessans for an international investigation into the massacre at Kulikovo Square has been a particular irritant to the Kiev government. If the voices of these brave people are allowed to be silenced, Ukraine can never pretend to be a true democracy as the west now attempts to portray the Kiev puppet regime that seriously colludes with murderous fascist groups.

The Odessa Solidarity Campaign in the US was founded in May 2016 following the second anniversary memorial of the massacre of May 2, 2014.  A delegation of UNAC members from the United States (Phil Wilayto, Regis Tremblay and Bruce Gagnon) attended the memorial, which was held at Odessa’s Kulikovo square. 

See more on the 2016 Odessa events here

https://odessasolidaritycampaign.org/

 

 

Sunday song

 


 

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son (Cancel culture special)