Interview on Radio Sputnik

'Trump's decision to use nuclear weapons destabilizes the global system' - Bruce Gagnon

 

I was interviewed yesterday on radio stations in Sarasota, Florida and Sputnik International from Moscow.

On the Sarasota interview we reviewed many of the issues reported on this blog.  The radio host reads the blog and enjoys getting my take on things.  

The Sputnik interview was about the Trump administration currently considering building more battlefield nuclear weapons.  There is growing moss inside the brains of those in Washington - their cloudy minds are trying to make the case that 'limited nuclear war' is possible.  They want to make the idea acceptable - at least among the American people.  The rest of the world be damned!

The US empire is crashing and burning and increasingly dangerous.  In the interview I describe the US like an alcoholic - thrashing about in a weaponized rage.  This is how the imperial project has always acted - against the Native Americans, anti-slavery movement, military expansion into Asia-Pacific, war in Vietnam, Iraq and much more.

The US only knows one way - we take what we want so get outta the way.  It's a very childish and bad attitude and is now putting the Earth on death notice.

The time has come for the adults to retire both political war parties in Washington and bring sanity to our nation.  We need a 12-step program for Washington.  It would go something like this - "Hello, my name is America and I am addicted to war and violence.  Help me please...."

You can listen to the Sputnik interview here

Bruce 

U.S. Sent Weapons to Syria through Ramstein

Deutsche Welle (DW) reports:

The US military has been using its massive air base in western Germany to arm rebel groups in Syria without Berlin's permission, according to a report from German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung published on Wednesday.

The US military may have violated German law with the alleged weapons transfers as the German government has not approved any weapons transports of this type since the conflict in Syria began in 2011.

The report was published after months of collaborative research among the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).

The data was gathered from internal emails from the US military, interviews with whistleblowers, official reports and databanks from the US as well as the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms.

Weapons flown from Ramstein to Turkey

According to the Süddeutsche report, private service providers with the US military have been purchasing weapons and ammunition in eastern Europe since 2013.

The Russian-designed weapons, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, were sent from factories in Serbia, Bosnia, Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic and found their way to US command centers in Turkey and Jordan.

The weapons then made their way into the region either through ports in Romania and Bulgaria — or through the US military air base in Germany, the report said.

 
The purchases were part of a US Department of Defense program to arm Syrian rebels in northern Syria to fight against the so-called "Islamic State" in Raqqa.

See the rest of the story here

Republican Senator Opposes Endless War

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) on America's unlimited, unconstitutional wars.  A rare voice on this issue from either political party.

Paul's proposal was offered as an amendment to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, but senators voted 61-36 to table the legislation, a move that effectively kills it without an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.

In the end, only Paul and two other Republicans, Sens. Dean Heller of Nevada and Mike Lee of Utah, voted against killing the legislation. Meanwhile, 13 Democrats joined with the majority of Senate Republicans to oppose it.

Most senators were against Paul's amendment because it would have caused the war authorizations to expire within six months and compelled Congress to take new votes on ongoing military operations in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen and elsewhere. 

The war mongers don't want to risk allowing the American people to hear such an ongoing debate about the cost of wars - both financially and morally.

USA #1.....Oh, Not so Good

A map showing the fiscal year 2017 total U.S. weapon sales by region.

Defense News reports:

The State Department has set a new one-year record for clearing weapon sales, with $75.9 billion cleared by the department and announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in fiscal year 2017.

That total covers all announced cleared weapons packages from October 1, 2016, through September 12, 2017, leaving two more weeks for that number to increase before the end of the fiscal year.

The previous record for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA, sales announcements was $68.6 billion, set in fiscal year 2012 following the approval of a series of massive weapons packages for Saudi Arabia. In comparison, in fiscal year 2016, DSCA cleared $33.6 billion in potential weapon sales.

A State Department official declined to address setting the record directly, instead noting that “strengthening the defense capabilities of U.S. allies and their ability to partner with our forces is a smarter approach to protecting the United States, is a force multiplier for the U.S. warfighter, and ultimately, benefits U.S. industry by driving new innovation and creating high-quality American jobs.”

As in 2012, the vast majority of dollars approved came from a few huge notifications. The sale of F-15s to Qatar ($21.1 billion), F/A-18E/F fighters to Kuwait ($10.1 billion), the Canada F/A-18 agreement ($5.2 billion) Patriot PAC-3 weapons to Romania ($3.9 billion), CH-47 Chinooks to Saudi Arabia ($3.51 billion) and Apache AH-64E for the UAE ($3.5 billion) all helped push the total to record highs.

My question:  When weapons are America's #1 industrial export product, what is the global marketing strategy for that product line?

Africa's Resources Result in Heavy Militarization

China is deploying its troops to their first overseas base in Djibouti, a small east African country already hosts troops from several foreign powers. RT’s Emily Sue has more on the troop deployment and what it means for China.

Ultimately it is a signal that China is challenging the U.S.'s 'full spectrum dominance' in the region.

Israel Wants to Dominate Iran

After years of being unable to strike a peace deal with the Palestinians, Israel wants to have a say in the resolution of another conflict - this time in Syria. Its objective is clear - to minimize the regional influence of Iran but isn't it a bit late in the game?

Oksana is joined by Tzipi Livni, a prominent Israeli politician and former Foreign Minister of Israel to discuss these issues. Tzipi Livni is also the leader of the Hatnuah Party and Co-Chairperson of the Zionist Camp.

My Worst Fears

My Worst Fears

We are in big
trouble
super-sized storms
exploding nukes
crazy Washington
contemptible NATO

bad water
computers, robotics,
automation
jobs lost
to the
integrated circuits

Worried about
future generations
and our
non-human relations
on this
fragile planet

Grew up
hiding under
school desk

Cuban missile crisis
never went away
comes back like a
bad dream

Grew up
ducking from
flying combat boots
and smacks on head
and ass
head thrown
against closet door

Grew up
doubting
myself
the voice was so harsh
("If you had a brain you'd be dangerous.  You're a dumb ass.  Dig your head outta your ass!")

What weight
was he caring around
that was taken out
on me?

Grew up
trying to prove
myself
to others
and to me

Grew up
worried about abandonment
from father
mother
step-father
relatives
friends

Grew up
lucky,
if luck
truly exists,
found a life raft
a way
to live
care
and share
the values
that deep down
were not beaten
out of me
in spite of
my worst fears

Bruce

* Art work by Will Park from Central Florida and poem inspired by recent house guest from New York City poet Dan Icolari who challenged me to write it.

The Real 9-11 Truth.....

And endless war ever since......who benefits?

Who controls the media narrative?

Who scripted the whole 9-11 charade?

Who keeps the cover up in tact?

Why do the people go along with the fantasy?

Bruce 

The Vietnam Debacle

Highly recommend this excellent review of a now almost forgotten period in US history.....

U.S. & NATO Using North Korea as Foil

U.S. Army brings THAAD 'missile defense' systems into Seongju, South Korea after the local melon farming community blocked the road for more than 12 hours but were eventually pushed back by over 8,000 police.

The people feel totally betrayed by their new 'liberal' President Moon who before the election had promised to delay any deployments. But Washington controls the government in Seoul and got what they demanded. In spite of that the people fight on.....

North Korea is a foil that allows the US to justify the Pentagon's massive expansion in the Asia-Pacific.  The US is now talking about returning its own nuclear weapons to the Korean peninsula which makes China and Russia very worried.  Brussels is also using fear of North Korea being a ‘global problem’ to pivot the ‘Atlantic alliance’ into the Asia-Pacific - using North Korea as an excuse to expand NATO into the global war machine that they’ve been developing since the end of the Cold War.

The Global Network's annual Keep Space for Peace Week this October 7-14 is calling for local solidarity protests around the world with the South Korean people who are opposing these THAAD deployments.

Please hold some type of local activity (public protest in your town, at a military base or weapons production facility, at a government building, at a Congressional office).  Download our poster and share it widely during the coming days - find it here

Bruce
 

No War 2017: War & The Environment Conference in DC

Infomercial about my presentation at the upcoming No War 2017: War & The Environment conference in Washington DC on September 22-24 at American University.

You can see more details about the conference here

Video kindly produced by Regis Tremblay from Maine.

Sunday Song

Showing in Brunswick October 12

NEW JEJU TRAILER MASTER from Mark Kaplan on Vimeo.

Village versus Empire

A film by South African filmmaker Mark Kaplan

Thursday, October 12
7:30 pm
The Frontier Café & Cinema
Brunswick


Village versus Empire is set on Jeju Island, off the coast of the Korean peninsula – one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Nature’, and also known as The Island of Stone, Peace Island and a Woman’s Island – a place of beauty and wonder, with more UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites than any single geographic location on Earth.

But, there is trouble in this paradise.  It has been transformed – militarized.  Its fragile ecology and ancient shamanistic traditions are being devastated by the construction of a Navy base for US warships that is perceived by the islanders as a globally dangerous provocation which imperils the island’s future and masks its troubled history.

Village versus Empire, dramatizes the threat to Island life and nature, through the eyes and performances of a shaman artist, Dohee Lee, born on the island and deeply troubled by its transformation, the activists who contest its occupation, the residents who have lived through its changes and the archive through which its traumatic past is uncovered.

Tickets: $8

This screening is sponsored by PeaceWorks

Info: 443-9502

This film will likely sell out on October 12 so we suggest getting advance tickets from the Frontier Cinema here   

DVD's can be ordered from the filmmaker by contacting mark@greymattermedia.co.za    

Peace Walk Shirts

We will be ordering these sweatshirts next week for our Maine Peace Walk so are now taking orders.  Cost will be $15 so let us know your preferred size (XL, LG, Med, Sm) ASAP.

 

T-shirts with same design and color will also be available in limited numbers at $10 each.  Again let us know preferred size for T-shirts.

 

You can mail checks to:  Global Network, PO Box 652, Brunswick, ME 04011 

Climate Breakdown Report

After Irma hits the island of Barbuda, the Prime Minister says that 90% of the country has been leveled. Just devastating.

On National Public Radio (NPR) tonight a climate 'expert' was asked if these recent massive hurricanes were in any way caused by global warming.  The hack responded no - and went on to say that actually in recent years we've had less hurricanes.  NPR should be renamed National Petroleum Radio since they obviously represent the fucking interests of the fossil fuel corporations.

Anyone that gives $$$ to NPR should have their head examined.

Do we wait until the winds hit 500 mph before we acknowledge we have a damn problem?  When does the public wake the hell up and start demanding some immediate changes?

We could start with serious cuts in the obscene Pentagon budget.  (Trump is planning to ask Congress for an even larger military budget next year!)  Big money will be needed to deal with hurricane damage in Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Georgia.  We should be demanding conversion of the war machine to the Natural Guard to help deal with these more frequent severe weather events.  Forget wars for fossil fuels - we need solar, wind, rail, tidal power systems now.

In the meantime the airlines, stores in Florida, and other capitalist shysters are charging an arm and a leg for their products as the public stocks up in preparation for their hit by Irma.  These profiteers should all be jailed.

Bruce

Military Spending or Human Needs?

The latest edition of This Issue features social worker Mary Beth Sullivan from Bath, Maine.  Mary Beth talks about how homeless and mentally ill people are impacted by social neglect and budget cuts. 

She shares her thoughts on the need to audit the Pentagon and to convert the weapons industry to appropriate sustainable production.  She reminds the audience that budgets are moral documents.

Updates from Maine to Korea

• I spent about six hours yesterday watching the live feed from South Korea as activists in Seongju blocked the roadway where the US was trying to bring THAAD launchers to the new base Army built in their community.  I spent much of that time sharing the story widely on email and social media so that others would know what was happening.  I so badly wanted to be there to join the blockade and was so moved by the determination of the people.  I sent several messages to folks there encouraging them.  They must keep fighting because the fragile peace on the Korean peninsula is at stake.  But we all need to do more in our own communities to help.

• I was happy to see a story yesterday that Vladimir Putin had invited South and North Korean leaders to a regional development conference that Russia was holding in Vladivostok (which borders North Korea).  The article is called North Korean delegation arrives in Russia, to be joined shortly by South Korean President.

It reported:

Many suspect that Russian President Vladimir Putin who hosts the event will attempt to conduct dialogue with the representatives of both Korean states in order to try and de-escalate regional tensions.

• Let's hope that Putin can work some magic here.  We've seen him take the lead on the successful US-Iran nuclear deal and he was the key person to get Syria to destroy their chemical weapons a couple of years ago.  Russia and China both border North Korea and have much incentive to ensure that the Korean peninsula does not turn into the chaotic Asian version of Iraq, Libya and Syria.
• I also spent considerable time working on Keep Space for Peace Week yesterday (while watching the live feed from Korea).  We've co-endorsed space week with the Global Action Against Military Bases which is being organized out of Italy.  So we will co-promote these local actions during the October 7-14 period.  It's positive when groups can work together like this rather than in competition with one another.  We appreciate that.
• Also coming up fast is our Maine Peace Walk for Conversion, Community and Climate from October 13-21.  The wonderful artwork above by Russell Wray from Hancock, Maine will be put on a huge banner and will also be printed on the back side of our walk sweatshirts.  Of course the image will also be printed on our peace walk flyers that we intend to hand out door-to-door in Bath during the walk.  So it is an exciting and busy time for us.  
• We've been trying to keep our peace activities in Maine connected to the peace work on Jeju Island, South Korea where the destroyers built here at Bath Iron Works (BIW) are being sent to port at the new Navy base.  
• Plans are currently underway to line up prospective candidates to do civil disobedience here in Bath at the next destroyer 'christening' at BIW.  I am told that already more than two dozen people have signed on to join the next non-violent action - depending of course on the date of the event.

Bruce

Live Feed from South Korea THAAD Blockade

Hyun Lee reports that melon farmers and their supporters are blocking the US Army from bringing more THAAD 'missile defense' launchers into their community in Seongju, South Korea.

Five hundred peaceful protesters are being dragged apart by 8,000 South Korean police.

They set cars and trucks in the roadway and many older women are chained to the vehicles.

The people understand that THAAD is provocative and destabilizing.  They are doing more to protect the peace on the Korean peninsula than any of the political hacks in Washington or Seoul.

Hyun writes:

The police have been issuing arrest warnings over the loudspeaker for the past few hours. They seem to be moving in now. It is raining there. People sitting down have linked themselves to each other with rope.

A local reporter on the ground: "Police use of force is more violent than the previous Park Geun-hye administration. The president has changed, but nothing else has."

Stop US THAAD deployments in South Korea!  

'Nothing Left to Bomb in North Korea'

Asian historian Christine Hong speaks at the August 9, 2017 rally and march outside Livermore Lab, CA's nuclear bomb design center, commemorating the Atomic bombing of Japan.

She is an Associate Professor of East Asian Studies at University of California at Santa Cruz.

We Don't Want War in Korea!

I've maintained for some time that the US aggressive attitude toward North Korea is a foil - a way to increase tensions in the region in order to pump-up the fear and allow the Pentagon to increase its military encirclement of China and Russia.  They are the real targets.

The Pentagon knows that North Korea only has four nuclear warheads and only medium-range missiles.  So despite all the hype North Korea is not a military threat to the US.

The Pentagon has 6,800 nuclear warheads and obviously has all kinds of missiles of every conceivable range.  North Korea is not going to start a war - if it did the US would pulverize it in a very short time.

I got an email today from International Law professor Francis Boyle who wrote:

I have just had a look at Article 2 of the China/DPRK Mutual Assistance Treaty.... In the event the USA attacks DPRK, China is obligated to come to the Defense of DPRK and has so stated publicly and recently and repeatedly. So it appears that the USA is provoking DPRK to attack USA first, whereupon China has said it will not come to the Defense of DPRK, and it is not obligated to do so under the Treaty.

Thus North Korea has no incentive to attack the US or any of its allies unless the Pentagon hits them first.  North Korea is all about survival of its regime and that is why they are developing nukes.  They've seen what happened to Iraq and Libya and know that if they have the ability to hit back hard they will have a better chance of survival.

Now if I was asked I'd advise North Korea not to sound so belligerent which only gives the US the ability to spin things its way even more.  But easy for me to say......

North Korea was devastated during the 'American War' as they called it during 1950-1953.  Coming out of that war the US refused to sign a peace treaty and to this day the war is technically still on.  Only an Armistice (cease fire) was signed on July 27, 1953.

The US has 83 bases in South Korea that have 23,000 American troops stationed on them.  The US-South Korea-Japan continually hold war games along North Korea's border.  Imagine if some other country was holding war games along our Canadian and Mexican borders.  Washington would never stand for that but when we do that to others it is supposed to be acceptable.

In recent days we paid to boost the Global Network's Keep Space for Peace Week poster on Facebook and there has been a whirlwind of comments, shares and likes.  Somehow a bunch of US military soldiers got ahold of the post and many of them have been commenting.  Today two of us from the Global Network had an extended discussion with one of the soldiers about the Korea issue.

US troops in South Korea and Japan would be high on the list for immediate targeting if a war started between the US and North Korea-China.   American GI's must be a bit afraid at this point and they are not likely to be hearing much opposition to war as the western corporate controlled media is non-stop promoting a US 'decapitation' strike.

I posted a really good Korea issues/history interview on Facebook today (see it here) and one woman commented:

I made the mistake of turning on CNN for few minutes this morning.
A bunch of warmongering, mainly women, mouthpieces. Nauseating.
Thanks for the antidote!

I don't know how all this will turn out but having Trump in the White House and a team of ready-to-kill military generals surrounding him is not very reassuring.  At this point we all need to be speaking out loudly and often against going to war with anyone - especially not in Korea!

Bruce