5 protests in 3 days

 

It's been a busy last couple of days for me and many others.

On Thursday we held our weekly peace vigil in downtown Brunswick, Maine (since February 2022). 

Then on Friday I went to Saco to join the now weekly protest at the General Dynamics weapons plant that is making guidance parts for the bombs that Biden-Harris are supplying to Israel to drop on Gaza and Lebanon. We arrived there at 2:00 pm in preparation for the 3:00 pm shift change at the facility. Traffic on the street in front of the place is steady for hours.

Then I jumped into the car and drove back to Brunswick for our 5:00 pm Friday peace vigil in downtown that has been weekly held since 9-11-2001.

On Saturday we gathered at Bath Iron Works (owned by General Dynamics) at 11:30 am for our Keep Space for Peace Week event. Twenty-three folks came from around the state. We gathered in front of the administration building and then walked down to a gate where workers come pouring on on foot at noon. It's always an intense scene. We had the megaphone going with a couple of us speaking.

I talked about how the Aegis Destroyers made at BIW are deployed to the Asia-Pacific region to harass China, to the Black Sea to do the same to Russia and into the Red Sea to attack Yemen. The ships fire first-strike attack Tomahawk cruise missiles (that are nuclear capable) into Yemen and then when the Houthis respond the warships fire SM-3 interceptor missiles that attempt to take out incoming drones or missiles. 

Following this protest eight of us had a Thai lunch in Bath. Most of them came a good way to reach the vigil and we don't get to see each other very often. Over the years I have organized five peace walks up and down the state of Maine and all of these friends were very active participants in the walks.

Then at 5:00 pm on Saturday we drove south to Portland for a big rally at Monument Square to mark the one year of zionist (US-Israel-NATO) genocidal terror attacks on Palestine and now Lebanon. There were a couple hundred people at this event that began with speakers at a rally and then a march through the Old Port of the city.

Even though one local TV station appeared to cover the event (and even interviewed my wife) nothing made the evening news. No other corporate media appeared to cover the event.

This is the world we live in these days. WW3 is virtually underway before our eyes and regular protests around the state do not appear worthy of coverage. 

Who do we hold responsible for that? The MIC, AIPAC, the two-party war machine in Washington? I'd say all the above.

Welcome to America - the bastion of democracy, free speech and freedom of the press!

Bruce  

 Here is a calendar invite. On Thursday, Oct 24 we will hold a protest in Portland, Maine at the Holiday Inn by the Bay (88 Spring St) from 11am to 1:00 pm. Inside the hotel will be the 'Maine Space Conference' where they are preparing to turn our state into a military space satellite production and launch site. Join our protest at this event. See more at https://www.mainespace2030.org/

Sunday song

 

German peace movement heating up

 

More than 10,000  demonstrators marched through central Berlin on Thursday, protesting against the German government's continued supply of weapons to Ukraine and criticizing Western nations for fueling the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. 

The rally coincided with German Unity Day but took on a somber tone as participants marched from three directions through the city toward Tiergarten Park, united in their call for diplomatic solutions to global conflicts.

Sahra Wagenknecht, who leads her own recently formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) party, was among the high-profile attendees. Addressing the crowd, she stressed the need for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve the Ukraine conflict. “I find it so annoying when people always come at us with their big morals saying you can’t talk to Putin for moral reasons,” she said.

Wagenknecht went on to blast the German government for following the US lead on foreign policy, and warned against the deployment of American intermediate-range missiles in the country that would be aimed at Russia. 

Starlink in Yemen: a Trojan horse for espionage?

 The unusual announcement that Starlink will offer its first West Asian satellite connectivity services in Yemen, of all places, has sparked a furor in Sanaa, with concerns that the project aims to infiltrate Yemen’s national security apparatus to reverse US–Israeli losses in the region’s waterways.

By Mawadda Iskandar

There is much concern that Elon Musk’s Starlink intends to provide satellite internet coverage to the US following the failure of its Red Sea “Operation Prosperity Guardian” alliance to curb Yemen’s pro-Palestinian front.

This conversation has gained traction since the company’s announcement on 18 September that it would launch services in Yemen after months of informal contracts with the Saudi-backed government in Aden. The timing of this announcement raised eyebrows, especially as it coincided with Israel’s terrorist attacks in Lebanon involving exploding pagers and walkie-talkies.

A US-backed initiative

Starlink is a satellite-based infrastructure developed by SpaceX, the subsidiary of billionaire Elon Musk – who is also a close friend of former US president Donald Trump. It is designed to provide high-speed internet access, particularly in remote areas like conflict zones, by deploying a network of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

The announcement that Yemen would be the first country in West Asia to have full access to its services surprised many – particularly because the US embassy in Yemen was quick to praise the move as an “achievement” that could unlock new opportunities.

The Ministry of Communications in the Aden government said that “the launch of the Starlink service came within the framework of efforts to face the challenges resulting from the conflict,” while Abdul Rahman al-Mahrami, the pro-UAE vice president of the Presidential Leadership Council, emphasized that Starlink would offer secure connections in the face of the ongoing conflict.

It is worth noting that the UAE had already provided Starlink services to its field hospitals in Gaza, even though Elon Musk had previously refused to offer them to the besieged enclave carpet-bombed by Israel for the past year.

Sanaa’s skepticism

The rival Sanaa government, under which most of Yemen’s population lives, was quick to warn that the Starlink project may pose a threat to Yemen and its national security. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansarallah’s political bureau, criticized the US embassy’s stance, which he says:

Confirms the relationship between the launch of Starlink and the war launched by America on Yemen, which threatens to expand the conflict to the orbits of outer space for the first time in history.

An official in Sanaa’s Ministry of Communications also stated:

This behavior clearly confirms the disdain of the mercenaries for the sovereignty and independence of Yemen and their willingness to harm the security and stability of the country in favor of foreign powers, so it was not surprising that the decision was welcomed by the Americans.

In March, the Financial Times reported that the US and UK faced intelligence shortfalls in their Red Sea campaign, particularly regarding the capabilities of the Ansarallah-aligned forces’ arsenal. This intelligence gap underlined the west’s need for a reliable spy network, and Starlink’s role in this context raises serious questions.

A Reuters report revealed that SpaceX had signed secret contracts with the US Department of Defense to develop a spy satellite system capable of detecting global threats in real time.

Major General Khaled Ghorab, a Yemeni expert in military affairs, tells The Cradle that the timing of this move is linked to US losses resulting from Yemen’s naval operations in the Red Sea. He believes the deployment of satellite communications is part of a broader strategy for a new kind of warfare that blends on-the-ground actions with satellite-based intelligence.

Against the backdrop of the recent pager explosions in Lebanon, Ghorab highlights the security risks inherent in this project, including the violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and the potential for Starlink’s use in supporting US and coalition military operations.

Israeli involvement

Another concerning aspect is the involvement of Israel. Israel’s spy satellites, OFEK-13 and OFEK-14, are reportedly linked to Starlink’s satellite network. SpaceX, as a third party, may provide critical guidance and intelligence to these satellites, further enhancing Tel Aviv’s surveillance capabilities in the region. This connection between Starlink and Israeli intelligence efforts has heightened fears in Yemen that the satellite network will be used to undermine the country’s security and sovereignty.

Currently, Starlink services are available primarily in Yemeni areas controlled by the Saudi and UAE-led coalition, although roaming packages allow temporary access in other regions. This has prompted concerns about data security, privacy, and the spread of misinformation, as unrestricted satellite internet bypasses local government control.

One of the most pressing issues is the potential for the leakage of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies, which could compromise Yemen’s national defense and security efforts. Additionally, there is a looming threat to individual privacy, as the network might be used to eavesdrop on personal communications without any form of local oversight. This could lead to breaches of private data on a large scale.

Moreover, cybersecurity risks are particularly troubling, as the network might be exploited for dangerous purposes, including facilitating terrorist activities like bombings. The presence of a global satellite internet service that bypasses local regulations raises concerns about its potential to disrupt local internet infrastructure.

A technological leap or a Trojan horse?

Starlink could also introduce unfair competition to local provider Yemen Net, further marginalizing the national telecom provider and hindering local development efforts.

At a societal level, unrestricted internet access carries the risk of exposing users to inappropriate content, spreading misinformation, and circumventing government censorship mechanisms. This poses a threat to social security, as it could facilitate the dissemination of harmful or destabilizing information.

So the risks of Starlink’s entry into Yemen are far-reaching, impacting not only security but also in also broader social, political, and economic dynamics.

Dr Youssef al-Hadri, a right-wing political affairs researcher, shared his views with The Cradle on the recent events in Lebanon and the ongoing electronic warfare involving the US and its allies. According to Hadri, intelligence agencies operating in areas under the control of the Sanaa government face challenges in detecting the locations of missiles, drones, and military manufacturing sites.

This shortfall became even more apparent after a major intelligence operation exposed a long-running spy cell in Yemen, with activities spanning across multiple sectors.

From the risk of espionage to the undermining of local telecom providers, the implications of Starlink’s operations extend far beyond providing internet access – they could become a vehicle for foreign influence and control.

The first step in confronting and countering this conspiracy is to initiate a comprehensive media and government campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers posed by Starlink. Then call for the criminalization of any collaboration with the company, equating it to acts of espionage.

In tandem, local telecom provider Yemen Net should prioritize improving service quality and reducing prices, thereby offering citizens a viable alternative and diminishing the appeal of foreign providers like Starlink.

~  Mawadda Iskandar is a journalist and a researcher specializing in Gulf affairs; she has produced several documentaries and published research. 

What does this tell us about Israel?

 

The Rational National

A new documentary dives deep on Israeli settlements. 

Above is a clip from it that's currently going viral on social media.

Really shows the extreme nature of the 'settler movement'.  

They are heartless when it comes to the extermination of Gaza and the West Bank. 

Full documentary is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQOtBztR7i4&t=0s

The Funnies....

 

Elbit Systems protest trial in New Hampshire

The 8 defendants prior to trial on Oct 1 for blocking entrance of Israeli Elbit Systems weapons factory in Merrimack, New Hampshire

On Monday eight of us stood trial before a judge in a New Hampshire District Court. The nature of our charges (Trespass and Resisting Arrest) under N.H. law do not allow a jury trial.

The first several hours of the trial were dominated by local, county and state police officers testifying about the nature of the March 22 action by our protest group that blocked the entrance of Elbit Systems. The early morning blockage, prior to workers arriving, lasted about five hours before cops (from various N.H. police departments) cleared the protest.

(Elbit makes weapons for Israel's genocidal attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and others. Elbit has weapons facilities in dozens of nations around the world. This is likely done to create jobs in the host country in hopes of 'buying international support' for Israel's colonial apartheid system.)

After lunch the defense team began our case. The judge would not allow the full testimony of one expert witness who tried to make the case about the rights and impacts of protest movements. 

Then came the testimony of an Iraqi immigrant young doctor who attended medical school in New Hampshire and now works in Portland, Maine. Yusuf was arrested with us at Elbit and spoke beautifully about the human toll of Israeli's genocidal attacks on the Palestinian people - thus his reason for joining the action. Surprisingly the judge let him talk so Yusuf was able to make many strong moral statements.

I testified next and talked about my role that day as police liaison. I described how I had previously taken this role at large protests in Portland and at the BIW naval shipyard (the destroyers built there are attacking Yemen in support of Israel).  I noted that the Portland Chief of Police thanked me for playing that role in a protest where arrests were made. Sadly the Merrimack police had no interest in communication with me once I introduced myself.  I was quickly arrested, hours before the others were.

On the street in front of the courthouse before the trial began.

I testified about my time of conversion having grown up in a military family and working on the Nixon presidential campaign in 1968. I tried to join the Air Force in early 1971 but failed my induction physical and had to get a waiver to allow me to join when most young men at that time would do nearly anything to get away from having to go fight in the US war against Vietnam. I talked about the daily rows of body bags lined up on the runway (also loaded with drugs sold to the GI's on base) and the regular protests outside of Travis AFB which was an airlift base for the war. GI's boarded huge transport planes, flew to Vietnam, and the planes returned the dead, walking wounded and future PTSD victims. My life was changed on that base. 

I told how, while still in the Air Force, I read the book form of The Pentagon Papers, a Rand Corporation secret history of Washington's war on Vietnam released to the media by whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. I told the court how I was devastated reading all the lies the government told the Congress and the public to sell the Vietnam war. Just as they have repeatedly done to promote wars in Iraq and now the US's complicity in Palestine and Lebanon. 

I closed by saying that I know that the Nuremberg Law Principles have been adopted as international law. This legal framework resulted from Hitler's WW2 army having committed genocide against the Jewish people across Europe. Nuremberg proclaims that all citizens have the legal right and duty to intervene to prevent such crimes when they are happening before our eyes. Still on the witness stand, I turned to the judge and said 'Even this court is required to honor Nuremberg Law'. The judge didn't buy this offer to join the resistance against US-UK-Israel-NATO war crimes.

Another of our expert witnesses (Lisa Savage was to talk about what Elbit does at the Merrimack facility) was pulled when the judge made it clear that he didn't wish to listen to another expert witness.

Once the closing statements were done, by the state prosecutor and our defense lawyer, the judge took a 15 minute break. When he returned to the courtroom the verdicts were announced. He held all of us guilty of trespass and declared that three of us were not guilty of Resisting Arrest (RA) but the other five were. I was one of the three that beat the RA rap.

We will have a sentencing meeting with the judge via zoom-type tech on October 7. We are facing considerable fines to cover costs of Merrimack police on the day of the protest event. 

Since I was the first arrested (early in the protest) I sat in a cop car hands cuffed behind my back for two hours listening to the police radio and heard calls for the 'bomb squad', paddy-wagons to take protesters away and reports of more police arriving from other nearby cities. During my testimony I described how I counted at least 50 cops and our attorney asked what they did. I answered that they stood around enjoying the 'show' and often laughing. One local reporter in Merrimack once told me that he'd worked for his media outlet for 20 years, 'but had never seen anything like this [protest] before'. 

The ingenious lock-downs of seven of the defendants to cement-filled tires and to a car with holes on each side, which allowed the activists to reach inside and lock to a third protester, astounded the cops and the media. The all wanted to be there to see how the show turned out. 

Inside the silver car was one activist hooked into a tube and then the two on either side of the car put their hands into a hole and hooked into the tube inside the car. Cops and media loved it. Likely will be one of the top memories from their careers....

Two hours after the event started the only woman police office on the scene was told to drive me to the jailhouse and book me. She was furious and took it out on me during my booking process. She didn't want to leave the show and likely knew she had to drive me because she was a woman. They eventually called her back to 'the scene of the crime'.

Iran strikes back

While we were in court we learned that Iran had launched hundreds of missiles at Israeli military and energy targets. They avoided hitting civilians - just the opposite of the way the zionists use terror attacks on innocent people.

It made the experience of the trial even more real for us and certainly more determined to continue organizing public protest events at US and Israeli weapons production facilities that are directly contributing to the war crimes now being committed in the Middle East.

Bruce

PS When I first shared info about the trial I heard from friends in Sweden and South Korea that they had Elbit Systems weapons facilities in their country. They reported that they were inspired to join the fight against Elbit. So our meager March 22 event has helped to spur other action which is good to hear.

War of words....

 

Professor at the University of Tehran, Mohammad Marandi, told Sky News that Iran "will hit Israel harder next time" after almost 200 missiles were launched at Israeli military bases. 

He said the latest attack "was only the tip of the iceberg".  

This media clown has the audacity to ask Professor Marandi, 'What Iran hoped to achieve with this attack on Israel's military installations?' 

What arrogance!

What does Israel think it is achieving with its ongoing genocidal attacks on Palestine and Lebanon?

These western colonialists have the gall to ask such stupid questions. It's time they took a peek in a mirror and saw the devil that they have become.... 

Space week events 2024 list

 

Ethics in Technology: October 1 Space issues Webinar with Bruce Gagnon at 6:00 pm PST  vahid.razavi1@gmail.com

Global Research News Hour, Canada: October 2 Interview with Bruce Gagnon and host Michael Welch about what people will be doing during Keep Space for Peace Week. Also how space tech aids the current wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine and how space and satellites are being used to further aggression. 11 am EST. michaelwelch121@yahoo.ca  

Vandenberg Space Force Base, California: October 2 Protest vigil at main gate where nuclear missiles and satellites are launched.  3:45-4:45 pm jdapel2@gmail.com

Bath Iron Works, Maine: October 5 Space week vigil at the General Dynamics Administration building on Washington St. 11:30-12:30. Navy Aegis destroyers are built at BIW that use space satellites to guide the missiles onboard these ships that have been attacking Yemen from the Red Sea. 207-763-4062 globalnet@mindspring.com

Andover, Massachusetts: October 6 Space week vigil at intersection of Rt 28 and Rt 133, Noon till 1:00. brian@quirk.ws

Jeju City, South Korea: October 7 Rally to protest Hanwha System, that is building the Space Center in Jeju, made an agreement on the technology and trade cooperation with Elbit Systems in Israel in 2021. The title is "Hanwha complicit in the genocide of Palestinians should leave Jeju". armha2013@gmail.com

Menwith Hill, England: October 8 Join the special Keep Space for Peace Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign protest at Menwith Hill in Yorkshire to highlight the United States surveillance and missile defence activity that makes us a significant military target. 6:00-7.30 pm  dave-webb@outlook.com

Whitehall (opposite Downing Street) London, England: October 9 Ministry of Defence. As part of the global Keep Space for Peace Week and especially in solidarity with PARC Not DARC who are campaigning to stop the Space Radar in Pembrokeshire, join Space Watch UK, CND and others outside the Ministry of Defence main building in Whitehall to call for a halt to the militarisation of space. Join us! Bring placards and banners! More details: 07960 811437. Noon-1:00 pm

St Louis, Missouri: October 10 Peace Economy Project hosts Space militarization and demilitarization Webinar with Bruce Gagnon at 3:00 pm EST peaceeconomyproject@gmail.com

Andover, Massachusetts: October 10 Space week vigil at Raytheon weapons production facility entrance, 2:30 PM till 3:30. brian@quirk.ws
 
White House, Washington DC: October 11 Keep Space for Peace signs at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker White House peace vigil at noon-1:00 pm. artlaffin@hotmail.com

USAF (RAF) Croughton, England: October 12 Noon-3pm Croughton is one of the largest international intelligence hubs. This major U.S. communication and intelligence base supports many US military sites in Europe and is involved in world-wide war operations. These include space communications, data links, military drone information, bomber guidance, missile defence, diplomatic communications, and command and control war fighting functions. A connected base is at Barford St John, Banbury, Oxfordshire.  oxfordcnd@phonecoop.coop

Global Network Space Issues Webinar: Sunday, Oct 13 at 3:00 pm EST. Speakers include Dave Webb (UK), Tamara Lorincz (Canada), Sung-Hee Choi (South Korea) and Peter Burt (UK) globalnet@mindspring.com

Vilnius, Lithuania: October 13 More info TBA

Creech Killer Drone Base, near Las Vegas: October 13-19 Shut Down Drone Warfare, Full week of Resistance www.ShutDownDroneWarfare.org

Daejeon, South Korea: National space issues grassroots organizing meeting October 18-20 armha2013@gmail.com

Visakhapatnam, India: Space issues presentation in local schools. Date TBA prabhakar.jalluri@gmail.com

•  Help spread our space issues videos from this YouTube library 

 https://www.youtube.com/@GNspace4peace   

Iran targets Israeli military bases

 

When Israel bombs its neighbors in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen can anyone be surprised that eventually nations fight back?

How far will the US-NATO go in coming to the aid of their fellow zionists in Israel?

It appears that Iran targeted some Israeli military bases as well as a couple of their primary offshore oil platforms with hundreds of missiles. 

In a statement about the attack, Iran said that it had “targeted three military bases: Nevatim, which houses F-35 aircraft, Netzarim, which houses F-15 jets used in the assassination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Tel Nof base near Tel Aviv with Fateh ballistic missiles.”

Will this lead to a nuclear response by Israel?

The US-UK-Israel-NATO arrogance has put them in a tough spot.

It would be a good idea to escalate pressure on the White House to oppose further cash and military aid to the zionists.

It would also be great for nations across the globe to cut their support for the genocidal apartheid Israel. 

Their day in the sun is indeed over.

WW3 is here.

Bruce  

See more here

History lesson: Comparing Algeria & Palestine

 

 

What is happening in #gaza and #palestine is terrifying. But during these dark moments it is important we look back at history and see what it can teach us about the present and future. 

This is how Algeria can explain whats happening in Gaza right now.

Any lessons to be learned by the west?