History lesson: Phoenix Program & the CIA

The CIA these days, along with FBI and other intelligence agencies in Washington, are being lauded as on the side of democracy as the Deep State attempts to take down Trump.

Douglas Valentine has written the definitive book on the Phoenix Program called 'CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World'.

Valentine is featured in a new article on the subject of the Phoenix Program and the current 'love' for the CIA, FBI and other Intel organizations by the 'liberal' media like MSNBC and CNN.

The article is called: Whose Side is the CIA On?  You can find it here.

Valentine reveals in his book that today's Department of Homeland Security was modeled on the  Vietnam-era Phoenix Program.  So these high-tech surveillance, identification, and tracking programs across America are the prelude to an ugly implementation of a Phoenix-style operation aimed at the American people.

Among the several former CIA agents featured in the video above is one of my heroes Philip Agee.  Agee grew up in Tampa, Florida and went to college at Notre Dame.  When he left the CIA he published a book 'Inside the Company', exposing many CIA operations & operatives.  George H. W. Bush (daddy Busy) was the director of the CIA at the time and called Agee the 'most dangerous man in the world.'  Bush got US allies in Europe to hound Agee as he ran from nation to nation trying to escape the vengeful arm of the CIA.

Agee's sister lived in Orlando where I was then working for the Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice.  She would often come to our office and help prepare mailings.  Once she put on a classical concert at her home as a fundraiser for the organization.  When I told her I was going on a speaking tour of Germany (in protest of a NASA plutonium space launch) she contacted Phil who was then living with his ballerina wife in Hamburg.  Phil graciously hosted me in his home for a couple days and took me to one of the best Italian restaurants I'd ever been to.  He guided us on a walking tour of some of the city before we ate.  When I left he handed me an autographed copy of his book 'On the Run' about his years escaping the grab of the CIA. The book is one of my most loved possessions and an excellent read.

Eventually things settled down and Phil was able to come back to the US and began speaking throughout the country.  His sister arranged for him to come speak at a packed Methodist Church in downtown Orlando to a statewide meeting that I organized.

Agee was a dedicated revolutionary who opposed Washington's world domination program with every fiber of his being.  He should not be forgotten.

Be warned and aware.

Bruce

Preparing for war with Russia

The corporate run US-NATO know they have a very short window to take Russia and China down before they become too strong and successfully resist Washington's domination agenda.  We just might already be at that tipping point and the Pentagon must know it but blusters toward Armageddon anyway.

We witness war preparations underway as well as frequent provocations in the effort to draw Moscow into a trap.

Imagine the money being wasted by US-NATO on this project.  Remember that Russia cut their military budget the last two years saying they needed those funds for social development.

If only we could say that here in the US - - that Congress and the White House had determined a collapsing America needed the funds now squandered on the war machine.  That would be a great day.  Instead Congress voted huge increases this year for the military industrial complex.

Many Americans, even peace activists, shy away from addressing the hyper Russia demonization going on in the west.  They are afraid to stick their necks out and call Washington for what it is - a war monger.  Anyone who objectively looks at the present situation (the US-NATO military advancement all along Russia's borders) and fails to see the signs of clear provocations has their eyes and hearts slammed shut.

I had a phone call last night from a peace activist in Connecticut who told me that the newly formed Poor People's Campaign in his state refuses to talk about or protest the huge nuclear submarine building operation in Groton run by General Dynamics.  I asked him who leads the group and he said mostly clergy.

In Maine it is a similar story.  The Poor People's Campaign in our state is largely run by clergy and also refuses to say a mumbling word about the huge destroyer shipyard here in Bath that is run by General Dynamics.

The Poor People's Campaign wants to see an end to the growing level of poverty in the US but on the local level is afraid to take on the manifestation of the cancer that is eating our nation alive - militarism.  It's a spiritual issue (go back and read Martin Luther King) and is an issue of priorities.

Why won't the clergy call for the conversion of the military industrial complex in America?  Could it be they fear losing some coins in the Sunday collection plate more than they fear the consequences of nuclear war?  (We often hear that these churches have members, family, friends working inside these military production facilities and it would not be nice to make these people feel uncomfortable by protesting outside their gates.)

It's really quite sad that after nearly 40 years working full time in the peace movement I find myself in a situation where I am almost begging my peers to wake up and smell the coffee when it comes to the US aggressive and dangerous policy towards Russia.  I've lived through the Cold War and before that the red-baiting years in America.  I know the power of those times to freeze people who fear being denounced as Russia lovers.  But at what point do we step back and note that its not really about loving Russia but instead its a matter of loving justice?

Where is the sanity and justice when the American bully rounds up the NATO posse and continually pokes and provokes the sleeping bear?  Isn't it apparent to all that the US policy to encircle Russia and China with a massive string of bases, missile defense deployments, and major war games is unacceptable?

Isn't it clear to all that spending a trillion dollars a year on endless war is bleeding our nation of the resources needed to have a just society?  Isn't it clear to the environmental community that the military is the biggest contributor to climate change?

The Saker writes on his blog the following:

The USA and Russia have been at war for several years now. Yes, this war is roughly 80% informational, 15% economic and only 5% kinetic. But this can change very rapidly. The main reasons for this war are not just the usual mix of grand power rivalries, economic and financial struggles, the desire to control raw materials or strategic geographical locations. These are all present this time too, but the deeper reason for this war is that Russia and the USA represent two mutually exclusive civilizational models. Very succinctly, Russia wants a multi-polar world in which each country is free to develop as its people see fit and in which international law regulates relations between nations. The Empire stands, well, for itself, of course. Meaning that it wants a single world hegemony ruled by the AngloZionists. Furthermore, Russia stands for traditional moral and spiritual values whereas the Empire stands for greed, globalism and the destruction of all traditions and moral values. It is pretty self-evident that these two systems cannot coexist. They present existential threats to each other. Russia will either become sovereign or enslaved. The Empire will either control the planet or crumble. Tertium non datur.

Why the silence?

Rattle your chains now folks while you still can.....

Bruce

Americans in Crimea

A delegation from the US consisting of four people arrived in Crimea within the framework of the people’s diplomacy project. They will stay on the peninsula until September 9th. During this time they will become acquainted with life in the Russian republic and learn about the real situation. It is important since, according to the human rights activist Sylvia Demarest, the American media distorts the real picture of the events on the peninsula.

“The picture of Crimea is absolutely inadequate. Americans are insufficiently informed about what really happens in Crimea. Now the media works in a new format, this is all thanks to the Internet and other media, that’s why what reaches the average American is absolutely untrue,” she said at a press conference in Simferopol.

The subject of Crimea isn’t especially important for the ordinary American, emphasized a member of the delegation, the businessman Michael Metz [former director of Cisco – ed]: “Ordinary Americans don’t think about Crimea, they don’t discuss this subject. They are more concerned about how to raise their children, how to pay the bills, how to work. Yes indeed, Crimea as a topic is often met in politics. But for most Americans their own problem are more essential, like for people in Russia”.

At the same time members of the delegation emphasized that they aren’t afraid of sanctions and the fact that after visiting the Crimea they will lose the opportunity to visit Ukraine. 

“I don’t worry at all and I don’t worry about what Ukraine will do. This is low on my list of my priorities,” added the member of Association of doctors pensioners Glenn Rennels.

If you click on this link here you can see the video of the Americans on TV - it is in Russian and English.

The spirit of resistance cannot be stopped

Long live the Palestinian people.  Long live their spirit and warm culture of family, sharing food and nurturing the land which gives us all life.

May the people of the world awaken to the sad and unjust plight of the Palestinians as Israel illegally robs them of their land with the full support of the United States.

The US and Israel are pirates.

The Palestinians have harmed no one.  Let them live in peace now and forever.

Let us all find a way to support the Palestinian people.

Bruce

Is U.S. risking big war over Syria?

US-Saudi-Israeli supported terrorists are being routed by Syria and their allies.

Does Syria have the right to fight against the US sponsored regime change operation inside its own country? Does Syria have the right to seek allies like Iran and Russia to help defend its sovereignty?

Should it be remembered that Israel wants that part of Syria to grab their oil deposits?

Iran knows its on the list for regime change - likely next on the list if you listen to John Bolton.

Russia knows its on the list for regime change too - the US has been talking about balkanizing Russia for years.

Thus things come to a head in Syria.  The US-Saudi-Israeli alliance thought the take over of Syria would be easy.  It was until Russia and Iran came on side with Damascus.

Now the US resorts to constant false flag chemical attacks in Syria to justify its continued illegal operations which are aimed at over throwing a legitimate government.  This is a war crime under international law but the US only wants to talk about 'international law' when it works for Washington - other wise fa-get-a-bout-it!

This war in Syria started in 2011 under Obama.  Syria rejected the use of its country for a pipeline route that US-Saudi-Qatar supported.  Wiki Leaks uncovered State Department cables giving the go-ahead for the CIA to create, arm, train and fund a terrorist force to overthrow the Syrian government.

With all the fracking going on across the US the fossil fuel corporations need an expanded market for that gas.  Thus Washington is working over time to force Europe to reject Russian and Iranian gas and sign up for the more expensive American supply.  This is a key reason why many European nations are souring on America's policies.

It's come to a head as the US (and its murderous friends) are being stood up to.  The playground bully which is used to being on top is now being told those days are over.  We are watching the outcome of US arrogance and aggression.

What we each do can help lessen the carnage to people, the environment,  and the resulting refugee crisis.

Bruce

U.S. plan to break Russia apart

The US State Department Openly Outlined Its Plans to Guarantee America’s Global Primacy

By Sergey Latyshev
Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard

Speaking in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the assistant to the Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Wess Mitchell stated that the US punishes Russia because Moscow prevents Washington from establishing control over Eurasia in order to restore its world supremacy…

The US, at last, openly admitted why they fight against Russia, and that they won’t accept any other outcome in the current confrontation with Moscow besides its capitulation, because America’s world supremacy is impossible without total control over Eurasia, which so far they don’t have.

All of this isn’t the conjectures of “conspiracy theorists” or “Putin’s propaganda”, but the quintessence of the policy of the US stated the other day by the assistant to the Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Wess Mitchell in his speech in front of members of Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Mitchell explained to the Senators that the State Department’s financing depends on the essence of the US’ policy towards Russia. He named the “recognition that America has entered a period of big-power competition” as “the starting point of the National Security Strategy”, having emphasised that the previous administrations weren’t sufficiently prepared for this and didn’t prepare the country for victory in this competition.

The senior representative of the State Department further emphasised: “Contrary to the hopeful assumptions of previous administrations, Russia and China are serious competitors that are building up the material and ideological wherewithal to contest US primacy and leadership in the 21st Century”.

And after that Mitchell detonated a bomb. However, this will be a surprise only for those who don’t understand that Russia is already in a state of active hybrid war with the US:

“It continues to be among the foremost national security interests of the United States to prevent the domination of the Eurasian landmass by hostile powers”.

And here Mitchell detonated an atomic bomb, with terrible destructive consequences, and not just an ordinary bomb.

Firstly, establishing total control over Eurasia is declared as the most important task for the US. A claim is made for the clear victory of the civilisation of the Sea over the civilisation of Land, the center and the only pillar of support of which is Russia. Secondly, Washington openly declared a priority of the most strictest demands of geopolitics of the most catastrophic character (The Sea must flood the Land) over any human rights trivialities used in “public diplomacy”.

Thirdly, a challenge is laid down to the very existence of Russia – it can stop its domination in its own geographical area of existence only having become fragmented or being divided into small puppet states. Fourthly, Russia is called a “hostile” country. This implies that hybrid war was declared to it long ago, and that the Americans will try, as Mitchell noted earlier, to win. Thus, he recognised that Moscow’s attempts to reach an agreement with Washington can be welcomed only if it is a question of capitulation.

Well and, lastly and fifthly, Mitchell’s mention of “hostile powers” in plural can only mean that he meant the strategic ally of Russia – China, the only independent power on the periphery of Eurasia. The US considers China to be its main economic competitor and military threat, which in some respects is just as mighty as the Russian threat, and in the long term even more dangerous. Thus, “preventing the domination” also of China in the open spaces of Eurasia provides this same scenario as for Russia: dismantling the Celestial Empire into which that compete for the attention and favor of Washington, and which don’t lay down any claims concerning geopolitics.

That’s the scale of things.

Should we prepare for the third world war?

In general, whatever one may do, Mitchell declared that the US prepares for a universal conflict, a new world war, and “the central aim of the administration’s foreign policy is to prepare our nation to confront this challenge by systematically strengthening the military, economic and political fundaments of American power”. The way to victory in it is the shattering of Russia, against which it is necessary, according to the plan of the State Department, to incline and unite its neighbors dancing to the tune of Washington and the American vassals in Europe.

Diplomacy, according to Mitchell, is a minor element in relations with Russia, which, by the way, influential circles in Moscow stubbornly refuse to recognise, cherishing the illusion to “agree” with Washington about something besides capitulation. The senior representative of the State Department clearly designated that “our Russia policy proceeds from the recognition that, to be effective, US diplomacy toward Russia must be backed by ‘military power that is second to none and fully integrated with our allies and all of our instruments of power'”.

Mitchell bragged that for the last one and a half years (when, we will add, the “Russian agent” Donald Trump was already sat in the White House) the US obtained from allies in NATO a $40 billion increase in military expenditure and “achieved virtually all policy objectives” in this direction, including the establishment within the framework of the North Atlantic alliance of two new Commands, the implementation of hybrid war preparations, and “major, multi-year initiatives to bolster the mobility, readiness, and capability of the Alliance”. Moreover, here it obviously means offense and not defense. And it is not only about NATO countries.

The language of Mitchell reveals that the US considers its policy towards Russia in military categories: “We have placed particular emphasis on bolstering the states of frontline Europe that are most susceptible to Russian geopolitical pressure. In Ukraine and Georgia, we lifted the previous administration’s restrictions on the acquisition of defensive weapons for resisting Russian territorial aggression”. The Caucasus, the Black Sea region, even Central Europe is called by Mitchell zones of geopolitical combat against Russia, competing “for hearts and minds”.

And here the US State Department according to him, finds itself on the front line: all 50 American diplomatic missions in Europe and Eurasia “develop, coordinate and execute tailored action plans for rebuffing Russian influence operations in their host countries”. In this regard the Balkans merited a special mention, where “American diplomacy has played a lead role in resolving the Greece Macedonia name dispute and is engaging with Serbia and Kosovo to propel the EU-led dialogue”.

It is unlikely that serious people had even the slightest doubts about who Russia and Greece owe for the crisis in their relations, that it’s not at all that Russian diplomats tried to disrupt mutual understanding between Athens and Skopje, and that they “bribed” someone, sometimes using for this purpose “spies in cassocks”. The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova, for example, directly pointed a finger at the Americans as the creators of the diplomatic scandal, declaring: “we know”. And now it is also Mitchell who confirmed that it is the State Department that did everything, and not the despised by Greeks Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who simply ran across to the side of Russia’s enemy.

Defeating Russia economically

“In tandem” with these efforts aimed at shattering Russia, according to Mitchell, the US carries out a whole series of events of an economic nature: 217 Russian physical and legal entities are under sanctions, six diplomatic missions are closed, “60 spies [were] removed from U.S. soil”, and the State Department “closely and effectively coordinated with European allies”. Here, by the way, Mitchell involuntarily admitted for what reason Anglo-Saxon intelligence agencies needed the “Skripal affair” and who organised this provocation.

The senior representative of State Department expressed satisfaction with the course of the economic war with Russia: “on average, sanctioned Russian firms” lose about a quarter of their operational revenue, the total asset evaluation of such a company falls by 50%, and it is thus compelled to reduce its staff by a third. According to the estimates of State Department experts given by Mitchell, “our sanctions, cumulatively, have cost the Russian government tens of billions of dollars on top of the broader impact on state-owned sectors and the chilling effect of U.S. sanctions on the Russian economy”. Mitchell gave the situation with the RUSAL company, and also attacks on the Russian ruble, which strongly lost weight for this reason, as an example of successful hybrid war against Russia.
 
We will crush them until they capitulate

However, if Russia stops resisting the US’ expansion in Eurasia – first of all, in Ukraine, stops countering the US’ policy in Syria – which Mitchell characterised as “Russian aggression”, and we will wave the white flag, then America will be ready to negotiate capitulation: “But in all of these areas, it is up to Russia, not America, to take the next step. Our policy remains unchanged: steady cost-imposition until Russia changes course”.

There are some more curious moments in Mitchell’s speech. By arguing about the policy of Russia, but without having the opportunity to know what it really consists of, he attributes American logic and its foreign policy methods to the actions of Moscow.

Self-exposure

Here are quotes:

“Our strategy is animated by the realization that the threat from Russia has evolved beyond being simply an external or military one; it includes unprecedentedly brazen influence operations orchestrated by the Kremlin (in reality – Washington – ed) on the soil of our allies and even here at home in the United States”.

“The threat from Russian influence operations existed long before our 2016 presidential election and will continue long after this election cycle, or the next, or the next. As the recent Facebook purges reveal, the Russian state has promoted fringe voices on the political left, not just the right, including groups who advocate violence, the storming of federal buildings and the overthrow of the U.S. government. Russia foments and funds controversial causes – and then foments and funds the causes opposed to those causes. Putin’s thesis is that the American Constitution is an experiment that will fail if challenged in the right way from within. Putin wants to break apart the American Republic, not by influencing an election or two, but by systematically inflaming the perceived fault-lines that exist within our society”.

Having accused modern Russia of using “Bolshevist” and “Soviet” methods in the geopolitical standoff with America, Mitchell made from Putin the “father” of the leading for quite some time US’ foreign policy doctrine – “a strategy of chaos for strategic effect”.

Thanks, Mr Mitchell, for your frankness

In general, it is worth being grateful to the prominent State Department employee. Mitchell not only outlined the purposes of the US’ foreign policy, but also revealed the methods that Washington intends to use to put them into practice, he showed everyone who is ready to look at the truth in the eyes what a frightening danger the US constitutes for the rest of the world and, first of all, for Russia.

A view from Maine

MB and I yesterday at the top of Mt Battie overlooking Camden harbor in Maine. Photo by our friend Marian Gurry Stanton.

No, I did not walk or climb all the way up there.  We drove.  In the past MB and I have walked to the top of Mt Battie but presently I am not in the condition to do that.

Although I must say that I am doing much better with my walking and most importantly I have kicked my meds to the curb at last.  Just taking over the counter pain relievers now and then.  Keeping the ice on the knee when needed as well.

Our two days up to this lovely part of Maine have been quite wonderful - weather has been nice and cool.

Saw in the Portland paper this morning that August was the hottest month in Maine recorded history. How can the climate change deniers continue to ignore what is starring us all in the face?

As we looked out over the ocean from the top of Mt Battie we saw an unusual haze over the area and I wondered out loud if the forest fires in the west have been carried by winds toward Maine? 

Bruce

Sunday song

Beautiful ceremony for a great man....

US-NATO lied to Russia

NATO is a metastasizing cancer that is growing beyond Europe. Not only is it encircling Russia by expanding into eastern Europe and the Balkans, but also in the Nordic north.

In addition NATO 'partnerships' are reaching into the Asia-Pacific signing up Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and more to encircle China.

NATO's goal is to replace the United Nations as the preeminent international decision making body which would make it easier to 'approve' illegal regime change operations where ever it wishes. The US shoves NATO membership down the throats of unwilling nations by buying off reluctant leaders and putting their own political hacks into prominent positions. Many times the populations of new NATO member countries don't approve of the decision to join the military alliance but they are forced into it anyway.

Currently we see the US pressuring Sweden and Finland to join NATO even though the public in those two nations do not wish to join.

NATO is a 'high class' terrorist outfit.

Truth and democracy are not high on NATO's priority list.

NATO is the military arm of corporate globalization.

Bruce

Save the Griz

Zionists brutalize pacifist Jews in Israel....

Israeli police spraying disgusting "Skunk water" in the face of Anti-Draft Protesters ("Skunk water" is a liquid that smells like raw sewage and was designed by chemists to nauseate people for days after exposure) at anti-Draft protest in Bnei Brak, [a city near Tel Aviv] on Monday, August 6, 2018 over the recent arrest of Nissan Rada, a religious Jewish boy who refused to serve in the Israeli army.

Religious Jews have been resisting recent efforts by the Israeli government to draft them, due to their firm belief that that the Zionist philosophy and its movement is contrary to the foundations of the Jewish religion, which include the belief that Jews are forbidden to wage wars against any nation.

Police were seen dragging the protesters brutally and dispersing the crowd with horses and water cannons, spraying colored water at high pressure directly on the crowd.

Dozens of people were reportedly arrested, and many were wounded and hospitalized.

A similar protest took place in Jerusalem on Thursday, Aug. 2 when 46 people were arrested and the police used similar tactics.
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One person on Facebook posted this question under the video:

Wait! So these Religious Jews are against Zionism. Does that make them "anti-Semitic," according to the logic of those who want to say that people in general who oppose militaristic Zionism are anti-Semitic?

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This is evil. It's fascism. It's a government that cares nothing about heart and soul - it smashes those most peaceful. Israel should be boycotted by the entire world.  Zionism is a cancer to Israel and to the world.

Bruce

Very important interviews.....

Abby Martin and Mike Prysner lay out exactly what happened to teleSUR and Empire Files.

The censorship from Fazebook and other social media outlets is getting worse by the day.

Living with a gem

This photo is of Mary Beth (MB) and me in Edinburgh, Scotland last June just prior to the annual Global Network conference in Oxford, England.  Dave Webb kindly arranged a day trip there from his home in Leeds and we spoke to a packed room that night.

MB is a social worker who works with the homeless in Portland - a 45 minute drive each way from Bath.  She's moved to just three days a week in order to have time for things at home.  Truthfully, she spends most of her days off doing social work in the Bath and Brunswick area with her 'peeps' - people she adores and helps care for - from 19 to 95 years old.  One of her brothers calls her a saint which is about right.

MB enjoyed the nightly pub visits while we were on the trip to the UK in June.  Being of Irish descent she likes her brew and the noisy company in a good pub.  It reminds her I think of a Sullivan (Boston area) family get together.

But truth is that the UK trip was a working trip - daily traveling and speaking.  Not complaining but MB (and me) have not had a real break this summer.  We both need one.

Since my knee operation on July 16 MB has been watching over me like a mama bear.  Even when  she's been so tired she can't even see straight she still gives my bum knee a massage and often gives one to my good leg too for its extra hard service during this past month.

MB's heart is bigger than imaginable.  I love her and am grateful for all she does for me and everyone else. 

One of her childhood friends called from Massachusetts and wants to come up to Maine for the Labor Day weekend.  So the three of us are going to get away for a couple days.  That is exciting and I know we both need a bit of a change of scene.  Maybe there will be a pub visit as well.

Bruce

U.S. cops being trained by Israeli military

Why?

What are US cops being trained for with these brutal tactics that are used on Palestinians?

Are the American people going to be put inside Gaza-like occupation zones and subjected to never ending check points and harsh treatments?

What is the reason this is happening?

And then there is this nonsense reveled in the video below about Congress (now virtually under the control of AIPAC) pushing legislation to criminalize criticism of Israel and any support for the BDS movement.  Such much for democracy - yeah.....

What kind of seed?

Fellow Mainer Regis Tremblay graciously agreed to interview me for the recent taping of This Issue - my public access TV show that airs on about 17 stations across Maine.

At the time this was filmed I was still in the thick of the more painful part of my knee replacement surgery recovery process.  My voice was weaker than I had imagined it would be.

But thanks to the energy from Regis and his animated questions I got by.

It is really such an important subject to discuss - space.

What kind of seed should we take with us as we move off this planet?

Bruce

Preparing for Keep Space for Peace Week

Since the 1990's the US Space Command (soon likely to be transformed into the Space Force) has been saying that America must 'control and dominate space and deny other nations access to space'.  The US says that it will be the 'Master of Space'.

Every year since 2001 the Global Network has organized Keep Space for Peace Week in October.  Just today I emailed around the first few events that we know have already been scheduled during the protest week.  I got a call from one group in Philadelphia and another in California who are also working to set in motion events.  My experience over the years of doing this is that individuals and organizations will during the month of September begin making their plans for space week.

This year's events are more crucial than ever as we face the recent Trump proposal to create the 'Space Force'.  In our local newspapers, just during the last week, there have been two major articles supporting this proposal which must in the end be approved by Congress.

In the early 1980's when Ronald Reagan came out with his Star Wars proposal it was met with much derision by the mainstream media.  But this time around the media has been consolidated into fewer corporate hands.  In fact many of the companies inside the military industrial complex have invested their massive war profits since the 1980's into buying up radio, TV and newspapers so currently there is little 'mainstream' critical analysis about the cost and provocative nature of the US desire to dominate space.

The need for public expression against moving the arms race into space - what the Pentagon has said will be the largest industrial project in human history - is needed now more than ever. Much of the public never hears or sees any real opposition to crazy ideas like the Space Force due to this corporate media consolidation thus while citizens might be opposed to the idea they go along with it because they've given up hope of changing any thing - they see or hear of little opposition. 

Keep Space for Peace Week (October 6-13) plays an important role in our effort to help enliven the public to speak out against such a historically dangerous proposal to move the arms race into the heavens.

If you organize any event during space week in your community please do let us know so we can add it to the list of actions.  At the very least write a letter to the editor of your local corporate owned newspaper and tell them how you feel about the idea.

You can see our space week poster - No Space Force - here

Bruce

Help us link endless war & climate change

In Portland, Maine.  Please join us.

Sunday song

Steady progress in my recovery

It's been 39 days since my knee replacement surgery.  I am getting out more often walking and going to the YMCA where I ride the stationary bike (which feels really good).  My Physical Therapist pushes me hard twice each week to bend the knee and break through the scar tissue.

Two days ago Mary Beth took me to see the doctor for the first time since the operation.  He was very pleased with the healing of the incision and the progress I am making with using the leg.  He decided I could skip the next appointment and just come back in early October.  He's such a nice man - I really grew to like him so much.

The hardest thing for me has been to give up the heavy duty meds which I did a few days ago but resumed taking at 2:00 am last night while once again failing to get to sleep.  They help block the sensation of pain and discomfort.  While not taking them, each night was full of frustrating tossing and turning, getting up, coming back to bed and cursing the night.  My knee is still mostly numb and the nerves are now and again 'firing' as if trying to reconnect.  The doctor says the discomfort is normal (when you quit the meds it's obviously predictable) and suggested I try over the counter pills which so far have been little help to me. 

I get the most relief from frequent icing of the knee. 

In the meantime I've been able to get some work done though the resulting stiffness while sitting at my desk limits my time there.  But I've been generally keeping up with my work and have continued doing a couple of radio interviews each week on the Trump Space Force proposal.  Thank goodness for Global Network advisory board member Karl Grossman who has been a man on fire writing numerous articles, doing radio interviews and more.  It's really been great to have him filling the gap at this crucial time.

I'm also doing prep work to put in motion my trip to Moscow in mid-October that is intended to make arrangements for a larger group trip (25 activists from the GN and Veterans For Peace).  It's been quite wonderful to see the excitement and interest in the study tour that we will take to Russia in the spring of 2019.  We are sadly going to have to turn some people away - but that just might force us to organize a second one later in 2019.  We'll see how that all goes.

I highly recommend an excellent and interesting article on Putin that ran in the Canadian Dimension magazine earlier this year.  See it here

Bruce