FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 5th 2011
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Kevin B. Zeese
KBZeese at Gmail.com, 518-543-6920
Americans from Across the Political Spectrum Call for End to U.S. Militarism
Washington, DC: Putting aside political differences on other issues, Americans from across the political spectrum have sent a letter to the president and congress urging an end to U.S. militarism. The letter, spearheaded by Come Home America, cites a combination of events that present a “historic opportunity to redirect U.S. foreign policy down the pathways of peace, liberty, justice, respect for community, obedience to the rule of law and fiscal responsibility.” The full letter with all signers can be seen at www.ComeHomeAmerica.US.
The letter was signed by advisers to Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton; by former presidential candidates of the Libertarian, Socialist and Green Parties as well as independent, Ralph Nader and by representatives of think tanks including the Institute for Policy Studies, The Independent Institute, The Future of Freedom Foundation, Hoover Institution, Ludwig von Mises Institute and Just Foreign Policy, and a wide range of publications including The American Conservative, Antiwar.com, Black Agenda Report, Black Commentator, FireDogLake.com, Liberty for All, Liberty for America, OpEdNews.com, The Progressive, Progressive Review, Raw Story, OpEdNews.com and Reason.
Among the signers are:
Doug Bandow, Former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan
Robert Dickson Crane, Richard Nixon’s principal foreign policy adviser, 1963-68, Deputy Director for Planning, National Security Council, 1969
Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers whistleblower
Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor, Tikkun Magazine, Chair, The Network of Spiritual Progressives
Tom Maertens, Former Director, National Security Council under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush
Daniel McCarthy, Editor, American Conservative
Coleen Rowley, Former FBI Agent and one of TIME’s 2002 Persons of the Year
Ann Wright, US Army Colonel (ret.) and former US diplomat
The letter emphasizes how U.S. militarism undermines the rule of law, weakens the economy, makes Americans less safe and brings widespread and pointless suffering around the world. The letter concludes, citing our founding president:
“George Washington urged Americans to ‘cultivate peace and harmony with all’ and to ‘avoid overgrown military establishments,” which are “hostile to republican liberty.’ It is time for Americans to reject fear and militarism and embrace the highest, noblest aspirations of our heritage. It is time to come home, America.”
If you would like to read the full text and sign the letter, click here.
Now just watch some jackass scream hysterically about "isolationists".
Yup – and the proper response to that is: "Then grab a gun and go, jack-ass!"
Nice to hear a positive development for a change!
Good news, as far as it goes. Now, what exactly are they planning to do about it? and please don't say "encourage everyone to vote for peace candidates." This is not to say we shouldn't vote for a Paul or a Kucinich, but even sincere antiwar pols need an uncompromising movement in the streets to back their official maneuvers.
I respect antiwar.com's decision to not join in the october2011.org's occupation of D.C., but I believe they owe their readers the respec to explain why they are not participating and allow their readers to decide for themselves as to if they will support it. The antiwar movement has been to weak until now to not use any vehicle possible to stop the war in the Middle East.
This group have a diverse crowd of individuals behind it, some are regular contributors to antiwar.com. Go ahead and explain what you don't support about the movement, don't even go, but let your readers know about it. We can't afford to not slap these politicians every chance we get. At this point I think any chance to stem the tide of militarism is a good thing. We can argue about the other issues later, but let's see if we can end the war. Let's let D.C. know we can organize and will no longer accept their BS.
I respect antiwar.com's decision to not join in the october2011.org's occupation of D.C., but I believe they owe their readers the respect to explain why they are not participating and allow their readers to decide for themselves as to if they will support it. The antiwar movement has been too weak until now to not use any vehicle possible to stop the war in the Middle East.
This group has a diverse crowd of individuals behind it. Some are regular contributors to antiwar.com. Justin should go ahead and explain what he does not support about the movement, but still advertise it. He need not even attend, but he should let his readers know about it. We can't afford to not slap these politicians every chance we get. At this point I think any chance to stem the tide of militarism is a good thing. We can argue about the other issues later, but let's see if we can end the war now. Let's let D.C. know we can organize and will no longer accept their BS.
Think about it this way. At least the pandering congress has finally understood what the people want. However, as I know that they are just telling us what we want to hear I won't hold my breath.
Although USA been a militarism regime for last 60 or so years.., with a gun in other nations head demanding to give to USA everything they got and anything that USA asking.., or for that matter bribing corrupt governments all over the world.., yet is about time for American people to wake up and demand for democracy to work for the people.., after all.., democracy once again was chosen by the people and for the people for last 3 years or so to work for people and not the American corporatism.
Here, once again people choice been democracy, a functioning system based on the transition of US economic and social political situation without any kind of war or lies by yet another president.., once again the history in deception has repeated itself and once again people witnessing another war this time in Libya.., another Arab nation among those which been bombed and betrayed by USA government. It seams that every president needs to have a war in their name for people not to forget about where they live and what the system is made of or is about.., a police state at home and a militarism regime abroad.
As much as people around the world been suffering being held on USA government gun point.., so is been the case with freedom lovers, patriots, socialists, communists and antiwar movements throughout these years demanding to stop these wars and cutting the militarism spending where the only result been the more suffering of people of all nationality .., here president after presidents been deceiving people by lying to them where such lies resulted for yet another war and Libya is one of them.
Although Barack Hussein Obama might read the letter or going to be told of its contents but the question is if he is going to react to it or even finding it interesting.., thus far it seams that he is more engaged in pleasing his NATO partners in Libya war and US congress is engaged in to cut a deal in increasing the government barrowing gap then just voting positive in stopping the Libya war or the US militarism spending.., here for president ordering a Stop to Libya bombing or as they say “assisting NATO bombing campaign in Libya” and stop the war in Afghanistan and Iraq bringing solders home.