UK Anti-militarism Newswire Archive
Different Venue, Same Hollow Promises
29-11-2007 18:13
ALERT: Annapolis a Charade: Olmert Plotting Massive AggressionIn Germany, according to historian Richard Evans, in 1931-1932, if enough Germans of conscience had begun to say No -- history would have had an entirely diferent outcome.
If we go any further down this road the tears will be those of conservatives as well as progressives. They will be (Israeli) tears.
The time for weeping has to stop; the time for confronting must begin.
Adapted from "American Tears"
www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/american-tears_b_68141.html
The timing is interesting, given the upcoming "Annapolis Conference", which serves to be about PR alone, as Olmert has already ruled out any Negotiations or Compromise in the name of peace.
If you follow the events surrounding Israel's "Disengagement" from Gaza, you will quickly understand that this was the plan all along. While Israel was making a public spectacle of "forcing Jews to leave their homes", it was quietly surrounding the Strip with artillery emplacements, in an operation ominously named "First Rain".
Under this operation, Gaza basically became a "Free-Fire Zone", and several artillery and gunship strikes killed a high number of civilians. Finally, when one of these batteries fired upon and murdered a Palestinian family - picnicking on a beach that had been Segregated "Jews Only" only weeks before, Hamas finally decided to call an end to its unilateral, two-year cease-fire.
(In essence, they took Israel's bait. After all, you can't excuse your Aggression and label it "defense" if you're not being intermittently attacked. Never mind the hypocrisy underlying the entire media's framing of that whole debate ...)
When the Palestinians responded by electing Hamas to power (yes, elected), Israeli Extremists and their Ideological, bought foreign co-conspirators imposed unilateral sanctions on Gaza, a bit of Collective Punishment which increased the hardship of those stuck in the world's largest Concentration Camp.
When they felt Gaza had been substantially weakened, the US and Israel undertook a Coup attempt, using corrupt elements within the Fatah Party, provoking a violent response by Hamas, which expelled the group. Most of the world's media ignored the events leading to this "crisis", and instead only repeated the Propaganda emanating from the US and Israel, which used this to further increase sanctions against Gaza.
Most recently, Israel stepped up its Collective Punishment, except that human rights groups and legal advisors to the Government halted some of its approved measures, because they run contrary to International Humanitarian Law.
This was sold as another "response to rocket attacks" (again highlighting the hypocrisy of the debate's Framing - are the Palestinians allowed to defend themselves from strikes which actually KILL people ... ?), even though high-ranking officials said that this was NOT, in fact, a response to these attacks, but a way to "distance Israel from Gaza's infrastructure".
The real reason for this whole episode, of course, has been to "soften up" the Gaza Strip for a long-planned military attack, a way to undermine the resolve, and hopefully rid this territory of Palestinians altogether.
Olmert signalled long ago that he would not entertain any serious discussions at this summit, essentially selling out the Israeli public's desire for peace.
http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?8076S Freedom to Protest March: Stop Hitler's bomb builders buying Brighton base.
29-11-2007 17:53
Demonstration on the 19th of January in central Brighton, protesting about recent police repression at the Brighton bomb factory. There have been 15 arests since August for singing, shouting and generally expressing opinions about the presecence of an arms factory in thier community.British Forces & Press Sleepwalking Into World War III?
29-11-2007 01:45
BAE Systems accused of corruption in eastern Europe
29-11-2007 00:36
Sleazebags BAE Systems face yet another allegation of foul play.Iraq: Looking Back: 'Internationally Sponsored Genocide'
28-11-2007 17:55
As you know, when I was here in April/May 1992, I thought things could get no worse. Yet in July this year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations note in a Report: '..with deep regret', all the: 'pre-famine indicators being in place'. Further that an appreciable proportion of the population now had less calorific intake than the most famine stricken parts of Africa.The Five Cuban Prisoners --- Defending Against Terrorism
28-11-2007 16:37
Arab States Brand Annapolis Futile Media Event
28-11-2007 16:02
The fact that Israel's ruling Extremists have planned massive attacks on Gaza, the W. Bank, and possibly Lebanon to follow the event, they appear to be correct. They, and the media, have made much of the meme that a failure at the meeting will result in violence, while ignoring the warnings from Israel's defense staff that recent measures of Collective Punishment will provoke violence.It appears they plan to confuse the two, and Frame their planned aggression as a 'response' to this violence, which they will blame on Annapolis.
Why Have Enrichment Plants When there are no Reactors?
27-11-2007 23:30
At a conference in Paris on Thursday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Mr. Javier Solana, said Iran’s stated ambitions concerning its enriched uranium output were inconsistent with its acquisition of the civilian nuclear technology that would justify it. He said: “It is a bit like if you were trying to make your own fuel before having purchased a car and learned how to drive,”Unfortunately, Mr. Solana’s comment is misguided.
Annapolis (by Latuff)
27-11-2007 11:49
2007 Benn Lecture - Andrew Gilligan
27-11-2007 01:31
Home Office Consultation - Protesting around parliament
26-11-2007 19:51
Recently the Home Office released a consultation paper to gauge the public's feelings around protesting in and around Parliament. This is an opportunity to let our thoughts and feelings be known.Ex-Defence Chiefs paid by arms industry
25-11-2007 20:18
Corporate news media ignore fraud and corruption on UK arms contracts, and back call for even higher military spending.Radioactive Ammunition Fired in Middle East May Claim More Lives Than Hiroshima
25-11-2007 17:23
By firing radioactive ammunition, the U.S., U.K., and Israel may have triggered a nuclear holocaust in the Middle East that, over time, will prove deadlier than the U.S. atomic bombing of Japan.So much ammunition containing depleted uranium(DU) has been fired, asserts nuclear authority Leuren Moret, "The genetic future of the Iraqi people for the most part, is destroyed."
"fascists4free speech" are like homicidal peadophiles for childcare,oxymoronic
25-11-2007 16:57
If Nazis got into power they would abuse debate, then kill itWhy is the Oxford Union legitimizing,giving a platform& trying to make nazi apologisers champions of free speech?
If they dont want to extol Nazis views why did they invite 2 nazi apologisers to discuss free speech instead of Zapatistas,anarchists, activists from China or other popular activists with less access to mass media outlets?
Totally Immoral - A Day of Action against Total Oil
25-11-2007 15:41
Total Oil: Pull Out of Burma Now - Pictures
25-11-2007 10:22
Manufacturing Consent for World War III
24-11-2007 23:18
“When President Bush used an October 17 [2007] White House press conference to threaten that the escalating US confrontation with Iran posed a danger of ‘World War III’ his remark was passed over in silence by most of the media. Those that did report it seemed, for the most part, to accept the White House claim that the president was engaging in hyperbole and merely making a ‘rhetorical point.’” Bill Van Auken (2007).Iran: The Neocon Agenda to Sacrifice the Fifth Fleet – The New Pearl Harbor
24-11-2007 21:23
The US’s War In Darfur
23-11-2007 19:23
The Darfur region of Sudan possesses the third largest copper and the fourth largest uranium deposits on the planet, in addition to strategic location and significant oil resources of its own. Is the US-based “Save Darfur” movement snowing the US public on the fundamental nature of the conflict in Sudan? Are “Save Darfur” and the prevention of genocide the covers of convenience for the next round of US oil and resource wars on the African continent?Israel Sets the Stage for a Massive, $60 Billion Military Buildup
23-11-2007 15:11
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi approved today (Sept 3rd, 2007) the Israel defense Forces (IDF) five year military procurement plan under the codename "TEFEN 2012" projecting expenditure of US$60 billion over five years between 2008 and 2012. http://www.defense-update.com/analysis/analysis_030907_israel.htm The program reflects the IDF's utilization of the increased US military aid supporting about 75% of the program. The US$30 Billion additional military aid to be allocated over 10 years was committed by the USA last month to support Israel's military buildup will play an instrumental role in the new revitalization program and, will most probably influence some of the IDF procurement decisions. TEFEN will be submitted to government approval by January 2008.