Bolton: Gaza raids precursor to Iran war 31 Dec 2008
Former top US diplomat John Bolton says Israeli strikes on Gaza have ignited a
multi-front war which could lead to a US attack on Iran. Bolton, a former US
ambassador to the UN, accused Iran of supplying arms and equipment to Hamas and
making efforts to develop a nuclear bomb. "I don't think there's anything at
this point standing between Iran and nuclear weapons other than the possibility
of the use of military force possibly by the United States, possibly by Israel,"
Bolton told FoxNews. "So while our focus obviously is on Gaza right now, this
could turn out to be a much larger conflict," said the hawkish US official,
adding, "We're looking at potentially a multi-front war."

Iran on full alert in wake of Israeli raids 31 Dec 2008
Iran's Air Force is on alert after the country's president envisaged major
regional developments in the wake of the Israeli raids on Gaza. The chief
Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shah-Safi said on Wednesday
that the ongoing critical situation in the Middle East has prompted the Iranian
military to take necessary measures to ensure readiness in the event of the
country becoming the target of an offensive.

Israel
calls in thousands of reservists 31 Dec 2008 Israel has
summoned 2,500 extra reserve forces who will join those stationed along Gaza
amid talk of a ground incursion into the strip. The order raised the number of
reservists Israel has mobilized for the Gaza operation to 9,200, Israel's
Debkafile reported on Wednesday.

US 'not to stomach defeat in Gaza' 31 Dec 2008 Washington is
reportedly "worried" that Hamas may gain in popularity if US-backed Israeli
attacks on Gaza amount to a war of attrition. A new report has revealed that the
5-day-old Israeli military campaign against Gaza has made the Bush
administration increasingly nervous as the number of Palestinian casualties
continues to rise. Washington is extremely concerned that if the massive
offensive against one of the most populated areas on earth does not lead to the
fall of Hamas, support for the Palestinian group may increase, the Los
Angeles Times reported on Wednesday.

...<< MORE >>

Dear Bob Ranney,



Thank you for signing our "Special Prosecutor for Bush War Crimes" petition

at:

http://www.democrats.com/special-prosecutor-for-bush-war-crimes



As the 6077th person to sign this petition, you are helping us reach our goal

of 100000 signatures.



You can help make this petition a success by sharing this petition with your

friends and family. Petitions will succeed only by word of mouth, and every

signature makes a difference! Forward our sample email below, or simply send

your friends this link:

http://www.democrats.com/special-prosecutor-for-bush-war-crimes?source=rjranney%40sbcglobal.net



Thank you again for making a difference!



Bob Fertik

Democrats.com
...<< MORE >>

Send
Bush Your Shoes!

America:
We were unable to give President [sic] Bush the boot, but we *can* give
him the shoe!

"This
is a farewell kiss, you dog!"

It
is time to carpet the lawn of the White House and carpet both the lawns
of Bush's new homes.

What better way to stand in solidarity with Iraqi
television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi?

Contacting
the White House

The White
House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

10151/10141
Daria Place

Dallas, TX 75229

*****

Bush
shoe-thrower in hospital after beating: brother
16 Dec 2008 The Iraqi journalist who hurled shoes at US President [sic]
George W. Bush is in hospital after being beaten up by security guards,
his brother charged on Tuesday, as judicial authorities launched a probe
into the incident. "He has been taken to Ibn Sina hospital because he
has a broken arm and ribs and is also suffering injuries to his eye and
leg," Durgham al-Zaidi said of his brother Muntazer.

Shoe
thrower 'beaten in custody'
16 Dec 2008 The brother of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at
US President [sic] George W Bush has said that the reporter has been beaten
in custody. Muntadar al-Zaidi has allegedly suffered a broken arm, broken
ribs and internal bleeding, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC.
Mr Zaidi threw his shoes at Mr Bush at a news conference, calling him
"a dog".

...<< MORE >>

This short story fingers Rumsfeld.  John McCain is ready to prosecute him.  Why is Obama doing nothing?

Bob

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Senate_report_Rumsfeld_to_blame_for_1211.html ...<< MORE >>

Pentagon approves Iraq weapons sales worth up to $6
billion 10 Dec 2008 The U.S. 'Defense' Department on Wednesday said it
had approved the sale to Iraq of weapons valued at up to $6 billion, including
400 Stryker wheeled vehicles, military radios, training aircraft, 20 coastal
patrol boats and 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks. [Mission accomplished!]

UN chief slams "heinous" bomb attack in Iraq 13 Dec 2008
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday strongly condemned Thursday's
"heinous" [Blackwater?] bomb attack in Kirkuk in northern Iraq, which killed
dozens of people, including children. "No cause can justify such inhumane and
indiscriminate violence," Ban said in a statement issued by his press office.

...<< MORE >>

Protesters scrawled graffiti warning about a looming
"insurrection." Riots Spread From Greece Across Europe 11 Dec 2008 The unrest that
has gripped Greece is spilling over into the rest of Europe, raising concerns
the clashes could be a trigger for opponents of globalization, disaffected youth
and others outraged by the continent's economic turmoil and soaring
unemployment. Protesters in Spain, Denmark and Italy smashed shop windows,
pelted police with bottles and attacked banks this week, while in France, cars
were set ablaze Thursday outside the Greek consulate in Bordeaux, where
protesters scrawled graffiti warning about a looming "insurrection." ...<< MORE >>

 National
Assembly with enormous energy, unleashed by the Friday night speaker
trio of Tom Hayden, USAction/True Majority President William McNary,
and writer-activist Antonio Juhasz, as well as a visit by a leader of
the union from the victorious Republic Windows struggle. Hundreds of
delegates from UFPJ member groups have now descended on Chicago, IL, to
take part in the largest antiwar coalition's National Assembly and to
make effective organizing plans and strategies for the year ahead.

Afternoon
skills-training sessions and educational seminars laid the foundation
for a powerful evening which began with a detailed explanation of the
events at Republic Windows and Doors by Armando Robles, the president
of the local United Electrical Workers. His comments reminded everyone
that when people act collectively and boldly in the face of great
obstacles they can succeed. The collection after his talk raised more
than $2,000 for the fund being created to help the workers and their
families during this difficult period.

Next
came an eloquent and insightful speech by UFPJ National Coordinator
Leslie Cagan. Noting the changed political environment -- one imbued
with enormous public energy and excitement following the Obama campaign
-- Cagan stressed the need to make sense of the new circumstances in
which the peace and justice movement will work, to take stock of what
needs to be done to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as we connect
to the struggles brought on by the economic crisis, and to start
organizing with the fervor and energy that the times demand of us. She
highlighted our movement's successes in turning public opinion strongly
against the war in Iraq and in keeping public activism alive during the
difficult Bush years, as well as the shortcomings thus far in actually
ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Finally,
long-time activist Tom Hayden took the stage to share his experiences
in the antiwar movement and the dire need -- now more than ever -- to
truly unite the various progressive movements to end foreign aggression
and to start refocusing our resources on local community needs. Hayden
warned of the danger that the antiwar movement has long found itself --
being fractured from other progressive groups focused on domestic
concerns -- and stated clearly that we must learn from past mistakes
and see how interconnected military spending and aggression and
community deprivation truly are.

Hayden's
plea for progressive unity was followed by USAction/True Majority
President William McNary's stirring and stimulating speech, as he
pounded on the podium demanding that us 'passionate progressives'
organize the most inclusive movement possible, one that invites all to
participate besides those who advocate racism, sexism, homophobia, and
economic exploitation. McNary inflamed the delegates, bringing everyone
to their feet, infusing the Assembly with the hope and energy needed to
sustain the movement in the year ahead. Concluding his short sermon,
McNary said the movement must engage in three important things,
'Organize! Organize! Organize!'

Antonio
Juhasz closed the session with a focused analysis of the central role
of the oil industry in setting this country's military and economic
agendas. She implored the Assembly participants, and our movement more
generally, to develop organizing plans aimed at directly challenging
the massive power of the biggest industry of our country. Her talk
pointed to the urgent need to connect the antiwar movement with the
movements to save the environment and to challenge corporate control,
and she included a passionate reminder that we can take on even the
largest of corporate interests.

Today,
Saturday, delegates from UFPJ member groups will work to re-envision
the purpose and goals of the coalition for the year ahead and to plan
effective and coordinated action in this new political and economic
environment. With Friday night's energy, the hope is strong that UFPJ
will create a strategic organizing plan for this next year and
implement it with a spirit of fervor and excitement -- creating the
change we need by ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and
refocusing our resources back towards the needs of people, the
communities they live in, and the hopes they carry with them.

...<< MORE >>

Dear Friends - This item thanks to Jean Blackwood.

Shministim. Have you heard of them? I have – just now. And once I heard about them, I had to do something.

The Shministim – all about ages 16, 17, 18 and in the 12th grade – are a new breed of conscientious objectors in Israel
and right now they are taking a stand. They believe in a better, more
peaceful future for themselves and for Israelis and Palestinians, and
they are refusing to join the Israeli army. They're in jail, holding
strong against immense pressure from family, friends and the Israeli
government. They need our support and they need it today.

The
Shministim have asked Jewish Voice for Peace
to reach out to people like us to let the Israeli government know we
are watching, and that we support their courage. They're hoping to
receive hundreds of thousands of postcards to be delivered to the Israeli Minister of Defense on December 18th, when they will hold a massive rally and press conference.
They're hoping to stand strong on the steps of this majestic building -
and on the steps of history - representing not only the thousands of
refuseniks who came before them, not only the many young people to whom
they are an example of a better world, but also to represent us. They
have asked you, me, and every person who strives for peace to be on
those steps with them, on that day. I will be there. I find hope in
these couragous young people.

Will you join me? It’s simple. Sign a letter. Click here: http://www.december18th.org/ ...<< MORE >>

You
can bring YES WE CAN End War messages to your community by hosting or
attending an End of Bush party between November 7th and November 23rd. CREDO Mobile will reimburse you up to $100 for non-alcohol related expenses if you get at least 10 people to sign up online. To get started on hosting your own or joining an already planned party, click here.
It's a fabulous chance to celebrate with friends and neighbors and
bring the hope and excitement of the election forward into effective
mobilization for change! ...<< MORE >>

Here is a link to a most interesting little video that all PNO members will be interested in.  Please join the effort to influence the new adminstration in whatever way you see fit, but this looks like a viable option to me.
http://www.november5.org/

Bob Ranney
...<< MORE >>