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Friday, September 27, 2013

[haw-info] HAW Notes 9/27/13: Links to recent articles of interest


Links to Recent Articles of Interest

By Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch.com, posted September 26
By Phyllis Bennis, The Nation blog, posted September 25

By David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org, posted September 25

By Richard Kreitner, Salon.com, posted September 21

By Bernard A. Weisberger, Bill Moyers blog, posted September 18
The author formerly taught history at the University of Chicago and the University of Rochester, where he was department chair

By William J. Astore, History News Network, posted September 16
The author teaches history at the Pennsylvania College of Technology

By Lawrence S. Wittner, History News Network, posted September 16
The author is an emeritus professor of history at SUNY Albany

By Bernadine Dohrn, In These Times, posted September 11

Edited by Jeffrey T. Richelson, National Security Archive, posted September 4

By Omar Diwachi, Jadaliyya, posted August 13

Thanks to Rosalyn Baxandall, Cyrus Bina, Rusti Eisenberg, Mim Jackson, Margaret Power, and Joan Scott for suggesting articles included in the above list.  Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.

Friday, September 13, 2013

[haw-info] HAW Notes 9/13/13: Zinn Read-In; World War I conference; links to recent articles of interest

To members and friends of Historians Against the War,

Here are a couple of notes, followed by links to some recent articles of interest.

1.  Plans are proceeding for the November 5 "Read-In" of writings by Howard Zinn at Purdue University, co-sponsored by the Indiana affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers among other groups.  Parallel events are several other Indiana schools are planned.  Information is available from Prof. Tithi Bhattacharya at tbhattac@gmail.com.

2.  A call for proposals has gone out for an October 2014 conference at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ on "World War I: Dissent, Activism, and Transformation," co-sponsored by the Peace History Society.  The conference's Web address is http://www.georgian.edu/WWIconference.htm.


Links to Recent Articles of Interest

"Top Ten Things Americans Need to Know about Syria if They're Going to Threaten to Bomb It"
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment blog, posted September 12
Syrian demography and history, by way of background

"How the People Pushed Back on Syria--and Won (for Now)"

By Sarah Van Gelder, YES! Magazine, posted September 12

By Zaid Jilani, Moyers & Company, posted September 12

"Why Saying No to Syria Matters (and It's Not about Syria)"
By Peter Van Buren, TomDispatch.com, posted September 12

"The 5 Most Ludicrous War Claims in Obama's Syria Speech"
By Matthew Rothchild, The Progressive, posted September 11

"An Extraordinary Turn Against Military Intervention"
By Stephen Kinzer, ZNet, posted September 11

By Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, posted September 11

By, Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Ewan MacAskill, The Guardian, posted September 11

By Daryl G. Kimball and Paul F. Walker, Christian Science Monitor, posted September 11
An arms-control perspective

"The Other Superpower Is Winning"
By David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org, posted September 10
The "other superpower" reference is to world public opinion

"The US Has No Credibility Dealing with Chemical Weapons"
By Stephen Zunes, TruthOut.org, posted September 9

Thanks to Rosalyn Baxandall, Tam Beeler, Jeff Kimball, Steve Shapiro, and John Walsh for suggesting articles included in the above list.  Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.


[haw-info] Update: U.S. Policy on Syria

Update: US Policy on Syria

 

The President's decision to back away from the use of military force and to seek a diplomatic solution to the Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons is an obviously a positive development. Especially significant, given the now 12 year-old "war on terror," was the highly visible public opposition to military intervention. Less visible perhaps but extremely effective, was the mobilization of national and local grassroots peace organizations across the country. Members of Congress were besieged with calls, emails and petitions. In Washington DC and around the country, concerned constituents sent delegations and organized vigils at Congressional offices. Over the course of a week, scores of Senators and Representatives were changing their minds.

 

It would be comforting to think this was a watershed moment, when the American people and their government turned away from war and threats of war as the centerpiece of American foreign policy, but the impediments to that change are substantial. On the immediate question of how the US government will respond if it cannot obtain a favorable deal on Syria's chemical weapons, there are clearly grounds for concern. It is by no means certain that the Obama Administration has abandoned any intention of launching a military attack.

 

We want to thank the many of you who signed on to our Historians Emergency list-serve and who participated in some form of action. For the present, we want to keep this list-serve alive given the uncertainties of the moment. If you would like to be included and have not already done so, you can do this by sending an email to: Syria-request@lists.historiansagainstwar.org?subject=subscribe or to Carolyn.Eisenberg@hofstra.edu

 

Steering Committee of Historians Against War

Thursday, September 05, 2013

[haw-info] some reading (plus a Jon Stewart tape) on Syria

To members and friends of Historians Against the War,

The following is a list of recent articles that, in one way or another, call into question the push for U.S. military action in Syria.  Out of a flood of materials generated over the past few days, these seemed to me especially useful.  Thanks especially to Rosalyn Baxandall for finding many of these materials.  Jim O'Brien, co-chair of HAW

Critiques of the White House rationale regarding poison gas:

"To Some, US Case for Syria Gas Attack, Strike Has Too Many Holes"
By Hannah Allam and Mark Seibel, McClatchy.com, posted September 2

"White House Document 'Proving' Syria's Guilt Doesn't Pass the Smell Test"

By Dave Lindorff, Nation of Change, posted September 3

"How Intelligence Was Twisted to Support an Attack on Syria"
By Gareth Porter, TruthOut.org, posted September 3


Problems with the proposed US military action:

"Eight Arguments Against Going to War with Syria"
By Stephen Zunes, TruthOut.org, posted September 4


"Could U.S. Military Action Turn Syrian Civil War into a 'Widespread Regional War'?"
Interview with Fawaz Gerges, Democracy Now transcript, posted September 3

"Warped Motives on Syria"

By Paul R. Pillar, The National Interest blog, posted August 2

By Phyllis Bennis, Al-Jazeera, posted September 3
By Jeffrey D. Sachs, CommonDreams.org, posted September 3

 "Noam Chomsky: Bombing Syria Would Be a 'War Crime'"

By Alex Kane, AlterNet.org, posted September 3

 "Caveman Credibility and Its Costs"
By David Swanson, War Is a Crime.org, posted September 2

 "In Syria, It's a Case of All or Nothing"
By Patrick Cockburn, The Independent, posted September 1

"Possible Consequences of a U.S. Military Attack on Syria--Remembering the Marine Barracks Destruction in Beirut, 1983"
By Ann Wright, War Is a Crime.org, posted August 31

"Christians in Middle East: U.S. Attack on Syria Would Be Detrimental"
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Religion News Service, posted September 4

"On Syria: The U.S. Is No Lone Ranger and Should Put That Six-Shooter Away"
By Juan Cole, Nation of Change, posted September 5

Alternatives:

By Lawrence S. Wittner, History News Network, posted September 4

Interview with Raymond Offenheiser of Oxfam America on Democracy Now, posted September 4

Aftermath of intervention in Libya:

"Lawlessnes and Ruin in Libya"
By Patrick Cockburn, CounterPunch.org, posted September 5

Miscellaneous history:

By Alex Kane, AlterNet.org, posted September 4

"US Uses Past Crimes to Legalize Future Ones"

By Diana Johnstone, CounterPunch.org, posted August 26
On the Serbia bombings of 1999 and present-day Syria

"Samantha Power: Liberal War Hawk and Second Rate Scholar"
By Jeremy Kuzmarov, History News Network, posted September 4

Video:







[haw-info] HAW--Emergency Response to Prospect of Military Intervention in Syria

Thanks to the many of you, who have responded so quickly to our Historians Emergency Network to stop US military action in Syria. If you have not already done so, please consider subscribing. You can do this by sending an email to Syria-request@lists.historiansagainstwar.org?subject=subscribe or to Carolyn.Eisenberg@hofstra.edu *Please include your name, state, member of Congress and name of school or institution (if applicable).

 

Historians Against War is coordinating with dozens of national organizations that have coalesced this week in order to prevent US military intervention and promote a diplomatic solution in Syria. As you have probably read, there is a tremendous grass-roots mobilization going on across the country

The Obama Administration is urging Congress to act quickly. As of now the Senate is scheduled for a vote early next week and the House of Representative a day or two later.

 

In case you have not seen it, here is the link to the Resolution passed yesterday by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 10-7 vote.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/165545604/New-Senate-Syria-Resolution

 

Again, if would like to be subscribed, you can do this by sending an email to Syria-request@lists.historiansagainstwar.org?subject=subscribe or to Carolyn.Eisenberg@hofstra.edu *Please include your name, state, member of Congress and name of school or institution (if applicable).

 

Carolyn Rusti Eisenberg and Margaret Power on behalf of the Steering Committee of Historians Against the War

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

[haw-info] Quick Response Needed ! Effort to Pressure Congress on Syria (Corrected)

National and local peace and social justice groups are mobilizing now to pressure members of Congress to oppose the use of force in Syria. There is a very short time-frame since Congress is expected to vote by the
end of next week.
 
Our members can help with this, without making a major time commitment.
If you want to be included in this Syria emergency list- specifically directed to opposing the Use of Force
Authorization for Syria, please get back with your information
 
Name
State:
Congressional Rep or District
Are you on a campus? school?
Please send information to
Carolyn.Eisenberg@hofstra.edu
 
*email address has been corrected

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

[haw-info] Quick response Needed...Emergency Effort to Pressure Congress on Syria

National and local peace and social justice groups are mobilizing now to pressure members of Congress to oppose the use of force in Syria. There is a very short time-frame since Congress is expected to vote by the end of next week.
 
Our members can help with this, without making a major time commitment.
 
If you want to be included in this Syria emergency list- specifically directed to opposing the Use of Force
Authorization for Syria, please get back with your information
 
Name
State:
Congressional Rep or District
Are you on a campus? school?
 
Please send information to Carolyn.Eisenberg@hofstra,edu