[haw-info] HAW Notes 3/24/15: Vietnam War commemorative events in DC, April 29 - May 2

Two major events regarding the Vietnam War will take place in Washington, DC between Wednesday, April 29 and Saturday, May 2, marking the 50th anniversary of the war's end. At both events, many of the speakers and panelists will be well familiar to readers of these mailings. The websites that are linked from the following paragraphs give full information.

"The Vietnam War Then and Now: Assessing the Critical Lessons." Wednesday evening April 29 to Friday afternoon May 1 at the NYU-DC Global Academic Center, 1307 L St., NW. Sponsored by the Kroc Institute for International Peace at the University of Notre Dame and the Provost's Global Research Initiatives and History Department at New York University.The registration deadline is April 1.

"Vietnam: The Power of Protest." Friday evening May 1 and Saturday May 2 at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Avenue.This program of panels and workshops is sponsored by the Vietnam Commemoration Committee, including many well-known leaders of the Vietnam-era antiwar movement, and is co-sponsored by a number of groups including the Institute for Policy Studies and MoveOn.org. At 4pm Saturday there will be a commemorative walk to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Women's Memorial. 

[haw-info] Tell Your Senators: Don't Wreck Diplomacy With Iran !! 202-224-3121

 

This week 47 Republicans Senators took the breath-taking step of sending an "open letter" to Iranian leaders aimed at blowing up the nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers including the United States.

This follows closely on the unprecedented invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to the Congress in opposition to the diplomacy of an American President.

 

And sad to say it's not just Republicans who are out to prevent the agreement. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisles have been all too active in placing in the obstacles in the way of peace.  At the present time, there are two bills in the Senate clearly designed to prevent an agreement:

 

S. 615 Corker-Graham Iran Bill https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/615

S. 269 Kirk- Menendez Sanctions Bill https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/269

 

We realize you have probably made these calls before, but it is more important then ever that constituents speak up now. And don't hesitate to call Republicans. They need to hear how outraged constituents are about their unprecedented sabotage of a President's foreign policy, as well as their appalling invitation to a foreign leader to challenge the national security policy of the United States.

 

Call your Senators

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

 

Let them know:

* You support the President's diplomacy with Iran

* You oppose legislation, which seeks to undermine the prospects for an agreement.

 

Ask the person, who answers the phone, where the Senator stands. And let us know of any results.

carolyn.r.eisenberg@gmail.com

 

Please forward widely.

Carolyn Rusti Eisenberg and Margaret Power for HAW Steering Committee

[haw-info] HAW Notes 3/5/15: Links to recent articles of interest

Links to Recent Articles of Interest

"Netanyahu, 'Censored Voices,' and the False Narrative of

Self-Defense"

By Marjorie Cohn, CommonDreams.org, posted March 4

On the 1967 war

"Benjamin Netanyahu's Long History of Crying Wolf about Iran's Nuclear Weapons"

By Murtaza Hussain, The Intercept, posted March 2

"What Is Happening in Venezuela?"

By Greg Grandin, The Nation blog, posted March 2

The author teaches history at New York University.

"The Real Subject of Netanyahu's Congressional Spectacle (It Isn't Nukes)"

By Paul R. Pillar, The National Interest, posted February 27

The author is a 28-year CIA veteran and a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies.

"The Cold War and Ukraine: Cuban Missile Crisis in Reverse?"

By William R. Polk, CounterPunch.org, posted February 25

The author was a member of the Kennedy administration's Crisis Management Team during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

"The Real American Exceptionalism: From Torture to Drone Assassination, How Washington Gave Itself a Global Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card"

By Alfred W. McCoy, TomDispatch.com, posted February 24

The author teaches history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"ISIS Is Proof of the Failed 'War on Terror'"

By Patrick Cockburn, The Unz Review, posted February 24

"Seven Reasons We Should Not Send Weapons to Ukraine"

By Walter G. Moss, History News Network, posted February 24

The author is a professor of history emeritus at Eastern Michigan University.

"How 'Islamic' Is the Islamic State?"

By Juan Cole, The Nation blog, posted February 24

The author teaches history at the University of Michigan.

"America's Wars as Bloated Hollywood Productions"

By William J. Astore, Contrary Perspective blog, posted February 22

The author is a retired lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force who also has a doctorate in Modern History from the University of Oxford.

As usual, thanks for Mim Jackson, Rosalyn Baxandall, and an anonymous reader for suggesting articles included in the above list. Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.