Coleen Rowley Discusses Afghanistan and Iran Issues

Coleen Rowley, FBI whistle blower and peace activist talks about Afghanistan massacre and the building pressure to invade Iran.

Recent polls show that more than 70% of the people in the U.S. now believe that Iran has nuclear weapons.

Israeli newspapers warn the Israeli people that Prime Minister Netenyahu is preparing them for action against Iran.

If Israel does attack, the U.S. moves into a very difficult position. The conduct of U.S. troops in the war zones is a consequence of extended tours in high pressure situations. Returning vet suicides and homicides are reaching new heights.

Super Bowl Will Reach US Troops In Afghanistan

When the Giants and the Patriots meet in the Super Bowl, US troops in Afghanistan will be able to watch the show thanks to some extra work by the Armed Forces Network.

Video by Staff Sgt. Shannon Ofiara

Not “Yes HE Can”, But “Yes WE Can” Says Rep. Ellison

Despite Republican congressional resistance that’s made it difficult to make headway on progressive issues, Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison is optimistic about 2012.

“America is ready” Representative Ellison told a supportive crowd at the “Blue State Ball”. “This is a progressive moment.”

Republicans have made a lot of mistakes since winning a majority in the US House. The latest gaffe of opposing a payroll tax cut has hurt their standings in polls even more than Democrats. However Representative Ellison says despite that, and a group of Presidential candidates that even the Republican base finds uninspiring, Democrats need to unite and fight or they will not take advantage of the moment.

“We cannot depend upon the incompetence, ignorance and bigotry of our opposition. We have got to hang together and move forward. We are in a progressive moment, y’all.”

Movement needs to power Obama, not the other way around … Continue Reading

Progressives Challenge Obama In Iowa

Video by Roger Routh

For three years progressives have been trying to get President Barack Obama to live up to their expectations. And so far according to the founder of Progressive Democrats of America, they’ve been disappointed.

That’s why Tim Carpenter is organizing people to go to the Iowa caucus and vote for “uncommitted” as a way challenge President Obama.

“We’re organizing uncommitted slates to go to the caucus on Tuesday to challenge Barack Obama because he gave up on his promise to single payer (health care). He took too long to get troops out of Iraq. There’s still troops in Afghanistan. And we need a financial transaction tax.”

Carpenter’s call to action can be backed up with political muscle. Progressive Democrats of America was formed out of the people who fueled the Presidential campaigns of Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich.

Carpenter appeared with the Reverend Jesse Jackson at an organizing meeting in a Des Moines area church this week. They both endorsed an “inside outside” strategy — asking activists to go to the caucuses and work inside the Democratic party as well as participating in the “occupy” movement that works outside the party.

Transcript of Progressive Democrats of America Founder Tim Carpenter’s remarks … Continue Reading

The Hopes And Fears Of War Children In Afghanistan

Kathy Kelly, peace activist and three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, speaks at a community forum at St. Luke Presbyterian, Minnetonka,

Kelly is a U.S. peace activist, author, and a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. She has been described as “probably the most respected leader in the American peace movement.” As a participant in peace team work in several countries, she has traveled to Iraq 26 times and to Afghanistan 4 times. Her presentation “Courage for Peace in Afghanistan . . . Following the Children,” reflects on her recent experiences listening to and learning from Afghanistan citizens and youngsters who’ve spoken of their fears and hopes living in a war-torn country.

Bachmann Campaigns At American Legion Convention

Video by Jacob Wheeler
Representative Michelle Bachmann address the same group of US war veterans President Obama did two days ago. She tries to compare herself to Britian’s Margaret Thatcher, and while doing so makes a historical gaffe, claiming the Fauklands war that boosted Thatcher’s popularity was fought in 1992. It happened a decade earlier in 1982.

Full video of Michelle Bachmann’s speech to the American Legion plus her comments on “half-heartedly” deployed troops. … Continue Reading

Peace Activists Believe Protests Make a Difference

Minneapolis, MN, June 30, 2011.
A group of dedicated peace activists rallied in front of Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office to plead for the Senator’s help in voting down war appropriations and in bringing all troops home now from Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The economy is in the can, US out of Afghanistan” said one protester. Another wondered why the U.S. keeps spending on wars when the money could do so much more good at home.

Every week there dozens of peace activist groups rallying on street corners, bridges and Congressional offices. This was but one of these vocal groups, some have been rallying at the same place for years.

Many criticize these actions for relatively small numbers and the supposed futility of the chants. The participants are there as a matter of conscience and they do believe they make a difference. In any event, the peace actions will continue.

Obama: Time For Nation Building At Home

President Obama says ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are in the “best interests” of US Security and our economy.
“Now is the time to focus on nation building here at home,” said the President in his weekly address to the nation.

President Obama says that realizing our nation’s potential requires more than simply cutting spending; we have to foster development at home, so that the United States will continue to grow and attract the world’s best talent, ideas and job-creating technologies.

Manufacturing and opportunity for the middle-class, transcript and video of President Obama’s weekly address … Continue Reading

Crones Against Drones, The Wily Women of WAMM

The wily women of WAMM (Women Against Military Madness), and a few wily men, sang their way along Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, MN as Crones Against Drones, protesting use of armed, unmanned drones in the Afghanistan war. They engage mall walkers in conversation about the drones and about the war in general.

The singers plan to continue Mall serenading through much of the summer.

Time Has Come to Leave Afghanistan, Says Congressman Garamendi

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Calif.) told The UpTake at Netroots Nation yesterday that the Obama administration needs to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The death of Osama bin Laden, Hamid Karzai’s corrupt government in Kabul, and the U.S. military’s huge and ominous footprint in the war-torn country all make the case for pulling, Garamendi said.