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Round up of right-wing reactions to Obama’s Afghanistan decision

By Cody O - Dec 2nd, 2009 at 3:49 pm EST

Good or bad, President Obama’s decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan was sure to incite some hilarious responses from teevees finest talking egos. Media Matters and Huffington Post did a great job tracking them down. Without further ado: Read More »

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Nobody Benefits from U.S. Troops Dying Like Liz Cheney

By Scot @ One Wisconsin Now - Oct 16th, 2009 at 11:08 am EDT

Liz Cheney is a smug, pampered ghoul feasting on the shattered and breathless bones and flesh of America's fallen soldiers. In any just society, she and Bill Kristol would be sterilized to end the multi-generational criminality both represent.

But such is not the case. Because America is both the greatest and most flawed nation on the planet, they are granted the freedom to be so wrong, so strident, so morally bankrupt. And make money from regurgitating their blathering wrongheadedness. Read More »

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Wisconsin Activists Join Others at White House Demanding End to Afghan War

By Scot @ One Wisconsin Now - Oct 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am EDT

Press release from Wisconsin anti-war activists:

Disappointed with President Obama’s unwillingness to significantly change course from the Bush Administration, and his talk of troop increases in Afghanistan, a coalition of national anti-war groups will be joining together on October 5th in a day of nonviolent direct action at the White House. Members of the coalition include National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Peace Action, the War Resister’s League, Code Pink, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Vets for Peace, World Can’t Wait, and others.

They have sent a letter to President Obama, and will be at the White House at 11:45 am on Monday Oct. 5 to deliver a strong message of peace, requesting a meeting with the president. In the event that the meeting is refused, dozens of peace and justice activists, including Joy First, Monona, WI, and Phil Runkel, Waukesha, WI, will be prepared to risk arrest in the spirit of nonviolence in order to persuade the commander-in-chief to meet their demands. Jennifer First, Madison, WI, and Mary Krolikowski, Milwaukee, WI, will also be at the White House in solidarity and support.

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Republican Party of Wisconsin Always Ready to Trash Wisconsin

By Scot @ One Wisconsin Now - Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:26 pm EDT

In its haste to criticize Rep. Ron Kind, the Republican Party of Wisconsin showed it's always got time to dump on the people of Wisconsin.

As part of a quickly distributed press release, GOP head and Michael Steele lackey Reince Priebus refers to Wisconsin as among the "worst states to do business."

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What's worse - fake pimps or real sexual assault?

By Robert - Sep 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm EDT

Last week, Fox News zombi... er, viewers were treated to an apparent expose of workers at ACORN giving advice and assistance to conservative activists claiming to be a pimp and prostitute. Of course, Fox took liberties with the facts, claiming the pair was never kicked out of the ACORN offices they visited (they were, police reports were filed, too) and pushing an allegation that one of the ACORN workers killed her husband (she didn’t).

Beck, Hannity, Fox and Friends, and the usual cast of conservatives immediately started the drum-beat to strip federal funding for ACORN, and right on cue, Congress approved a measure to deny federal funding to the group. Of course, Wisconsin’s resident right-wing bloviators jumped on the chance to score cheap political points – Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield, but wishes it were Texas) and Rep. Bill Kramer (R-Waukesha) demanded state agencies report about any state contracts with ACORN. Then this morning, the Wisconsin State Journal skewered US Rep. Tammy Baldwin for voting against the bill to de-fund ACORN. They cite ACORN’s IRS problems and the alleged voter registration fraud (which doesn’t matter ‘cause Mickey Mouse doesn’t vote!!) as reasons why the organization should be stripped of its paltry $53 million in federal funding since 1994 – that’s a whopping $3.5 million a year.

Sigh.

What about $5.73 billion? -- that’s 1449 times as much, just fyi -- That’s how much Halliburton and its subsidiary KBR took from US taxpayers from 2003-2006 for reconstruction in Iraq. Yet when it was revealed that a contractor for KBR in Iraq was gang raped by her co-workers in Iraq, did the Wisconsin State Journal or Fox News or Glenn Beck or conservatives leaders fall all over themselves to stop the taxpayer-financed gravy train to Halliburton? No.

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Finally, Someone Held Accountable for 9/11 So We Can Get Back to Protecting Health Insurance Companies from Competition

By Scot @ One Wisconsin Now - Sep 7th, 2009 at 11:55 am EDT

The nation can rest easier knowing that at long last, someone is being held to task for the myriad failures and incompetence that led to the attack against America on September 11, 2001.

Take that, Van Jones. Take that and put it in your Al Qaeda pipe.

Van Jones, a White House environmental staffer, quote-unquote resigned this past weekend after Republicans howled about a petition he signed in 2004 saying the Bush administration “may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext for war.”

The first part of that statement about “deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen” is bogus. But the sentiment behind the second part is 100 percent correct. Read More »

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Scott Walker, flaming liberal Baptist???

By Xoff - Jul 29th, 2009 at 7:27 pm EDT

Remember the lesson we learned in the 2008 presidential campaign? If your pastor says something and you don't condemn it, it's like you said it.

Given that, you'll be surprised to learn that Scott Walker opposes the state ban on gay marriage, supports reproductive rights for women, and is strongly against the war in Iraq.

Heartland Hollar has the story, and Uppity Wisconsin elaborates.

UPDATE: Walker now says he's a member of a different church, although the one with the liberal pastor was listed in his 2005 campaign biography.

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Pancakes and more for Moratorium weekend

By Xoff - Jun 18th, 2009 at 7:38 pm EDT

Also listed in: Peace Action-Wisconsin

It is Iraq Moratorium weekend again, Friday-Sunday, with lots of Wisconsin events to call for an end to the wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. I'll be at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair in Custer Friday morning for Pancakes for Peace, sponsored by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice (WNPJ), of which I am co-chair. Join us if you can. Info at www.wnpj.org

If you can't eat pancakes for peace, there are plenty of other activities in Wisconsin this weekend. Here's a list. http://iraqmoratoriumwis.blogspot.com

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Board backs general discharge for Iraq war resister and IVAW member Matthis Chiroux

By Ted - Apr 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pm EDT

On Saturday I penned this op-ed which never ran in my local paper about GI Resistance, my planned trip to St. Louis for Matthis Chiroux’s discharge hearing and why war resisters of an illegal war should be supported instead of punished. (For more on Matthis and his refusal of an Inactive Ready Reserve call-up see his website) Read More »

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Board backs general discharge for Iraq war resister and IVAW member Matthis Chiroux

By Ted - Apr 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pm EDT

On Saturday I penned this op-ed which never ran in my local paper about GI Resistance, my planned trip to St. Louis for Matthis Chiroux’s discharge hearing and why war resisters of an illegal war should be supported instead of punished. (For more on Matthis and his refusal of an Inactive Ready Reserve call-up see his website) Read More »

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Board backs general discharge for Iraq war resister and IVAW member Matthis Chiroux

By Ted - Apr 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pm EDT

On Saturday I penned this op-ed which never ran in my local paper about GI Resistance, my planned trip to St. Louis for Matthis Chiroux’s discharge hearing and why war resisters of an illegal war should be supported instead of punished. (For more on Matthis and his refusal of an Inactive Ready Reserve call-up see his website) Read More »

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Board backs general discharge for Iraq war resister and IVAW member Matthis Chiroux

By Ted - Apr 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pm EDT

On Saturday I penned this op-ed which never ran in my local paper about GI Resistance, my planned trip to St. Louis for Matthis Chiroux’s discharge hearing and why war resisters of an illegal war should be supported instead of punished. (For more on Matthis and his refusal of an Inactive Ready Reserve call-up see his website) Read More »

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WSJ Bends to the Will of Big Oil

By Sam - Apr 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm EDT

Governor Doyle's proposal to increase taxes on oil companies has triggered a wave of the predictable right-wing, pro-business histrionics that we've grown so accustomed to over the last few months. The Wisconsin State Journal has even gotten in on the act, berating the plan as "the wrong choice" for Wisconsin. Really? The wrong choice for Wisconsin?

Are you bleeping kidding me?

Less than one year ago, Americans were paying $4 a gallon at the pump. Oil prices were at a record high of $150 per barrel, and the economy was slowly sliding into a recession. In short, things were bad.

Unless, that is, you were an oil company. Then, you were reaping the benefits of an illegal occupation of Iraq and the subsequent - and equally illegitimate - privatization of that country's oil. At the same time, you were charging Americans an arm and a leg for a resource upon which millions depend. And things were good. Things were very, very good.

$45.2 billion. That was ExxonMobil's profit for 2008. It is also the largest corporate profit ever. In other words, no company has ever made more money in one year. EVER.

Yet this year, the poor old oil companies are facing their lowest profits in almost a decade. If you listened to the State Journal, you'd think these were upstanding, commendable corporations, perhaps even ones in need of a bailout in these direst of times. But once again, people, these companies have been making money hand over fist for the past decade. At the risk of repeating myself, ExxonMobil made more money in 2008 than any company in history. If you had the faintest inkling of common sense, you'd realize that Doyle's tax is the right thing to do.

With such a tax in place, Wisconsin would gain $270 million per year to finance infrastructural growth and repair, in the process creating jobs for the rapidly growing number of unemployed. Perhaps the money could even be used to promote a new green economy, thus reducing our self-destructive reliance on foreign oil and mitigating the suffocating influence of big oil.

The fact is, it's time the oil companies made amends for their egregious political, environmental, and economic offenses of the last ten years. So Mr. Governor, you have my blessing. Ignore the State Journal's nonsense, and make these bastards pay. Their corporations have emptied our pocketbooks, polluted our environment, and destroyed our credibility abroad. It's about time they give something back.

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By ThePatriot - Mar 27th, 2009 at 10:04 am EDT

The Press Conference

How dare you, sir? How dare you not respond immediately and in the manner I expect to my impertinent, demanding and ridiculous question, taken verbatim from Fox talking points and the Republican carpers in the House? Just who do you think you are? The President of the United States, joyously elected by a hopeful and democratic majority? Or the socialist, uppity, elitist who insists on disappointing the carpers who need an instant story every day in order to attempt to stay "relevant"?

I suppose sir you think that your spokesman calling the right wing of their party a "cabal" is OK just because their chief spokesman calls you "Ogabe" on his radio show. You probably think you can just go ahead and be thoughtful and rational even when the female spokespeople on the right wing radio shows and blogs imply that Michelle Obama (or is that Ogabe) is a bitch and call her "trash in the White House". And what about the charges of "Socialism" that we (I mean they) throw around at you and your administration everyday?

Maybe you even think those of us in the mainstream media ought to call attention to the outrageous rhetoric of the opposition party; their complete lack of ideas; the fact that there is data that shows the tax giveaways to the wealthy have not only not worked but contributed to the huge deficits that the President inherited and have resulted very clearly in a transfer of wealth to the already wealthy; that the outrageously expensive war that was engaged on false pretenses continues to cost us billions (while the party that supported it almost 100% carps about deficits); that the country is in a crisis created not by a few bonuses but by a renegade financial, insurance and rating industry that rose to power through an insistence on "no regulation, the market fixes all" philosophy of one primary party that was in charge the majority of the time. Is that what you think? I suppose you think it would be "fair" to point that out.

Well sir, you have another thought coming. We are not going to be labeled the liberal media by being thoughtful or by dismissing arguments or falsehoods or extreme proposals for what they are. I mean this is the new media. Pay attention here because you need to get educated about us. If some argue that hanging someone by their genitals is not torture, they deserve a hearing on their position, don't they? And what if it is torture? They've shown clearly on "24" that it works and if you need it to find out where the next suitcase bomb is hidden well, what are you going to do, stand there and chat? What about the economy? I mean Fannie mae and Freddie Mac are government entities aren't they? They only accounted for 20% of the sub-prime mortgages and aren't a government agency? See - that's what we mean - that's not an answer. That's just some fluffy data.

What's that you say? It's private industry, left to its own devices, unregulated by the government in proper fashion, led to this meltdown? Surely sir you're not implying that the government can do a better job by nationalizing industry and socializing medicine? That's not what you said? Well, sir these are the "questions that are being raised" about your proposal. Therefore, we want answers. Context? Whaddaya mean "context"? Listen, the war on terror was different. See that was a war, and it had generals giving us press conferences and it had some of us "embedded" in the Emerald City (the green zone) where we could report what the newest head of the liberation told us; hey, it had red and orange alerts and stuff and we could wear camies and feel like we actually "served", just like our president.

You people really need to get your act together and understand us. For 30 years we were the "liberal media". Without us how would Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton ever have gotten elected? What's that? Why was there never a "Day 2000" of the Mission Accomplished" like with the hostage crisis? That's just silly. We don't know what you mean. You know, we think it's going to be a long 4 years for you.

Not fooled by the Liberals,
The Media

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Bring the Guard Home campaign ramps up

By Xoff - Mar 24th, 2009 at 8:57 pm EDT

A campaign to challenge the deployment of National Guard troops to Iraq and Afghanistan is about to ramp up in Wisconsin, with a three-day visit by the lead national legal counsel next week, and five events in Madison and Milwaukee.

Part of a national campaign that is now in some 20 states, it challenges the legal basis for deploying Guard members to those two fronts.

In Wisconsin, a bill has been drafted and will be introduced by two Madison Democrats, State Rep. Spencer Black and State Sen. Jon Erpenbach. It is being circulated now so others can sign on as co-sponsors.

The bill would "direct the governor to review every federal call-up of the National Guard for its legality, and where there is no lawful basis for Guard federalization, to take action to keep the Wisconsin Guard at home."

Ben Manski, a Madison lawyer who is the national campaign director, believes there are solid arguments that the Iraq deployments are illegal. Attorneys also are working on a legal case against the Afghanistan deployment.

Meanwhile, 3,500 Wisconsin Guard members of the Red Arrow Division have been called up and are training in Texas for deployment to Iraq, in the biggest deployment of the state's Guard troops since World War II. In February, a Wisconsin engineer sapper unit from the Rhinelander area left for Afghanistan.

The state Dept. of Veterans Affairs said at the time that:

With this mobilization the Wisconsin National Guard will have approximately 300 soldiers and airmen on duty. Later this month more than 3,000 Wisconsin Army National Guard soldiers from across the state will deploy with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team for a mission in Iraq. Another 75, headquarters soldiers of the Tomah-based 732nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, will be mobilized in May 2009, also for deployment to Iraq.

(For some mysterious reason, none of the DVA news releases about deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan are on their website any more, but I am trying not to think it's a conspiracy.)

The basic argument that sending the Guard to Iraq is illegal is that the reasons cited in the authorization passed by Congress have expired.

Joy First, the Wisconsin organizer, explains:

The authority under which the Wisconsin Guard were deployed to Iraq was the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed by Congress in 2002. That AUMF limited authorized military action to two purposes: 1) to force Iraq to comply with then extant U.N. Security Council resolutions; and 2) to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat allegedly posed by Iraq.

Now that Saddam Hussein has been removed from power and we know that Iraq does not have - and never had- any weapons of mass destruction, the original mission has been completed and the 2002 AUMF is not in force. Therefore, there is no legal basis for sending the Wisconsin National Guard to Iraq.

The argument on Afghanistan is not as simple, but it challenges whether Congress, in a stampede to enlist in the "war on terror," abdicated more of its war powers to the president than the Constitution allows.

While its passage may not bring any troops home this year, it would put a law in place to make it harder for the federal government to take our Guard troops for their illegal wars in the future.

That is nothing to sneeze at.

Back to Joy First's memo:

This campaign is really about following the law as set forth by the U.S Congress. With this legislation, the states can begin to reassert their historic national defense responsibilities and to honor the Constitution's genius for distributing power over issues of war and peace.

Having a newly elected administration in Washington does not change the need for this legislation. In fact, this is exactly when we should emphasize the rule of law as a moral and practical requirement to the use of military force. This is an opportunity to close the door on eight years of presidential lawlessness, and to set our national defense policy on a better track.

Much more information, petitions, and resources are on the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice website. To get involved, contact Joy First: jsfirst@tds.net

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Six years of war sparks dozens of actions this week

By Xoff - Mar 16th, 2009 at 10:16 pm EDT

Also listed in: Peace Action-Wisconsin

Thursday marks six years since the "shock and awe" invasion rocked Iraq and the US kept the world safe from Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction.

Dick Cheney continues to insist we "won" the war in Iraq because there is a new democratic government there. There's also a new Democratic government here, and that, too, is in large part a result of the invasion and occupation.

The Obama administration isn't talking about a 100-year war, as John McCain did. Right now, it's not quite three more years until all US troops leave -- and move to Afghanistan.

So why are the antiwar groups demonstrating? Are they never satisfied?

Well, I'm not, and I hope you're not, either. Events across the country this week will mark the anniversary itself on Thursday. Friday is the Iraq Moratorium observance held on the Third Friday of every month, and Saturday is the day for marches in Washington, California -- and Milwaukee.

Wisconsin is a hotbed of antiwar activity, and organizers have planned at least 23 events that I know of, and others that I don't.

Join them if you can:

Ashland: ::: Chequamegon Coalition for Peace and Justice Vigil - Peaceful Demonstration Friday, March 20 3:30-5pm, Ashland Post Office.

Chippewa Falls: ::: Iraq Moratorium Vigil for Peace 3-21-09 11, Corner of Bridge and River Streets in downtown Chippewa Falls. Veterans for Peace and their supproters will gather for an hour in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day. Bring a sign or two and a friend or three.

Dodgeville: ::: March 20, Grassroots Citizens for Peace Monthly Vigil. Third Friday of each month, 4 p.m. in front of the Iowa County Courthouse. Join us for our monthly vigil, followed by our monthly planning meeting in which we organize public education programs, music and poetry nights and family events. Become part of the growing movement for a more just and peaceful world!*

Eau Claire: ::: Voices for Peace Institute. Stand for an end to the Iraq Occupation. Some signs will be provided but feel free to bring your own! On Fri., Mar. 20, we will be standing on the corner of Bracket Avenue and Business US Hwy 53 (right next to Jimmy Woo's) on the third Friday each month from 4 to 6 PM. Please come and stand with us when you can, between 4pm and 6pm, for as long as you can. If at all possible, bring a sign (small or large). Show Eau Claire that we want to bring an end to this war. Hope to see you there! mgebhard@saintbede.org *

Elm Grove: ::: 3/19, Thursday, 4–5 pm, 6th anniversary of the Iraq War. Peace Service at Notre Dame, 13105 Watertown Plank Road: 4-4:30 p.m. prayer service in APR Room (near the lobby entrance); 4:30-5 p.m., public witness on Watertown Plank Road. Pease join us in praying and advocating for PEACE. Contact: S. Lillia Langreck, at llangrec@ssnd-milw.org

Green Bay: ::: March 20, Friday, 7 pm Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace in Iraq. West Side Moravian Church, 1707 S. Oneida St. The service will be held to mark the six year anniversary of the Iraq War. For more information, please contact Rev. Marian Boyle, 920-499-4433, or pastor@wsmoraviangb.org

Hayward: ::: Peace North will sponsor an Iraq Moratorium vigil for peace on Friday, Mar. 20, from 4-6 pm on the corner of Highway 27 & 63 in downtown Hayward. Bring a sign and a friend and some warm clothes! Good parking. Great people.

Janesville: ::: (Updated!) Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation continues to hold an Iraq Moratorium vigil which is held on the Third Friday of every month. Meet at 4 p.m. on the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. in Janesville with signs, including "Honk for Peace" signs. kholcombe8117@charter.net for more info. *

LaCrosse: ::: War Moratorium/Veterans for Peace Peace Vigil, March 19 & 20, 2009 4-6:00pm (16:00-18:00 hrs) Cass Street Bridge (Corner of Cass St & 3rd Ave). Bring signs, wear black(if possible) or black armbands. Hit'em in the pocketbook...BUY NOTHING for 3 DAYS: 19th,20th,21st, BOYCOTT WORK & SCHOOL. Contact napeacefulwarior@yahoo.com or cvmaren@mwt.net*

Madison: :::Saturday, Mar. 21, 11 am - noon. Monthly Peace Rally at the Mall, sponsored by Madison Area Peace Coalition.. This is an informational picket - held the third Saturday of each month - that calls for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring signs or borrow the ones provided. This is an exciting and empowering event that is appropriate for all ages. Help us count the “Honks for Peace!” East Towne Mall this month, West Towne in April. Email Helena White at hspw@att.net

Madison :::3/19 Thurs 5 pm Town Hall Meeting and Potluck; Obama: Wrong on Afghanistan & Torture. Madison. At the SCFL Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Impeachment/Bring Our Troops Home Coalition. Please join us on the 6th anniversary of the Iraq invasion. The program will begin with a potluck supper, followed by a panel discussion to include what actions you can take such as the upcoming rally on April 4. This event is co-sponsored by the Madison Area Peace Coalition and Veterans for Peace #25. Please contact Buzz Davis at 608-239-5354 if you would like to co-sponsor or help with the food.

Manitowoc: ::: Peace Vigil. Lakeshore Peacemakers hold a weekly vigil for peace, and on the Third Friday for the Iraq Moratorium, 4:30-5 p.m. , 8th Street & Maritime Drive. Contact: huntel@comcast.net *

Menomonie: ::: Iraq Moratorium/Healthcare Not Warfare demonstration, 3-20-09, 4-5 pm. In front of Menomonie Market Coop, 521 2nd St. East. The Red Cedar Peace Initiative will be standing for Healthcare Not Warfare in observance of the March Iraq Moratorium Day. Bring a sign, a friend and your enthusiasm.

Milwaukee: ::: Postcards from the Front: Impact of the War on Our Community." Thursday, March 19, 10-11:30 a.m.,MATC Milwaukee Campus, Main Building, M616, 1015 N. 6th Street. Panelists: Aimee Davis, MATC faculty, Veteran, Iraq War; Becky Quesada, MATC staff, military family member; Vera Roddy, Veteran, Mental Health Technician, Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Maurice Sprewer, MATC student, MATC Veterans Club. Sponsored by: MATC International Student Organization, ESL Department, and Office of Student Life, in cooperation with MATC Veterans Club and Latino Student Organization. Free and open to the public .

Milwaukee: ::: Peace Action-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace sponsor a rush hour vigil in the heart of downtown, from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Third Friday of every month at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. There are signs, flags, banners, music, pets for peace, leafleting, and interaction with drivers and pedestrians. Join us. Peace Action 414/964-5158 or email IraqMoratorium@wi.rr.com*

Milwaukee: :::Saturday, Mar. 21, rally and march to mark the 6th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, sponsored by Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace, which includes Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin. Rally at 1 p.m., Civic Square/Clas Park, 10th & Wells, on south side of court house. Part of national "Yes We Can: End U.S. Occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and Fund Human Needs at Home. March to follow.

Minocqua: :::Northwoods Peace Coalition, Saturday, March 21, 10:50 a.m. until noon, in Minocqua, at the junction of highways 51 and 70. It is the day after the third Friday, Wisconsin’s declared day of the month to demonstrate for peace as part of the national Iraq Moratorium.

Rice Lake: ::: The People for Peace will be standing at the corner of Knapp and Main St's on the north end of downtown Rice Lake on Friday, Mar. 20, from 4-6 pm. Please make a small, or large, sign if you can, and BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU! Join us!emailto:botmrung@centurytel.net

Ripon: :::Peace Vigil every Third Friday of the month on the square. 4:30-5:30pm. Bring yourself! kgallaway54971@yahoo.com*

Sheboygan: ::: Vets for Peace Peace/Anti War Concert, March 21 6:30 pm at EBCO, 1350 Erie Ave (Hwy 23) at Water Street. This is our fifth annual with 15 presenters featuring Peter Tracy from Santa Monica, Cal. Ten musicians, poets, Sapphire Spirit Dancers, John Heckinlively as Billy Bob Far-right of Racine, etc for only $8 at the door or $6 advance. E-mail: efilemyr@hotmail.com

Superior: ::: Iraq Moratorium Picket for Peace, 3-20-09, 4-5 pm, Corner of Broadway and Hammond Avenues. The Grandmothers for Peace will be standing for peace on March 20th in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day.

Viroqua: ::: Friday, Mar. 20, 12 noon weekly peace vigil at the Post Office on Jefferson St. Come for all or part of the hour, standing witness to the human and economic costs of the War. Info :amz1357@frontiernet.net *

Waupaca: ::: Monthly vigil for peace. Downtown, on the town square. 3rd Friday of each month, in support of the Iraq Moratorium., 5-6 p.m. All welcome. For more information, contact People for Peace at bonni@waupacaonline.net or see http://wpfpmeetings.blogspot.com/

Woodruff: ::: 12 noon - 1 pm . Silent Prayer Vigil for Peace, Holy Family Church, in the small chapel. Contact: Sr. Ann Wittman atcrossings@holycrosssisters.org . All are welcome to join in this weekly witness for peace.

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Local Soldier Refuses Redeployment to Iraq

By Sam - Feb 24th, 2009 at 6:12 pm EST

Disenchanted with the continued immoral and illegal occupation of Iraq, a local serviceman has refused a return to active duty. Specialist Kristoffer Walker of Green Bay recently notified his superiors that he would not rejoin his unit in Iraq, a stance that could land the veteran in federal prison. Yet despite the possible ramifications, Walker stands by his convictions and refuses the myriad of cop-outs that would otherwise excuse his absence.

That's right: Kristoffer Walker is not a conscientious objector, or at least as defined by the U.S. Army. On the contrary, he believes that war is - at times - necessary, unlike a true objector like, say, a Quaker. Walker believes in defending the U.S. and her Constitution against immediate, external threats. What he doesn't believe in is the murder of one million Iraqi civilians and the displacement of millions more. He doesn't believe in the destruction of a once-vibrant culture and the seizure of Iraqi oil by U.S. and British transnationals. And, he certainly doesn't believe in continuing this "illegitimate, unnecessary campaign."

Thus, the anti-war movement has a new hero - and a true American hero at that. In joining the chorus of anti-war Iraq veterans, Walker defies the right-wingers - civilian right-wingers, usually - who implore us to 'support our troops.' Well, I for one do support our troops, as I'm sure we all do regardless of political affiliation. Soldiers like Spc. Walker, as well as the tens of thousands who haven't taken such a brave stand, deserve our utmost respect and reverence. That much is certain.

But what they don't deserve is to be put in harm's way so that our administration can spread this neoconservative market ideology that has already crippled the global economy. I know that I support the troops. But, I have to ask: if our government can justify sending young men to their death on a series of lies and can threaten imprisonment for those same young men who stand up for their principles, do they?

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"Blackwater can run, but it can't hide'

By Xoff - Feb 18th, 2009 at 6:07 pm EST

Also listed in: Peace Action-Wisconsin

Dan Kenney has a message for Blackwater, the controversial private security firm that just changed its name to try to escape its bloody past:

"Blackwater's new name is Xe, the symbol for an odorless, colorless gas. But the smell from its actions won't go away, and the company will never be invisible," said Kenney, who will speak in Milwaukee on Friday, Feb. 20.

Kenney is the director of Clearwater, a DeKalb, Illinois-based organization opposing Blackwater's operations and the privatization of US security.

Blackwater announced last week that it was changing its name and logo from Blackwater to Xe (Pronounced "z") in hopes of escaping from its bloody past.

"The renaming of Blackwater's 26 companies under the Xe banner is part of their rebranding campaign launched a year and a half ago when Blackwater contractors were involved in the shooting of 17 innocent Iraqi citizens in a busy Baghdad square. As it was then that they first changed their name from Blackwater USA to Blackwater Worldwide, now to Xe," Kenney said.

The Associated press reported that Blackwater officials acknowledged the need for the company to shake its past in Iraq. "Its not a direct result of a loss of contract, but certainly that is an aspect of our work we feel we were defined by," said spokesperson Anne Tyrrell.

Several times since September of 2007 Erik Prince, Blackwater's owner, has said that security is one part of their business; they hope to become a "one stop shop" for the Pentagon. They are still involved in Mexican Border patrol, their intelligence division is still providing CIA type services to Fortune 500 corporations, and they are seeking contracts to provide security to ships against so called "pirates." They are also heavily involved in training both military and civilian personnel, such as municipal police

In the periodic table of the elements, Xe represents an odorless, colorless gas. So, it's a perfect name for a group that is trying to hide from public scrutiny. But Blackwater cannot hide their odor and their crimes from an awakened citizenry. Clearwater will follow Blackwater and the Prince private army, maritime division, air force, and CIA wherever they go, no matter how many names they try to use. Because no matter what they call themselves they will continue to be a threat to democracy everywhere they go. They may take the name Xe, but they will never be invisible.

Kenney will speak at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, in Room 001, Cudahy Hall, 1313 W Wisconsin Ave., on the Marquette University campus.

His talk is sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Iraq Moratorium, Peace Action-Wisconsin, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Progressive Students of Milwaukee, U.S. Labor Against the War, and the Marquette Center for Peacemaking. The event is free and open to the public.

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Frostbite victims for peace?

By Xoff - Jan 13th, 2009 at 7:17 pm EST

How many cases of frostbite will it take to end the war and occupation of Iraq?

Iraq Moratorium activists in Wisconsin ponder that, with the weather forecast for Friday, Jan. 16, this month's Iraq Moratorium day, for subzero temperatures and even worse wind-chill readings. There are warnings about frostbite and hypothermia.

Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin noted, in an email to organizers:

While standing at a vigil in sub-zero temperatures may be an expression of our commitment, frostbite and hypothermia will not end the war and occupation of Iraq.

This is not to suggest canceling planned events for Friday; our experience in Milwaukee is that it is almost impossible to get the word out to everyone even when a decision is made to cancel. Some people will come anyway.

However, if it is really as cold as the forecast indicates, it might make sense to think about shortening up the vigil and moving indoors after 15-30 minutes to a nearby coffee shop, restaurant or other location. Use the time to discuss the war, plan a February Moratorium event, write a letter, circulate a petition to bring the National Guard home, or take some other action to help get US troops out of Iraq.

Here's a list of scheduled Wisconsin events on Friday: Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin.

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Obama we're hopeful, but watching, marching, too

By Xoff - Dec 30th, 2008 at 12:47 pm EST

Camp Hope, a 19-day presence in Barack Obama's Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago, is intended to remind the president-elect of the progressive agenda he espoused during his campaign.

The statewide Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice has endorsed Camp Hope, which has daily activities planned Jan. 1-19, and Wisconsin activists will be taking part.

More here.

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