“They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran,” said Dan Plesch, director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, co-author of a recent study on US preparations for an attack on Iran. “US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours…”

“Hundreds of powerful US “bunker-buster” bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran…
this included 387 “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures…

“Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran’s controversial nuclear facilities…”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/world-news/final-destination-iran-1.1013151

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According to Paul Craig Roberts, “the next step will be a staged “terrorist attack,” a “false flag” operation … for which Iran will be blamed. As Iran and its leadership have already been demonized, the “false flag” attack will suffice to obtain US and European public support for bombing Iran.  The bombing will include more than the nuclear facilities and will continue until the Iranians agree to regime change and the installation of a puppet government.  The corrupt American media will present the new puppet as “freedom and democracy.”  If the past is a guide, Americans will fall for the deception. …

“An explanation ready-at-hand is almost a give-away that an incident is a “black ops” event.  Notice how quickly the U.S. government, allegedly so totally deceived by al Qaida, provided the explanation for 9/11. When President Kennedy was assassinated, the government produced the culprit immediately. The alleged culprit was conveniently shot inside a jail by a civilian before he could be questioned.  But the official story was ready, and it held. …”     http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=18180 )

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Report: Netanyahu to ask Obama for weapons to strike Iran
Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will use a visit to Washington this week to press the U.S. to release advanced weapons needed for a possible strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, the Sunday Times reported.   http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1157844.html

Stop the Current Wars!

Prevent the Next One: No War on Iran!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, etc.  5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.Phone (808) 966-7622.
Email ja@interpac.net  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (March 26, 2010 – 445th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Aloha Peace Ohana,

There will be a Peace organizing meeting on Monday, March 22, 2010 from 7-9PM (normally 2nd and 4th Mondays) at the Keaau Community Center, located behind the Keaau Police Station & Keaau Family Clinic.  Among items for discussion are evaluating the March 20th Hilo Peace Rally, and planning for the April 10 & 11 Island wide roving peace vigil and the April 25th DU forum.  With tax day –April 15th rapidly approaching it’s a good time to push for cutting off the war funding.

Please pass the word and bring friends to help work for justice and peace.  Mahalo.

Jim

Aloha Peace Ohana,
More than 60 people gathered on Hilo Bayfront from 10AM till noon today  for a peace rally amid a light rain to call for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.  The rally was organized to mark the 7th anniversary of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq and to stand in solidarity with thousands around the U.S. organizing similar rallies and marches to end the wars.  Many of the signs called for cutting off the war funds and redirecting the money to human needs, such as education, jobs, health care, and stopping foreclosures.

In Hilo people held signs and banners along Kamehameha Ave. for the first hour and continued to do so the 2nd hour when a number of speakers offered insights and gave encouragement to build a movement for justice and peace.  It was especially encouraging to have many local youth join the rally.  Keana DeCosta spoke for UHH Global HOPE.  Eric Orseske, another UHH student also inspired the crowd.  Eric served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division both in Afghanistan and Iraq from 2001 to 2004.  Eric said the best way to support the troops is to stop the wars and bring the troops home.  Eric called for:
1.  withdrawal of all U.S. and foreign troops from Iraq and Afghanistan;
2.  Insuring adequate health care for returning veterans and their families;
3.  Reparations for the Iraqi and Afghani people who have suffered tremendous losses (1.3 million Iraqi civilians have been slaughtered since the 2003 U.S. invasion);
4   Eric also called for other GI’s to know their rights and he called for investigating Depleted Uranium (munitions and contamination) and the erosion of our Bill of Rights.
Other speakers included Hanako Shibata from Nagasaki, Japan who said “war never again –peace to all!”  Local building contractor, Danny Li, spoke on the economic aspects of the wars –trillions of dollars spent on war and Wall Street while human needs and basic government services are cut back. Rosylyn “Bunny” Smith, who lived in Iran and other parts of the world as a U.S. diplomat family, spoke of concern for Palestine and the similar rhetoric today about Iran like we heard prior to the war in Iraq.  Lee Bowden encouraged people to not give up, to keep protesting what’s being done in our names and urged people to join the weekly Hilo Peace Vigil on Fridays 3:30-5PM at the down down Hilo Post Office.
A statement was read from Cory Harden who could not attend the rally:  Cory urged public hearings for the EIS of the Army’s proposed Join High Speed Vessel (JHSV) –the militarized Superferry.  At present no hearings are planned.  Cory also summarized the story of depleted uranium in Hawaii and the non-functioning Pohakuloa Community Advisory Group.

I urged people to take and pass on to friends a “Call to Action” flier.  The flier (see below) notes three actions:
1.  Call Hawaii’s congressional delegation to demand a cut off of the war funds;
2.  A Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th roving peace vigil around the island — urging people to join in their local communities for an hour during the weekend;
3.  A public form –Sunday, April 25th on Military Depleted Uranium Radiation Contamination on Hawaii island.– 7-9PM at the Keaau Community Center

Following the rally’s scheduled speakers, there was an open microphone for others to come forward and share.  Many did, sharing thoughts and even a few songs.  The honking horns  from passing cars showed widespread opposition to the wars.  A lone war supporter (– part of “The gathering of Eagles”) stood in the long line of war opponents, but on this day in history the pro-war message didn’t fly in Hilo.  The response was clear.  People have had enough of war:  Bring the troops home now.  Stop the Wars!  Ground the Imperial Eagle!

A Call to Action

1.  Email/Call Hawaii’s Congressional delegation and demand a cut off of the war funds:
Senator Dan Inouye http:inouye.senate.gov in Washington 202-224-3934, in Hilo 935–0844, in Honolulu 541-2542
Senator Dan Akaka http:akaka.senate.gov in Washington 202-224-6361, in Hilo 935-1114
Congresswoman Mazie Hirono www.hirono.gov in Washington 202-225-4906, in Hilo 935-3756, in Honolulu 808-541-1986.

2.  Join and help spread the word about the Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th Roving Peace Vigil around the island with an emphasis on stopping the wars; shifting war funds to education, health care and other human needs; and military clean up not build up in Hawaii.

On Sat. April 10th Vigil sites are:
9-10AM Bayfront Hilo
11-12AM Honoka’a (Hwy by Tex’s Drive In)
1-2PM Waimea — Fronting Parker Ranch Shopping Center (Foodland)
3-4PM Waikoloa Village – Waikoloa Rd and Paniolo Ave. by shopping center

On Sunday, April 11th Vigil sites are:
9-10AM Volcano Hwy 11 Wright Road
11-12 Na’alehu theater
1-2PM Captain Cook –across from Manago Hotel
3-4PM Kailua-Kona – Kailua pier

3.  Join, and help pass the word about the forum on Military Depleted Uranium Radiation Contamination on Hawaii Island
Sunday, April 25th from 7-9PM at the Keaau Community Center
Representatives from the military are invited along with citizen representatives to give presentations and field questions from the audience.

Please Answer the Call.  Mahalo!

For more information contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawaii 96760.  Phone 808-966-7622
email ja@interpac.net   Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org

By the Numbers!

Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’s War On Iraq:  4,701  icasualties.org/oif/

Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq “1,366,350”
www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html

How Many More Deaths?

How many more Trillions of dollars will be wasted on death and destruction while schools are closed, jobs and health insurance lost, homes and businesses foreclosed, human services cut back, and taxes raised for War and Wall Street?

For more than 350 weeks we have brought to the Hilo Federal Building every Friday a 10 foot oil-can topped cross with the words “Iraq crucified.”  On that cross is a photo of a young Iraqi boy, Ali, age 11 in 2003.  He lived in Baghdad and on March 19, 2003 he lost both of his arms and was burnt over much of his body as a result of U.S. bombs and missiles.  It is not clear if he survived his wounds and is alive today.  What we do know is that his mother and father and 11 other relatives were killed by the initial U.S. attack on Baghdad 7 years ago today.

JOIN THE HILO PEACE RALLY!
(In conjunction with marches & rallies in Washington and other cites around the U.S.)

Saturday, March 20th, 2010
10AM-Noon –Sign Holding! — Music! — Speakers!
Under the Bayfront Monkeypod trees
Intersection of Pauahi St. & Kamehameha Ave.

Speak out to Stop the Wars!

There is similar rhetoric today about Iran like we heard prior to the war in Iraq in 2003.
Now it’s been revealed that hundreds of powerful US “bunker-buster” bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran.  http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/world-news/final-destination-iran-1.1013151

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, etc.
5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.Phone (808) 966-7622.  Email ja@interpac.net  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (March 19, 2010 – 444th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/eric_margolis/2010/02/05/12758511-qmi.html

U.S. President Barack Obama calls the $3.8-trillion US budget he just sent to Congress a major step in restoring America’s economic health.  In fact, it’s another potent fix given to a sick patient deeply addicted to the dangerous drug — debt .  More empires have fallen because of reckless finances than invasion. The latest example was the Soviet Union, which spent itself into ruin by buying tanks.

Washington’s deficit (the difference between spending and income from taxes) will reach $1.6 trillion this year. The huge sum will be borrowed, mostly from China and Japan, to which the U.S. already owes $1.5 trillion. Debt service will cost $250 billion.

To spend $1 trillion, one would have had to start spending $1 million daily soon after Rome was founded and continue for 2,738 years until today.  Obama’s total military budget is nearly $1 trillion. This includes Pentagon spending of $880 billion. Add secret black programs (about $70 billion); military aid to foreign nations like Egypt, Israel and Pakistan; 225,000 military “contractors” (mercenaries and workers); and veterans’ costs. Add $75 billion for 16 intelligence agencies with 200,000 employees.

The Afghanistan and Iraq wars ($1 trillion so far), will cost $200-250 billion more this year, including hidden and indirect expenses. Obama’s Afghan “surge” of 30,000 new troops will cost an additional $33 billion — more than Germany’s total defense budget…

The Pentagon now accounts for half of total world military spending. Add America’s rich NATO allies and Japan, and the figure reaches 75%.  China and Russia combined spend only a paltry 10% of what the U.S. spends on defense.

There are 750 U.S. military bases in 50 nations…   The U.S. clearly has reached the point of imperial overreach. Military spending and debt-servicing are cannibalizing the U.S. economy, the real basis of its world power. Besides the late U.S.S.R., the U.S. also increasingly resembles the dying British Empire in 1945, crushed by immense debts incurred to wage the Second World War, unable to continue financing or defending the imperium, yet still imbued with imperial pretensions.

It is increasingly clear the president is not in control of America’s runaway military juggernaut. Sixty years ago, the great President Dwight Eisenhower… warned Americans to beware of the military-industrial complex. Six decades later, partisans of permanent war and world domination have joined Wall Street’s money lenders to put America into thrall…  If Obama really were serious about restoring America’s economic health, he would demand military spending be slashed, quickly end the Iraq and Afghan wars and break up the nation’s giant Frankenbanks.

Join the Hilo Peace Rally! Sat. March 20th 10AM till Noon

Under the Bayfront Monkeypod trees

Intersection of Pauahi St. & Kamehameha Ave.

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, etc. 5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622.  Email ja@interpac.net  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (March 12, 2010 – 443rd week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office