A publication of Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 Women Against Military Madness INSIDE: The Great-Power Competition: When the Enemy You Kill Is Yourself Can We Hear What Our by Doug Olson p5 Competitors Say? by Newsletter Staff Hong Kong: Are These Really Protests We Want FOCUS ON The bombing of suspect- to Support? RUSSIA ed ISIS continued even by Mary Beaudoin p7 & CHINA after the first announce- Calendar p11 ment that the Islamic caliphate had been defeated with the 2017 obliteration Actions p5, 6, 10, 11 of Mosul in Iraq, and Raqqa in Syria. War on the Middle East is not over WAMM Co-Founder even when it’s been announced that it’s Polly Mann is 100 over. On October 12, 2019, former U.S. and you are invited to Secretary of Defense James “Mad Dog” her birthday party! Mattis, revered by pundits as the “adult see back page in the room,” joined the retired general Sunday-morning talk show circuit.1 His purpose? To warn that there could be a resurgence of ISIS with Trump’s deci- sion to pull U.S. troops out of Syria.2 Not long ago, the War on Terror had been relegated to a series of sideshows. In January of 2018, as Secretary of Defense, Mattis released the official “Thor’s Fight with the Giants” by Mårten national defense strategy described as: Eskil Winge (1872, Sweden) depicts the “sharpening the American military’s Norse god wearing his belt of power, 3 competitive edge.” Foreign policy swinging his hammer of thunder and riding planners began emphasizing “the a chariot pulled by his loyal goats. Great-Power Competition” as the new and media narratives, the Washington main event. power structure perpetuates it in what­ The appearance of Mattis on our TV ever form it takes. Democrats were screens again is a reminder that there joined by Republicans in condemning have been many changes in the highest Trump’s abrupt removal of U.S. troops echelons of Washington’s power, but from northern Syria, where we shouldn’t these changes don’t make much differ- have been in the first place.4 And both ence in overarching U.S. foreign policy. sides agreed when the Trump adminis- When it comes to war, driven as it is by tration announced the biggest threat was the manufacturers of bombs, bullets, continued on page 2

4200 Cedar Ave. S., Suite 3, Minneapolis, MN 55407 • 612-827-5364 • WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Great Power Competition... Russia and China Respond to continued from page 1 Nuclear Threat The new competitive model alarmed FOCUS ON competition with Russia Russia and China so much that they RUSSIA and China. jointly called a UN Security Council The statements and opinions & CHINA reflected in this newsletter are the As policy analyst Ali meeting this past August in the wake of views of the author and not neces- sarily official positions of WAMM. We Wyne, at the War Institute of the Rand the U.S. withdrawing from the Interme- encourage a diversity of opinion to Corp, Washington’s primo strategic diate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Trea- represent the range of perspectives that coexist under the banner of think tank, stated: ty. Under the treaty, INF missiles, which WAMM’s mission statement. are land-based and have a range of 310 … members of the U.S. foreign- Newsletter Editor to 3,410 miles, were banned. Their range Mary Beaudoin policy establishment widely agree from locations in Europe and the Asia Newsletter Committee that the Trump administration Polly Mann, Carol Masters, Pacific could reach Russia and China. Lee Ross, Sarah Martin, has been prudent to shift Ameri- Mary Beaudoin, Linda Hoover ca’s focus from counterterrorism Over the years, Russia and the U.S. Proofreaders Layout to what the Pentagon’s national have accused one another of violating Ilze Mueller Kristin Dooley the treaty: Carol Walker defense strategy calls ‘the Women Against Military reemergence of long-term The Obama administration in 2014 Madness is a nonviolent, feminist strategic competition.’5 first publicly accused Moscow of organization, founded in 1982, that works in solidarity with On September 9, 2019, Richard Fontaine violating the INF by testing a trea- others to create a system of ty-busting cruise missile, and the social equality, self-determination in Foreign Policy magazine described it and justice through education, this way: Trump administration pressed the action and the empowerment of accusation. Russia denies it cheat- women. WAMM’s purpose is For all the acrimony in Wash- to dismantle systems of militarism, ed, and it counters with a conten- economic exploitation and ington today, the city’s foreign tion that America’s armed drones global oppression. policy establishment is settling and missile defense systems in WAMM Staff on a rare bipartisan consensus: Director: Kristin Dooley Europe are violations. Office Manager: Sophia Myers-Kelley that the world has entered a new WAMM Office era of great-power competition. U.S. military officials said 95 4200 Cedar Avenue South, Suite 3 percent of China’s ballistic Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407 The struggle between the U.S. and 612-827-5364 (phone) other great powers, the emerging and cruise missiles would have 612-827-6433 (fax) violated the treaty.7 [email protected] consensus holds, will fundamental- WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org ly shape geopolitics going forward, Yet, in spite of disagreements, Russia WAMM Office Hours for good or ill. And more than ter- and the U.S. remained partners to the Mon–Fri: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. rorism, climate change, or nuclear bilateral treaty, which was part of the WAMM is funded primarily through the generous weapons in Iran or North Korea, international arms-control framework contributions of our members. the threats posed by these other and served as a basis for nuclear co- WAMM also receives funding from great powers – namely, China and operation – till now. (China was not a Community Shares Minnesota Russia – will consume U.S. party to the treaty. It did not have the foreign-policy makers in the technology that the treaty covered at the decades ahead.6 time it was drawn in 1987.) The current With other powers on the rise, the U.S. administration, which actively U.S. sees Russia and China as “threats” opposes existing international treaties to its hegemony in a world once in general, blamed Russia for the U.S.’ This newsletter is printed on own withdrawal from the treaty, stating ImagePrint® Multiuse, a Domtar dominated by American economic EarthChoice® socially and power and military might. Aggressive that “Russia is solely responsible for environmentally the treaty’s demise.”8 Further, the U.S. responsible paper. competition is particularly frightening Contains fiber from when it comes to the scrapping of inter- quickly announced plans to openly test well-managed, a new, previously banned missile.9 independently national arms control treaties involving certified forests. nuclear weapons. Is it possible for us to listen to what 2 WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 representatives of Russia and China Dmitry Polyanskiy, deputy permanent actually say about the implications of representative of the Russian Feder- the U.S. withdrawing from the treaty? ation, directed his remarks at the UN Can we put on pause straw man argu- primarily to “our European colleagues”: WAMM Committees ments about human-rights violations Are they [the European states] Issues Committees: in foreign countries (when our country aware that, because of the geopo- Book Club doesn’t have a moral leg to stand on)? End War litical ambitions of the U.S., we Ground All Drones Can we eliminate the conversation-stop- Middle East are all just one step away from an pers like “dictatorship” and “autocratic St. Joan of Arc/ uncontrolled, unregulated arms WAMM Peacemakers regime” from our vocabulary so we Second Monday Movies race? ...according to publicly avail- actually hear what foreign diplomats Tackling Torture at the Top (T3) able data the U.S. military budget say? Even if we know that other states Standing Committees: is about $700 billion, while the Coordinating act as much out of self-interest and their Finance budget of NATO amounts to $1.4 leaders may lie as do our own, could Fundraising trillion. These are just approxi- Membership/Outreach we for once give other states credit for Newsletter mate figures. For reference, the being reasonable? Personnel military budget of Russia, which is Program/New Issues When Russian and Chinese represen- allegedly a threat to us all, is about Silent Auction WAMM Board: tatives have something to say, might $60 billion – that is, more than 20 Joan Allen listening be in our self-interest, as well? times lower than that of NATO… Marie Braun, Treasurer Margo Casey Carla Stea, UN Headquarters New York Stea reports Chinese Ambassador Emma Fiala, Co-Chair Penelope Gardner, Co-Chair correspondent for Global Research, Zhang Jun’s response to the U.S. with- Diane Haugesag Canada, reported the response of Russia drawal of the treaty: Anne Keirstead and China at the special August 22 Audrey Kvist The U.S. withdrawal from the INF Vanessa Lawrow UN Security Council session.10 Un- Sarah Martin Treaty is another negative act in Sara Olson derstanding that the U.S. position was the pursuit of unilateralism and Lucia Wilkes Smith, Secretary clear about withdrawing from the INF, continued on page 4 Carol Walker

Map: Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 3 dividing [the NATO] Allies were with Turkish President Erdoğan. Art- Great Power Competition... increasing, so the time was ripe of-the-deal Trump announced that continued from page 3 for moving full steam ahead.” his promise of lifting the sanctions FOCUS ON the shirking of [italics by WAMM Newsletter (that he imposed) was great leverage RUSSIA international editor who also disputes the for the U.S. to get a temporary Turk- & CHINA obligations. Its context-lacking characterization ish ceasefire. that Russia “illegally” annexed true intention is to render the On October 21, it was reported that Crimea.]12 Treaty no longer binding and members of Congress (which had seek a unilateral, absolute And the Winner Is...? passed a bi-partisan resolution con- military advantage. China’s It should be clear that Russia and demning Trump for pulling troops land-based intermediate-range China are pursuing ever more dan- out of northern Syria and endanger- missiles are all deployed gerous weapons because they are ing the Kurds in the first place15 ) within Chinese territory. They reacting to threats aimed at them. were not talking in terms of lifting are for defence purposes only The U.S. behaves as though it’s in a sanctions but instead proposing a and pose no threat to any competition it can win. But there can “strong Bi-partisan sanctions pack- other country. China firmly be no winners in a race for nuclear age” on Turkey. Supposedly this opposes the United States superiority. Just to be in the race humanitarian intervention tactic was attempts to deploy land-based deprives a country of national trea- to protect the Kurds from Turkish intermediate-range missiles in sure that could otherwise be used for annihilation but the editors of the the Asia-Pacific region… the benefit of its citizens. And, even Wall Street Journal revealed the A Race to the Death Is On worse, competing with death threats real reason: “The goal is to get back The following month, the Show of is a horrible way to live and, if acted to negotiating an arrangement that Force military parade at the People’s on, will be a horrible way to die. protects the Kurds, protects Turkey’s Republic’s 70th anniversary bash And, if anything should make poli- legitimate security concerns along in Beijing featured state-of-the-art cymakers think, you might suppose its border, and helps develop the oil 16 Chinese-made weaponry and 15,000 it would be wondering which great fields in the region..” military troops marching in forma- competitor Turkey favors. It has a 11 Syria’s oil fields are significant to tion. It’s obvious that China is not “done deal” contract to purchase new Syria’s economy but not to the world content to sit quietly while the U.S. in- advanced Russian air-defense mis- oil market. What is significant to the stalls nuclear-capable planes and other sile systems and has already begun world market is Syria’s key location modernized weaponry (including first- receiving parts (S400 batteries).13 through which Middle Eastern oil and strike weapons) targeting its nation gas pipelines could route to the Med- while maintaining more than 130,000 Turkey is presumed to be a U.S./ iterranean. On October 22, Washing- U.S. military troops in its region. NATO ally but in retaliation for Turkey attacking the Kurds in ton was reported unable to agree to And Russia? By inference, NATO northern Syria, Trump sanctioned sanctions on Turkey; Congressional acknowledges that Russia was Turkish officials, hiked tariffs on members were belatedly befuddled provoked to speed up missile Turkish steel up to 50 percent, and by the fact that this would drive development: halted trade negotiations.14 The U.S.’s Turkey even closer to Russia. Such a Russia moved forward with the “Great-Power Competitor” Russia dilemma! It’s hard to destroy the Syr- deployment of the SSC-8/9M729 jumped in as a powerbroker and sent ian government under Assad and gain [a cruise missile forbidden under in military patrols to create a buf- access to pipeline routes, while at the the IMF Treaty] only after the fer zone between Turkey and Syria same time punishing NATO ally Tur- radical downturn of Russia’s rela- (Let’s not forget that Russia actually key when Turkey is cooperating with tionship with the West following has the permission of the Syrian great-power competitor Russia. the illegal annexation of Crimea. government to be in Syria.) So, in light of the “Great-Power A plausible explanation is that The U.S. sent its own powerbrokers Competitors” at this flashpoint, is the Kremlin concluded that going Vice President Pence and Secretary anyone nervous about the 50 U.S. slow did not offer any benefits of State Pompeo to Ankara to meet tactical nuclear weapons sitting at and the potential benefits of 4 WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 Incirlik, the U.S. Air Force base in military’s competitive edge.” Arms Accord.” UN Meetings coverage the Turkish city of Adana?17 tinyurl.com/y8a3laof and press release. August 22, 2019. 4. Edmondson, Catie. “In Bi-partisan Rebuke, tinyurl.com/y4mfp8o3 House Majority Condemns Trump.” The 11. Yu, Verna and Harrison, Emma Graham- Let’s Stop Before We Reach New York Times. October 16, 2019. tinyurl. Harrison. “China celebrates 70th anniver- the Finish Line! com/y3jwol9p sary as Xi warns ‘no force can shake great We need to cry Uncle (Sam), 5. Wyne, Ali. “The Need to Think More nation.” The Guardian. October 1, 2019. disquality ourselves from this race, Clearly About Great-Power Competition.” tinyurl.com/y42lvh6k Rand Corporation. February 11, 2019. 12. Durkalec, Jacek. NATO Review and get out of the Middle East and tinyurl.com/yy2henxc Magazine. “European Security without the war business. The only way the 6. Fontaine, Richard. “The Great-Power Com- the INF Treaty.” September 30, 2019. world will survive is if we cooperate petition Is Washington’s Priority – but Not tinyurl.com/y4y9mzfx the Public’s.” September 9, 2019. Foreign 13. “Russia says new deal to supply air defense instead of compete. Affairs. tinyurl.com/yyghw9dd systems to Turkey highly likely.” Press TV. Call your senators 7. Burns, Robert and Riechmann, Deb. October 19, 2019. tinyurl.com/y6p3xsgn ACTION: “U.S. to Test New Missile as Arms Treaty 14. Brueninger, Kevin. “Trump Halts Trade to demand that the U.S. sign the Ends” AP News. August 2, 2019. Negotiations with Sanctions on Turkey, International Treaty to Abolish tinyurl.com/yxuqetyl Raises Steel Tariffs 50%.” CNBC. October Nuclear Weapons. 8. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo. 14, 2019. tinyurl.com/y5no5hfc “U.S. Withdrawal from the INF Treaty 15. Edmondson, Catie. “In Bi-partisan ENDNOTES August 2, 2019.” U.S. Department of State. Rebuke, House Majority Condemns 1. Tatum, Sophia. “Mattis: Mad Dog was a Press statement. August 2, 2019. tinyurl. Trump.” The New York Times. October 16, name given by the press.” CNN. January 12, com/y5v5dd6g; Remarks at a Security 2019. tinyurl.com/y3jwol9p 2017. tinyurl.com/y4jk5kna Council Briefing. U.S. Mission to the UN. 16. Editorial Board. “Congress to Kurd’s 2. Kamisar, Ben and McCausland, Phil. August 22, 2019. tinyurl.com/y5sbx2rs Rescue.” Wall Street Journal. October 17, “Mattis Warns of ISIS could resurge. The 9. Ibid, No. 7 2019. tinyurl.com/y5dfj2tz Enemy Gets a Vote.” NBC News. October 10. For full text of statements see the UN web- 17. “Trump confident in safety of U.S. 12, 2019. tinyurl.com/y45nw3u4 site. “High Representative Warns against nuclear weapons in Syria.” The Washington 3. Department of Defense publications. Unbridled Missile Development amid Post. Video. October 16, 2019. “Summary of 2018 National Defense Collapse of Nuclear Forces Treaty, tinyurl.com/y6hz3l22 Strategy: sharpening the American Calls in Security Council for Universal

When the Enemy You Kill Is Yourself by Doug Olson

FOCUS ON The military is con- permit 16 year olds to serve in their MILITARY sidering a proposal to militaries. RECRUITMENT lower the recruitment Preying on 16-year-olds to make up age to 16 to counter sagging enlist- for the military’s lagging recruitment ment numbers. One proponent of is appalling. One of the reasons this lowering the recruitment age is Shane proposal is disgusting is because McCarthy, the chief marketing officer it would expose young people to a of Sandbox, a platform used by greater risk of suicide. military service members. McCarthy The number of suicides in the mil- briefs and advises numerous military 1 itary increased from 285 in 2017 to recruitment commands. 325 in 2018. The suicide rate grew In his Military Times article advo- from about 22 suicides per 100,000 cating lowering the recruitment age service members to about 25 suicides to 16, McCarthy notes 16-year-olds per 100,000 service members. The are more likely to consider military active duty suicide rate has risen an service than 18-year-olds, recruiting average of six percent every year younger teens is less expensive than over the past five years. recruiting young people in their late Of all the military components, the teens and early twenties, and 15- to Army National Guard had the highest 17-year-olds are half as likely to have suicide rate. 118 Army National Guard The Thinker (Le Penseur), detail arrest records than 18- to 20-year- soldiers committed suicide in 2018. from the bronze sculpture, La Porte olds. McCarthy approvingly notes The suicide rate in the Army National de l’Enfer (Gates of Hell), 1880-1890, Canada and the United Kingdom continued on page 6 Auguste Rodin. WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 5 an increased risk of suicide. Soldiers activist and semi-retired priest Father When the Enemy You Kill... who commit unjustified killings Tony Kroll, and four Little Falls continued from page 5 are the most likely to suffer from Franciscan Sisters. Vigil participants 4 FOCUS ON Guard is 35.3 suicides severe PTSD. held signs and banners reminding MILITARY per 100,000 service The military will never tell young Open House Day visitors “War is RECRUITMENT members – much people considering enlistment about Terrorism” and “War Kills Kids.” higher than the 22.4 per 100,000 rate the disproportionately high rates of Remarkably, the Camp Ripley peace among civilian young men in 2017.2 suicide in the military. Peace activists vigil received more positive than neg- should share this disturbing informa- While the Military Times article does ative responses from passersby. Many tion with young people to discourage not discuss the reasons behind the passersby, including several National them from joining the military. high rates of suicide among Army Guard soldiers, honked their horns, National Guard soldiers, undoubtedly Peace Activists Firmly Oppose gave thumbs up, or made peace signs. many of the suicides can be attributed Military Recruitment of Youth This was the first time a peace vigil at to repeated deployments to fight in The peace vigil outside Camp Camp Ripley received such a posi- the endless U.S. wars in the Middle Ripley in Little Falls, Minnesota is tive response. The positive response East and Afghanistan, as well as a good example of peace activists is indicative of the war-weariness the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder taking a stand against the military a majority of Americans, including (PTSD) that many veterans suffer due recruitment of young people. On a majority of Iraq and Afghan War to their horrific experiences in war. 5 Sunday, September 15, 2019, around veterans, feel. Soldiers can suffer from moral inju- 36 peace activists held a vigil Doug Olson is a member of Brainerd ry because of their horrific war expe- outside Camp Ripley to counter riences. Moral injury is “the harmful Area Coalition for Peace. He can be Camp Ripley’s pro-war propaganda reached at [email protected] aftermath of exposure to events fest known as Open House Day. which ‘transgress deeply held beliefs Peace activists can 3 Among the peace activists were ACTION: and expectations.’” Such events members of Brainerd Area Coalition translate this antiwar feeling into included the unjustified taking of life for Peace (BACP), Women Against a stronger movement, and make a in war. U.S. Department of Veterans Military Madness (WAMM), special appeal to young people as Affairs research finds soldiers who Veterans for Peace (VFP), and the they are targeted by the military for suffer moral injury as a result of war Minnesota Anti-War Committee recruitment. Join the Camp Ripley crimes they commit or witness have (AWC), as well as long-time peace Peace Vigil in September of 2020. ENDNOTES 1. “Would Lowering the age of recruitment fix the military’s recruitment worries?” Shane McCarthy. Military Times. July 10, 2019. tinyurl.com/y27sl4fo 2. “Active Duty suicides are on the rise, as the Pentagon works on new messaging and strategy” Meghann Myers. Military Times. September 26, 2019. tinyurl.com/y5pwsh3n; More details on the National Guard suicide rate: “The National Guard’s suicide rate has surpassed the other military components” Meghann Myers. Military Times. September 26, 2019. tinyurl.com/y5pwsh3n 3. “Moral Injury in the Context of War” Shira Maguen, PhD and Brett Litz, PhD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. tinyurl.com/yyqf5zu6 4. Ibid no. 3 5. “Most Veterans Say Iraq, Afghanistan Wars Weren’t Worth It: Pew Report” Oriana Pawlyk. Military.com Wednesday, July 10, 2019. tinyurl.com/y23j2xn4 Activists stand, kneel outside Camp Ripley at a prior year’s vigil. 6 WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 Hong Kong: Are These Really Protests We Want to Support? by Mary Beaudoin

FOCUS ON Should peace and jus- HONG tice advocates support KONG pro-democracy efforts whenever they arise in the world? Even some U.S. alternative media identifying as liberal and progressive have joined the chorus, portraying the protests in Hong Kong as the noble pursuit of democratic free- doms, brave resistance to the author- itarian Chinese government oppress- ing the people. Democratic freedoms aside, many nations in the world but particularly the U.S., Britain, and China have The Hong Kong rebellion calls on Trump to “liberate” Hong Kong. interests to protect in Hong Kong. The island-city is a special adminis- Hong Kong’s particular legal appeared in the government- trative district within China with a characteristics have not only enabled sponsored China Daily, HK edition: unique history. It was subject to Brit- China to rise as an economic power and shelter foreign corporations There are two reasons why ish colonial rule for approximately they chose the extradition law 150 years but, under an agreement from taxes and tariffs but they have also allowed an individual to get amendment bill as a turning with the People’s Republic of China, point in their disruptive Hong in 1997 it was returned to China away with murder. That’s because Hong Kong lacks an extradition Kong strategy. One is their and governed as “one country, two failure to seize Hong Kong’s systems” with its own legal and treaty for those who commit crimes in Taiwan and China. When a governing power through their administrative systems. Hong Kong’s political proxies with ‘true special status enabled it to become resident of Hong Kong murdered his pregnant girlfriend while on democracy’ as an excuse. a leading financial center and tax The other one is the need to haven for international corporations. vacation in Taiwan in 2018, the accused fled back to Hong Kong facilitate the U.S. government’s Its free market is so free from reg- updated global strategy since ulation and accountability that the where he couldn’t be prosecuted. Hong Kong’s administrative 2018 that regards China as its conservative American think tank, main rival. – Zhou Bajun3 the Heritage Foundation, has consis- government attempted to amend tently ranked the city as number one its extradition law as a result of the The protesters looked to London to in its Index of Economic Freedom.1 incident. But protesters claimed assist them in their cause. Wearing extradition would extend to hardhats, they smashed into the The arrangement has been of mutual overreach by the People’s Republic Hong Kong legislative chambers benefit to both foreigners and the and cause Hong Kong citizens to be and raised the Union Jack.4 On the Republic of China. As a Reuters deprived of their freedoms. street, people could be heard singing primer explains: “China uses Hong Anti-extradition protests the British anthem “God Save the Kong’s currency, equity, and debt were ignited. Queen” while waving the flag of markets to attract foreign funds, their former colonial master.5 while international companies Complaining of Washington’s and use Hong Kong as a launchpad to London’s interference in Chinese But it’s not just the British that 2 internal affairs, the following expand into mainland China. continued on page 8

WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 7 cating for the Hong Kong Human Hong Kong, describes the destruc- Hong Kong... Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 tive acts as black bloc tactics bor- continued from page 7 (H.R. 3289) “to send an unequivocal rowed from anarchist groups but 9 FOCUS ON protesters appealed message that the protesters of Hong more incendiary than the usual. HONG to for support. Kong have the full support and KONG Back in the U.S., the House American flags were backing of the U.S. in their quest for 7 of Representatives passed also prominent in street protests. justice and freedom.” additional legislation based on The leader of the Hong Kong On October 13, in an interview with the “responsibility to protect,” activist organization Demosistō, CBS Face the Nation, Ted Cruz, the the humanitarian interventionist Joshua Wong, called for outside U.S. senator from Texas, in a new policy used to defend people in intervention by the U.S., Western rad persona, announced from Hong foreign countries from their own Europe, and Japan to “liberate Kong: “I’m here, I’m dressed in all governments on the premise that Hong Kong.” black standing in solidarity with they need to be protected and the And U.S. officials responded. the protesters.”8 (When asked about U.S. should do it. The Hong Kong With Wong by her side, on Septem- reported violence, Cruz later claimed Human Rights and Democracy Act ber 18, 2019, House Speaker Nancy not to have observed any.) passed the House with bipartisan Pelosi held a press conference in support on October 15. The House This color revolution is character- also passed a resolution condemning Washington on human rights in ized by wearing black clothing. 6 the Chinese government in Beijing Hong Kong. Something not lost on Fewer in number than the masses astute observers was that she made a and, in addition, the Protect Hong of protesters in the street were those Kong Act, which restricts non-lethal statement reminiscent of one deliv- among them disguised by masks and ered by Undersecretary of State Vic- crowd control equipment exports to with helmets protecting their heads, Hong Kong.10 (While in July, the U.S. toria Nuland in 2013, when, against causing mayhem by destroying the the backdrop of a Chevron logo, State Department had approved two commons – subway stations, buses, billion in arms sales to Taiwan11 and Nuland praised “the brave people of and the Hong Kong International the Maidan” as she encouraged the continues, under the 1033 program, Airport – as well as local busi- to allow local U.S. law enforcement overthrow of the Ukrainian govern- nesses. These actors wielded steel ment in a color revolution. Pelosi agencies to obtain surplus military rods, have beaten people considered equipment.) As of this writing, the welcomed the “very brave champi- the opposition, and threw gasoline ons for democracy, for freedom of Hong Kong bills are expected to bombs at police. Asia Times col- pass in the Senate.12 expression in Hong Kong,” advo- umnist Pepe Escobar, who lives in Comparing this to American media and government reactions to our own protests, the China Daily commented: “It’s not hard to imagine the U.S.’ reaction if Chinese diplomats met leaders of Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, or Never Trump protesters.” The ordinary people of Hong Kong do have reason to be angry. The city is the most expensive in the world to live in with the highest rent, according to Deutsche Bank’s 2019 “Mapping the World’s Prices.” Many people experience extreme poverty. But their anger is directed at the Protesters smash into Hong Kong government headquarters and raise the Union Jack.

8 WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 their populations. It boasts anti-extradition protests back to of the ability “to respond Hong Kong’s 2014 Occupy Central quickly where there is a (part of the Umbrella movement of need for political change.” In agitators): 1991, Allen Weinstein, NED founder and president said, In an article we wrote yester- “A lot of what we do today day, we detailed that the front- was done 25 years ago by line anti-extradition protesters the CIA.” David Ignatius were potentially funded by as the foreign editor of the Jimmy Lai and the Ameri- Washington Post, referred can National Endowment for approvingly to the NED as Democracy. Co-incidentally, “the sugar daddy of overt Oslo Freedom Forum is also operations.” a New York-based non-profit Human Rights Foundation “The NED should be called founded by human rights the “National Endowment activist Thor Halvorssen. As for Attacking Democracy,” exposed by the BBC documen- says Stephen Kinzer, who tary (website), 10,000 protesters wrote “America’s Century during Occupy Central were of Regime Change from trained as early as two years U.S. military threatens China in Asia Pacific. Map: Hawaii to Iraq” (Henry Holt ago. Hence, it is highly possible Graphic by Nam Kyung-don; info source: U.S. & Co., 2007).15 that thousands of anti-extradi- Department of Defense tion protesters were trained in Hong Kong city administration and In a not to be missed video, 2017 or even 2018 to prepare Beijing, not the wealth gap. Mintpress News editor Mnar A. themselves for the current Muhawesh pointed out that neo- anti-extradition protest.17 Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong cons, the notorious Elliot Abrams billionaire and media mogul, and Victoria Nuland [her again] NOTE: Since this writing there is widely believed to be funding the sit on the NED board of directors. no longer access to Dimsum Daily Hong Kong protests, came to the Muhawesh reports that “Since 2014, through Google. The search engine U.S. in early July to meet with the year of Hong Kong’s Umbrella is reported blocking sites critical of Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. protests, the NED has officially the Hong Kong protests. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, poured over $29 million dollars into National Security Advisor John the island city in order to identify Sara Flounders of the New York- 13 Bolton, and some senators. His new avenues for democracy and based International Action Center, visit to Washington was preceded political reform. But as the NED which advocates against war and in March by a delegation of Hong has already identified the Chinese racism, locates the Hong Kong 14 Kong “democracy” advocates. government as despotic and a demonstrations within a true threat to democracy, this means global perspective of empire: The National Endowment for “The escalating demonstrations Democracy (NED) fosters move- that much of that money is defacto supporting groups to undermine that are linked to the U.S. trade war, ments in foreign countries. Since tariffs and military encirclement of its inception during the Reagan government and as Mintpress has previously reported much of that China. Four hundred – half – of the administration in 1983, the NED, a 800 U.S. overseas military bases private foundation funded by the U.S. money went to the current groups that organized the protests.”16 surround China. Aircraft carriers, government but for which there is destroyers, nuclear submarines, jet no government oversight, has been Dimsum Daily, a Hong Kong aircraft, Terminal High Altitude providing grants to nonprofit orga- focused internet publication Area Defense missile batteries, and nizations, labor, and political parties reporting from Norway on August satellite surveillance infrastructures in foreign countries to influence 16, 2019, also traced the current continued on page 10 WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 9 Hong Kong 5. Guardian News. YouTube video.“Hong 14. Cheung, Tony. “Beijing slams Hong Kong Kong Protesters Sing ‘God Save the Queen’ tycoon Jimmy Lai and U.S. officials over continued from page 9 in plea to Britain. September 15, 2019. Last meetings on extradition bill.” South China accessed Nov. 3, 2019. Morning Post. July 9, 2019. FOCUS ON are positioned in the HONG 6. Zhang, Shuai. “China accuses Pelosi of tinyurl.com/yyaejgxt KONG South China Sea, close ‘interference’ as battle rages to control 15. Kinzer, Steve. “Trump is Cutting the to Hong Kong.” 18 narrative on Hong Kong.” CBS News. National Endowment for Democracy and September 20, 2019. tinyurl.com/y3zfm353 That’s a Good Thing.” March 15, 2017. 7. Pelosi, Nancy. “Pelosi Remarks at Press Originally published in the Boston Globe. Our antiwar call should be: Event on the Hong Kong Human Rights Common Dreams. tinyurl.com/y542wkd9 “U.S. out of Hong Kong and the and Democracy Act” Nancy Pelosi Speaker 16. Muhawesh A., Mnar. “The NED Strikes Asia Pacific!” of the House. Newsroom. September 18, Again: How Neocon Money Is Funding 2019. speaker.gov/newsroom/91819-0 the Hong Kong Protests.” September 9, Mary Beaudoin is the editor of the 8. “Transcript: Ted Cruz on ‘Face the Nation’” 2019. tinyurl.com/y674h6dw; National CBS News. October 13, 2019. tinyurl.com/ Endowment for Democracy. Women Against Military Madness y5hgp9ys. Last accessed Nov. 3, 2019. ned.org/about/board-of-directors Newsletter. 9. Escobar, Pepe. “Behind Hong Kong’s 17. “Protesters Trained at Oslo Freedom Black Terror.” Asia Times. October 11, 2019. Forum before anti-extradition protest.” 1. Heritage Foundation. Index of Economic tinyurl.com/y2ru5dwo August 16, 2019. dimsumdaily.hk/?s=Oslo Freedom. Heritage.org/indexrankings. 10. Congressional Record. “Placing Restric- NOTE: This site, along with other sites Accessed October 30, 2019. tions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Con- critical of the Hong Kong protests, has 2. Goetz, Lisa. “Why is Hong Kong trol Technology to Hong Kong.” October been blocked by Google since research for considered a tax haven?” Investopedia, 15, 2019. tinyurl.com/yyt9pkel this article began. November 15, 2018; tinyurl.com/yx97md6s; 11. Horton, Chris, “Taiwan set to receive 18. Flounders, Sara. “Follow the Money Sin, Noah. “Explainer: How Important is $2 billion in arms sales, drawing ire of behind Hong Kong protests.” August 16, Hong Kong to the rest of China?” Reuters. Chinese.” New York Times. July 9, 2019. 2019. International Action Center. tinyurl. September 4, 2019. tinyurl.com/y39vl9zq tinyurl.com/y6afguby com/y28ja3z9 3. Bajun, Zhou. “Foreign meddling in the 12. Au, Bonnie. “U.S. House passes Hong SAR’s affairs must stop.” China Daily Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.” Hong Kong edition, July 31, 2019. October 16, 2019. South China Morning tinyurl.com/yxqvwb6b Post. tinyurl.com/y3qqqy9a 4. Choi, Christy and Yu, Verna. “Hong Kong 13. Wadhams, Nick. “Trump Team Sends protests: demonstrators storm legislative Defiant Signal to Beijing by Meeting Hong building.” The Guardian. July 1, 2019. Kong Activist.” Bloomberg News, July 10, tinyurl.com/yxg2tuxc 2019. tinyurl.com/y4a5ubja

Keep the WAMM Membership Sustaining Membership light of peace $15–39 Low Income/Student membership (Ongoing contributions throughout the year) burning! $40–59 Individual membership $_____ Monthly $_____ Quarterly $60–199 Household membership (WAMM will send a coupon book, if by check) Give the gift $200+ Major Donor of a WAMM This is a new membership. This is a membership renewal This is a gift membership membership Check enclosed Please charge my credit card Total amount enclosed $______to someone, Credit Card #______Expiration Date ______Security Code______join, or renew. Signature______Name ______Phone______Address ______City______State ______Zip ______Email______Add me to the WAMM email list Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Make checks payable to WAMM, 4200 Cedar Avenue South, Suite 3, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407

10 WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 WAMM Minneapolis by the sign at the Miss a movie? DVD collection driveway entrance to ICE. Rain Tackling Torture is available for check-out in the Calendar or shine. (If using GPS – 6000 at the Top (T3) WAMM office. Please note that WAMM’s Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis). Second Wednesday of every provision of information on FFI: Call Pepper 612-701-6963 month, 10:00 a.m. 4200 Cedar Special Events other groups’ events is not or Mary Lou 612-280-0354 Avenue South, Minneapolis. Give to the Max Day FFI: Call WAMM 612-827-5364. Thursday, November 14, 2019. meant to convey or endorse Second Tuesday of every any action contrary to All day. Show your support for month, 7:30 a.m. WAMM and donate on Give public policy that would be Ongoing Events Interfaith Coalition on Immigra- People of Faith to the Max Day. Go online to inconsistent with exempt tion (ICOM) gathers in solidari- Peacemakers Breakfast givemn.org/organization/Wamm purposes under Internal ty with immigrants and refugees or send donations directly to Second and fourth Wednesdays Revenue Code Section 501(c) to achieve justice and stand up WAMM at the address on the of every month, 8:00 to 9:30 (3), i.e., charitable purposes. to systems of oppression. Vigil back. FFI: 612-827-5364 outside the Bishop Whipple a.m. African Development Ongoing Peace/ Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Center, Riverside and 20th Polly Mann’s Snelling. St. Paul. FFI: Face- Avenues South, Minneapolis. 100th Birthday Party Justice Vigils Peace with justice resource, Vigil to End War book: Interfaith Coalition on Saturday, November 23, 2019. support group. FFI: Visit 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Kenwood Every Wednesday, Note change Immigration (ICOM). justviewpoint.org or call Isles Condomimium, 1425 West of hours: from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. 612-333-4772. 28th St, Minneapolis. See ad on Lake Street/Marshall Avenue WAMM Committee the back. FFI: 612-827-5364. Bridge. Signs available on St. Meetings Grandmothers for Peace Paul side. Brief circle up for Board Meeting First Wednesday of every December Coffee Hour announcements after the vigil Third Tuesday of every month, month, 12:45 p.m. Edina Public Saturday, December 7, 2019. on St. Paul side. 6:00 p.m. 4200 Cedar Avenue Library, 5280 Grandview 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Discussion FFI: Call WAMM 612-827-5364. South, Minneapolis. Square, Edina. Justice issue on current events in the Amer- FFI: Call WAMM 612-827-5364. programs for understanding icas sponsored by a group of Vigil to End the our role in changing systems. Book Club WAMM members calling our- Occupation of Palestine FFI: Call 952-929-1566. selves the Solidarity Committee Every Friday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Episcopal Senior Living on the Americas (SCOTA). corner of Summit Avenue and Complex, Welcome Center, Pax Salons Bagels and coffee provided. Snelling Avenue, St. Paul. 1860 University Avenue West, Call for details and location. FFI: 612-827-5364. FFI: Call WAMM 612-827-5364. St. Paul. Call WAMM for Small donations accepted. FFI: meeting time and date. Call 651-227-3228. Peace Vigil FFI: Call 612-827-5364. Every Tuesday, 5:00 to 6:00 Middle East Peace Now p.m. on the east side of the End War Usually second or third Satur- Franklin Avenue Bridge, Minne- First Monday of every month, day. Refreshments 9:30 a.m. apolis. Sponsored by: Prospect 6:00 p.m. 4200 Cedar Avenue Program 10:00 a.m. Location Hill Neighbors for Peace. South, Minneapolis. varies. FFI: Visit mepn.org. FFI: Call 612-379-7398. FFI: Call WAMM 612-827-5364. WAMM Second Grandmothers for Ground All Drones Monday Movies Peace Vigil Times/dates pending. FFI: Call Second Monday of every Every Wednesday, 4:45 to 5:45 WAMM 612-827-5364. month, 7:00 p.m. 4200 Cedar Avenue South (enter on 42nd p.m. 50th Street and Halifax Middle East (1 block west of France), St.), Minneapolis. Projected on Second Monday of every Edina. FFI: Call Marian Wright big screen. Free admission, pop- month, 10:00 a.m. at Kenwood 612-927-7607. corn. All welcome. Discussion Isles Condominiums, 28th and follows film. FFI: Call 612-827- Immigrant Hennepin Ave. So., Mpls.. 5364.or email [email protected]. FFI: Call WAMM 612-827-5364. Solidarity Vigils Undeterred December 9. An in- Every Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. St. Joan of Arc/WAMM timate and unique portrait of how Stand up for justice, say NO to Peacemakers residents in a small rural commu- family separation, deportation. Fourth Tuesday of every nity, caught in the cross-hairs of Gather weekly with signs (bring month, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. global geo-political forces, have your own or use one provided) St. Joan of Arc Church, Parish mobilized to demand their rights at ICE entrance closest to Center, 4537 Third Avenue and to provide aid to injured, Fort Snelling light rail station. South, Minneapolis. FFI: Call often to dying people funneled Vigil on Minnehaha Ave., Barbara 612-722-4444. across a wilderness desert.

WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 37 Number 5 Fall II 2019 11 NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN 4200 Cedar Avenue South, Suite 3 PERMIT NO. 30308 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407 (612) 827-5364 FAX: (612) 827-6433 e-mail: [email protected] WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

You are invited! Please join with family and friends of WAMM’s co-founder Polly Mann to celebrate her 100th Birthday Saturday, November 23, 2019 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Kenwood Isles In lieu of gifts, Polly asks you to send donations to Condominium Women Against Military Madness. 1425 West 28th St. SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER! Minneapolis