A publication of Volume 35 Number 2 Second Issue 2017 Women Against Military Madness Trump: Trumpeting for a War on Iran? by Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich The Trump IN THIS ISSUE: FOCUS ON IRAN Administration’s rhetoric Trump: Trumpeting p1 and actions have alarmed for a War on Iran? the world. The protests in response to by Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich his visa ban have overshadowed and distracted from a darker threat: war Stop Funding p2 with Iran. Is the fear of the threat Terrorists! H.R. 608! greater than the threat itself ? The from WAMM End War answer is not clear. Committee Certainly Americans and non- U.S. Troops p3 Americans who took comfort in the fact Have Moved to that we would have a more peaceful Russia’s Borders world believing that Trump would not by Polly Mann start a nuclear war with Russia must John Pilger’s The p4 now have reason to pause. The sad and Coming War on China stark reality is that U.S. foreign policy by Polly Mann is continuous. An important part of this While President Jimmy Carter continuity is a war that has been waged initiated the Rapid Deployment Whistleblowers, p8 against Iran for the past 38 years — Force and put boots on the ground War and Truth: an Interview with unabated. in the Persian Gulf, virtually every Coleen Rowley The character of this war has U.S. president since has threatened by Margaret Sarfehjooy changed over time. The 1980s began Iran with military action. It is hard to with a failed coup which attempted remember when the option was not on to destroy the Islamic Republic in its the table. However, thus far, every U.S. early days, and continued with the administration has wisely avoided a U.S. aiding Iraq’s Saddam Hussein head-on military confrontation with Iran. with intelligence and internationally- To his credit, although George prohibited chemical weapons to kill W. Bush was egged on to engage Iranians during the eight-year Iran- militarily on Iran, the 2002 Millennium Iraq war to helping and promoting the Challenge, exercises which simulated terrorist MEK group, the training and war, demonstrated America’s inability to recruiting of the Jundallah terrorist win a war on Iran. The challenge was too group to launch attacks in Iran, putting daunting. It is not just Iran’s formidable Special Forces on the ground in Iran, defense forces that have to be reckoned and the imposition of sanctioned with, but the fact that one of Iran’s Photo: Martin S. Fuentes, terrorism—the list goes on and on, strengths and deterrents has been U.S. Navy as does the continuity of it. continued on page 6 4200 Cedar Ave. S., Suite 3, Minneapolis, MN 55407 • 612-827-5364 • WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Stop Funding Terrorists! Support H.R. 608! from the WAMM End War Committee FOCUS ON No one knows the trag- The statements and opinions SYRIA edy of war better than reflected in this newsletter are its victims and veterans. the views of the author and not necessarily official positions of That’s why it’s important to listen to U.S. WAMM. We encourage a diversity Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, of opinion to represent the range of perspectives that coexist under a military veteran of the Iraq War and a the banner of WAMM’s mission member of the Armed Services and Foreign statement. Affairs Committees of Congress, who intro- Newsletter Editor Mary Beaudoin duced the Stop Funding Terrorists Act, H.R. Newsletter Committee 608. After returning from a trip to Syria in U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Polly Mann, Carol Masters, January of this year, she proposed this leg- Lee Ross, Margaret Sarfehjooy, the new Administration to answer the Sarah Martin, Mary Beaudoin, islation to prohibit U.S. government funds Linda Hoover from being used to support al-Qaeda, ISIS, pleas of the Syrian people immediately Proofreaders Layout or other terrorist groups. Unfortunately, the and support the Stop Arming Terrorists Ilze Mueller Kristin Dooley Act. We must stop directly and indirect- Carol Walker congresswoman has been pilloried by the ly supporting terrorists—directly by Women Against Military war-biased U.S. and UK mass media and Madness is a nonviolent, feminist both sides of the aisle in Congress, which providing weapons, training and logis- organization, founded in 1982, chose to characterize her trip as something tical support to rebel groups affiliated that works in solidarity with others to create a system of slightly sinister because, among the many with al-Qaeda and ISIS; and indirectly social equality, self-determination Syrians she met, she also met with Pres- through Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, and justice through education, action and the empowerment of ident Assad, even though she issued the and Turkey, who, in turn, support these women. WAMM’s purpose is requisite statement about not being in Syria terrorist groups. We must end our war to dismantle systems of militarism, economic exploitation and to support him. On behalf of the people of to overthrow the Syrian government global oppression. Syria, she urges Congress (a handful of and focus our attention on defeating WAMM Staff Democrats and Republicans are co-spon- al-Qaeda and ISIS. Director: Suzanne Al-Kayali Office Manager: Jamie Huberty-Koerner soring) and all Americans to support this From Iraq to Libya and now WAMM Office bill. An excerpt from Congresswoman in Syria, the U.S. has waged wars of 4200 Cedar Avenue South, Suite 3 Gabbard’s statement on Syria: regime change, each resulting in un- Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407 612-827-5364 (phone) imaginable suffering, devastating loss “My visit to Syria has made it abun- 612-827-6433 (fax) of life, and the strengthening of groups [email protected] dantly clear: Our counterproductive WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org like al-Qaeda and ISIS. regime change war does not serve WAMM Office Hours Mon–Fri: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. America’s interest, and it certainly isn’t Urge your congressional WAMM is funded primarily in the interest of the Syrian people. Representative to co-sponsor through the generous As I visited with people from the Stop Funding Terrorists Act: contributions of our members. across the country, and heard heart- H.R. 608 WAMM also receives funding from Community Shares Minnesota breaking stories of how this war has devastated their lives, I was asked, ‘Why is the United States and its allies helping al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups try to take over Syria? Syria did This newsletter is printed on not attack the United States. Al-Qaeda ImagePrint® Multiuse, a Domtar EarthChoice® socially and did.’ I had no answer. environmentally I return to Washington, DC responsible paper. Contains fiber from with even greater resolve to end our well-managed, illegal war to overthrow the Syrian independently certified forests. government. I call upon Congress and 2 WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness.org Volume 35 Number 2 Second Issue 2017 PM: U.S. Troops Have Moved to Russia’s Borders by Polly Mann WAMM Committees FOCUS ON The Russian reply could U.S./EUCOM Issues Committees: have been predicted. military personnel Book Club RUSSIA End War Committee Vladimir Putin’s and equipment Middle East spokesman is reported to have said, “We have been St. Joan of Arc/ WAMM Peacemakers perceive it [the deployment of troops] deploying to these Ground All Drones Committee as a threat. These actions threaten our countries near the Tackling Torture at the Top interests, our security. Especially as Russian border WAMM Second Monday Movies Standing Committees: it concerns a third party building up in Operation Coordinating its military presence near our borders. Atlantic Resolve. Finance Fundraising It’s the U.S., not even a European New Member state.” (The Guardian, January 12, Newsletter likely but there have been dangerous 2017). These plans were made under Personnel developments. Russia alarmed eastern Program/New Issues the Obama administration ahead of the Silent Action European states by moving nuclear next president and are part of EUCOM WAMM Board capable Islander M missiles to its naval (U.S. European Command is one of the Anne Bellamy base at Kaliningrad in the autumn.” Marie Braun, Treasurer seven combatant commands that the Sally Kundert Is it any wonder that Russia entire globe has been divided into for Vanessa Lawrow acted thusly with the tremendous build Sarah Martin, Co-Chair U.S. military “responsibility.”) During Brigid McDonald up on its borders? the presidential campaign, Donald Pepperwolf Major General Timothy Carla Riehle Trump said he would rather work with Coleen Rowley McGuire, deputy commanding Putin than confront him. But his chosen Margaret Sarfehjooy general of the U.S. Army Europe says, Lucia Wilkes Smith, Secretary Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, said Carol Walker, Co-Chair “The best way to maintain peace is that the West should recognize that Putin preparation.” How about the best way to was trying to break NATO, which has maintain peace is not preparing for war been struggling to cope with Russia’s use but actually maintaining peace? of hybrid, or many faceted, warfare. The U.S. sent Poland 87 tanks Polly Mann is a co-founder of WAMM and 144 armored vehicles. And Britain and a frequent contributor to the is sending troops — 1,000 of them. This is WAMM newsletter. part of Atlantic Resolve, training events taking place with command over European troops along Russia’s borders, with 4,000 U.S. troops and 2,000 tanks arriving in Eastern Europe. (The U.S. Marines have also arrived in Norway.) We are told that the U.S. military build-up on Russia’s borders is to reassure NATO partners after the referendum of the Crimea area of Ukraine resulted in it joining Russia in 2014 — that, and the continued Russian involvement in Ukraine (no Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, flanked by Senators Lindsey Graham mention of U.S.