Veterans For Peace Chapter 161

From Ed Flaherty:

What Country Is This?

The poorest Arab country in the world.
The most populous country on the Arabian Peninsula.
More than 70 health-care facilities have been destroyed by Saudi bombs.
Twenty million of its people face starvation.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have launched air and ground assaults on the population in the northern part of the country, using planes, missiles, bombs and guns made in the U.S.
The U.S. is actively involved in the attacks by providing intelligence and mid-air refueling to the Saudi coalition.
The U.S. is engaged in direct military action there, using drones and Special Forces, often killing civilians.
The UN has declared that this country is in the midst of the worst humanitarian disaster in the world, with armed conflict being the cause.

The question of "what country is this" is easy to answer — YEMEN.
More ... www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1471338/yemen-nation-danger

A more difficult question is "why is the U.S. engaged in war there." And why have so few of our elected members of Congress taken steps to stop it?

Now comes Senate Joint Resolution #54: A joint resolution to direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress.
The above resolution was introduced on February 28th in the US Senate by Sanders(I), Lee(R), & Murphy(D). A Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Houthi rebels and civilians for the past 3 years, with bombs, planes, missiles and guns supplied by U.S. The U.S. provides mid-air refueling and intelligence. There is no authorization for U.S. involvement in that war. Medical facilities have been destroyed, 8 million close to starvation. The UN says, "the conflict in Yemen has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world."

Please call senators Ernst (202 224-3254) and Grassley (202 224-3744) and tell them to support S J Res #54.
... Or compose a message for this issue with FCNL assist

Danny Sjursen and Coleen Rowley: America Needs an Armistice

Local VFP Members Speak Out Against New Obscene Military Spending

Veterans For Peace Stands with Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange

Armistice Day 2018, Time to Recommit to Peace

September 14 2018, Congress passes AUMF

March 2018, a muddle of murky anniversaries

John Ivens on US policy on Yemen

Ed Flaherty on US policy on Gaza

Jeffrey Sterling, a former CIA employee, released from prison

VFP 161 leader, Jeff Strottmann passes Feb 6, 2017

Retired Air Force Major General Charles Dunlap discusses AUMF in Syria

Taking Yemen to Congress

Ed Flaherty on Yemen & US military budget

Ed Flaherty on 9-11

VFP on Memorial Day

Muhammad Ali's service

Ann Wright & Women's Boat to Gaza

View Dan Berrigan commemoration

Private Manning's service to country

David Hempel: It's time to organize

For further information, call John Jadryev at 43O-2Ol9 or E-mail Ed Flaherty <flahertyem[at]q.com>

THE NEED FOR VOICES FOR PEACE IS URGENT

People and Events

Veterans For Peace,
Chapter #161 Meeting

Tuesday, December 10th
5:30 pm
Coralville Public Library
1401 5th Street in Coralville
Lower level
A short fim clip will preceed the meeting, beginning at 5:15. All who are working for peace are welcome.

For more information email
David <hoboe751 @ gmail·com>

We draw on our personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of war - and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives.

December 10 is international Human Rights Day. On Dec 10, 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was endorsed. Dec. 10^th also marks the 20^th anniversary of the founding of the University of Iowa Center For Human Rights (UICHR), a staunch ally of VFP #161. November also marked the 30^th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. All of these events are being commemorated on Dec 10^th at Old Brick. The program commemorating 20 years of the UICHR will begin at 4PM, and all are urged to attend, prior to the VFP meeting.

Stand up for Peace!
Fridays, New hours: 4 to 5:30 pm
at the intersection of
Iowa Avenue and Clinton Street
on the University of Iowa Pentacrest
Iowa City

Are you ready to show up for peace? Join us for an hour, or even just a few minutes, to voice your support for peace. We citizens must stand as a reminder that the military option is an unacceptable option. Maybe if we're serious about peace with North Korea, we could start the new year by declaring an end to the Korean War. Come with your friends, your family, your neighbors, or just yourself — all are welcome.

April 4 marks 52 years since Martin Luther King delivered the most controversial speech in his career, "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence." For the 4th year in a row, Veterans For Peace #161 sponsored a community read of King's controversial and ever-relevant "Riverside" speech. April 4th also marks 51 years since King was assassinated in Memphis.

Martin Luther King's Riverside Church speech
broken into sections for a public reading

Martin Luther King's speech at the Mason Temple, Memphis, April 3, 1968
"I've Been to the Mountaintop"

Veterans for Peace 161 gather on Armistice Day, November 11, 2018

Dave H, John C, Jim Bradley, Louie, Ron McCall, John Fyotek, and Ed Flaherty participated in the June 16, 2018 Gay Pride Parade.
Thanks to Tom Jacobs for the photo.

Jo Conroy died on August 4th. Her family and friends are left with rich memories. She was a "No Justice, No Peace—Know Justice, Know Peace" kind of person. She frequented the Friday peace rallies on the Pentacrest in Iowa City, and was a friend of Veterans For Peace. She was a woman of many talents, with a sense of humor and a smile that stuck with you.

Her obituary ( gayandciha.com ) relates: "She became one of the earliest members of the Cedar Rapids chapter of NOW (National Organization For Women). She sued the Cedar Rapids school district for sexual discrimination, not for money but for equal rights. The decision was on her side. She used to say, 'Civil rights, women's rights, we are talking about human rights.' She continued her fight for justice until she could no longer walk or speak."

Photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Kowalsky

On Friday, March 15, 2019, VFP 161 member, Linda Fisher was handed the baton to direct the U.S. Air Force Concert Band at the Hancher to conduct Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever in a rousing finish to the nights outstanding full house performance. Chief Master Sgt Stacy Newbrough Ascione, an Iowa City native, performed a classy flute improvision.
Linda had been a former member of the Women's Air Force Band, serving with the WAF Band from 1960-1961. She even marched in the Inaugural Parade for President John F. Kennedy!

In 1958, four peace lovers sailed the 30' Golden Rule from California, bound for the Marshall Islands, where another above-ground nuclear bomb test was scheduled. They got arrested in Hawaii, and the boat got sold. It was found in 2010, a wreck. Some VFP folks who knew its story restored it. Here it is, in San Diego bay last week, for the national VFP convention, in conjunction w/the 70 year commemoration of the A-Bomb devestation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Atmospheric nuclear bomb tests were banned world-wide in 1963. The Marshall Islands are suing the nuke bomb holding countries now to make them honor the intent of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to reduce and get rid of all nuclear weapons. Orion Sherwood, one of the 1958 crew, was at the VFP convention, as determined a peace-maker now as then.

For further information, call John Jadryev at 43O-2Ol9 or E-mail Ed Flaherty <flahertyem @ AOL·com>

THE NEED FOR VOICES FOR PEACE IS URGENT

Sunday, Sept 27