PINKtank

Moving Chess Pieces: The Illusion of Withdrawal in Iraq

Today, all U.S. troops must be withdrawn from Iraqi cities, including U.S. bases in Baghdad, according to the Status Of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and Iraq. The Iraqi government will also take legal responsibility for the actions of U.S. troops and have legal jurisdiction over American soldiers who commit crimes off-base and off-duty, [...]

Iraq: What We Leave As We Withdraw

A “Twittergasm” against war. Yes, please!

Alexander Cockburn’s “Twittergasms” piece today in the Nation slams much of the anti-war movement through the lens of Twitter — including CODEPINK — for failing to rally the world against Obama’s failed promises, war in Afghanistan, growing war in Pakistan, and still-not-over war in Iraq, and for joining in the conversation around the current civil [...]

If “violence is a dead end,” why are we paying for it?

In President Obama’s much-praised, criticized and analyzed speech in Cairo, he condescended at one point to lecture the Palestinians on their use of violence, contrasting it with the nonviolent strategy and tactics of African-American for their civil rights: “Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black [...]

Worldwide Spending on Weapons Hits All-Time High - Tell Congress, ENOUGH!

Worldwide military spending on arms hit an all-time high last year, according to a new report.  In 2008, over $1.4 TRILLION was spent on weapons in 2008.  The United States is responsible for 42% of the spending, which is more than the next 14 countries combined. Not coincidentally, the US Congress continues to debate Obama’s Supplemental bill [...]

Letter from Hamas to Obama now posted on CommonDreams

CommonDreams and other sites have just posted the text of the letter Hamas officials penned to Obama earlier this week, which a 66-member CODEPINK delegation to Gaza delivered this morning to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. Check it out, with an introduction from me, here. There’s also a Reuters photo of members of the delegation [...]

Official release: U.S. group returning from Gaza to deliver Hamas letter to Obama in Cairo

CAIRO — An American group arriving here tomorrow from war-torn Gaza will deliver a letter penned by Hamas officials to Pres. Obama, who will be in Cairo delivering his landmark speech to the Arab world. At 9 a.m. June 4, the delegation of journalists, social workers, professors and activists will carry the letter to [...]

Official release: American Jews attempt to enter blockaded Gaza through Israel this week

NEW YORK — To coincide with Pres. Obama’s landmark speech to the Arab world Thursday in Cairo, 12 Jewish-Americans will attempt to enter war-torn Gaza on June 5 through the Israeli border as part of a 32-member peace delegation to call on the U.S. administration to push Israel to end its 21-month blockade on [...]

Dear Mr. President…

It’s been so swamped here at the CODEPINK House in DC, with the Senate passing yesterday the $92 billion war supplemental bill, that I did not have a chance to write yesterday on Afghanistan. But I’m full of fire and penned this letter to Pres. Obama. Enjoy!

Official release: CODEPINK calls on Congress to reject Obama request for $83 billion for wars

WASHINGTON — Representing the voice of millions of Americans and those worldwide, CODEPINK calls on Congress to reject President Obama’s outrageous request for an additional $83.4 billion to be spent on ineffectual, destabilizing, immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite Obama’s campaign promise never to ask for war funding as a supplemental bill as opposed to [...]