Syria and Russia denied any chemical weapons attack has occurred. Both the United Nations Charter and the Chemical Weapons Convention provide means for international investigation and sanction of the use of prohibited weapons. Syria and Russia have declared that they would provide access for investigators from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to the area where the alleged attack occurred. A rush to judgment on these grave allegations is not only unnecessary, but extremely dangerous.

Unilateral use of military force in these circumstances by the United States, which has not been attacked and is not in imminent danger of attack, is unlawful. Strikes by the U.S. and its allies against Syria’s government and military could result in a wider war that brings the nuclear-armed militaries of Russia and the United States into direct conflict. The danger that hostilities could spiral out of control is even greater than it was when the U.S. struck Syria a year ago. U.S. forces in Syria in recent months have fought engagements resulting in the deaths of Russian nationals, likely military contractors. Any extensive campaign against Syria’s bases and military places Russia’s forces in the region at risk. Russian military officials have warned several times in recent weeks that their military may join in defending against any punitive strikes.

There must be an independent investigation of the chemical attack through the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and immediate, urgent diplomatic efforts to end the war in Syria. Call your Senators and Congressional Representatives at 202-224-3121 and tell them that military action only increases the dangers and intensifies the humanitarian catastrophe in the region. Demand that Congress invoke its war powers to block any strikes, and endorse calls for an investigation of the allegations of chemical weapons use, consistent with U.S. treaty obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the United Nations Charter.

Finally, join us in protests against the endless U.S. wars and war spending scheduled for this weekend, April 14-15, across the country. Find an action near you at the links below. Whether or not the U.S. already has launched strikes against Syria by this weekend, it will be crucial to come out against a wider war, and for peace. 

https://www.springaction2018.org/list-of-actions.html

http://demilitarize.org/gdams-2018/ (scroll down for actions in the United States).

Call your Senators and Congressional Representatives at 202-224-3121

Background: the April 2018 allegations of a chemical weapons use in Syria, U.S. threats of punitive actions, and the dangers of a wider war.

 Since World War I, use of chemical weapons has been viewed almost universally as monstrous, and as a violation of treaty-based and customary standards of international humanitarian law.  If they were used in Syria by any party, that action should be condemned, and all states should cooperate in identifying the perpetrators and in pursuing their apprehension and prosecution by all legal means.  There is no provision of international law, however, that allows countries to determine for themselves who they believe the guilty parties to be, and to punish them by acts of war against the territory of a sovereign state. International treaties outlawing chemical weapons and prohibiting their use provide no special exception for such ad hoc use of military force.  To the contrary, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the most comprehensive instrument concerning chemical weapons, ratified by the United States (1997), Russia (1997) and Syria (2013), provides for investigation of alleged violations by specialist bodies constituted by the Convention and recourse to the United Nations to authorize any use of force.

Token punitive strikes have neither a legal or practical rationale.  If a government is desperate enough to use chemical weapons, it is unlikely to be deterred by a missile strike that has little effect on its broader war aims. Using military force that is likely to result in the deaths of human beings to distract from a leader’s domestic political problems or to cater to particular constituencies is immoral, while at the same time entailing some risk of triggering a broader conflict. A larger strike or aerial campaign designed to seriously damage Syria’s military capabilities would almost certainly risk killing Russian and Iranian military personnel present at Syrian bases. In this regard, it should be noted that Russian officials on several occasions have warned Russia’s armed forces in the region would join in defending against punitive strikes against Syria’s government and armed forces.

These events are occurring amidst a civil war, with outside forces ranging from neighboring states to nuclear-armed great powers aiding an array of warring groups. Russia and the United States, both nuclear-armed, each have troops on Syrian soil and aircraft flying combat missions against targets inside Syria’s borders. Even if the principle is accepted that the world community has a responsibility to protect people from the violence of their own governments, any such action must be crafted to reduce, rather than increase, the level of violence and chaos. Unilateral military strikes by a country already backing factions in a complex civil war are far more likely to intensify an already grave humanitarian crisis, and also could lead to a cycle of confrontation amongst heavily-armed militaries that easily could spiral out of control. In this dangerous context, it is especially important that transparent, credible procedures be followed for investigation of the allegations of chemical weapons use and a determination of the responsible party or parties, as well as for actions to prevent further use and to punish those culpable.

All U.S. military action against Syria’s government and military should cease immediately. All parties in the region, and especially the United States and Russia, which each hold vetoes in the Security Council, should take all necessary measures to facilitate a speedy and thorough investigation of the alleged attack, and to assure that those responsible are held to account. This incident only underscores the danger of this ongoing war and its terrible human toll. All the warring parties and the states that support them must renew a determined pursuit of the war’s end, and of a wider peace.

The post No wider war in Syria! Call Congress today. Join protests for peace around the country this weekend. appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

The devastating war in Syria rages on.

We must step up our efforts  to stop our government from expanding its war in Syria and to stop Endless War.    

Please read and sign UFPJ’s  new Petition: “No Attacks on Syria – Stop Endless War!

The Syria Petition, directed to Congress, is being co-sponsored by these outstanding organizations:  

• AFSC Peace and Economic Security Program
  
• Catholic Conference of Superiors of Men Religious
  
• Code Pink
  
• Military Families Speak Out
  
• Out of Syria-Boston
  
• People Demanding Action
  
• Veterans For Peace
  
• US Peace Council
  
• Western States Legal Foundation
  
• September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows

Sign the Petition today, calling on Congress to Recognize that there is no military solution to terrorism; stop widening the conflict in Syria and instead try to end it.

• End all bombing missions and aerial strikes; bring home U.S. troops and special operations teams; stop supplying arms and revoke the 2001 AUMF.  

• Increase humanitarian aid and help resettle more Syrian refugees in the United States.

• Abide by international laws, treaties, diplomatic norms, and our Constitution.  

• Reverse current escalations of military action and instead work to de-escalate and demilitarize conflicts around the world.

  

The unimaginable brutality of the war in Syria must end.  This war, as with all other wars, kills, injures, poisons the water and land, creates refugees and crushes the hopes and dreams of millions of people.  

“This Madness Must Cease”.  (MLK)

The post [PETITION] Keep up the Pressure! No Attacks on Syria – Stop Endless War! appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

UFPJ is pleased to join our peace movement partners in supporting a joint petition to Congress to block war funding.

The petition urges Congress to “enact legislation to block the use of any U.S. taxpayer funds for continuing warfare, directly or by proxy, in Syria.”

We also call on our elected representatives to avert a nuclear confrontation by improving diplomatic relations with Russia.

Tell Congress, “While defunding endless and disastrous wars as well as cutting wasteful military expenditures, you can provide funds for urgent human and environmental needs”, by signing this petition and make a call directly to Congress using this link.

Thank you for taking action.

Click here to read UFPJ’s recent call “Stop US Military Action In Syria”

If you support UFPJ’s never-ending work for peace and justice, please make a contribution today, to help us carry-on and expand the success of our campaigns

And if you haven’t already, please sign the UFPJ Peace Pledge petition against Trumps $54 billion military budget increase!

Tell Democrats and Republicans in Congress that we value and support a system that supports public needs, not endless war and corporate profiteers.

The post PETITION: Block War Funding in Syria– Improve Diplomacy With Russia appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Act now, to host an action in your community to resist the Trump Administration’s illegal and dangerous military aggression in war-torn Syria.

We’re asking you to post the details of your own event to our map, to inform and unite anti-war activists around the country.

Please be sure to follow all of the instructions as you post, save, and publish your event to Action Network. If you do not fill out the forms completely, you will not be able to save and publish your event. You must also be sure to enter your first and last name when signing up for an Action Network account. If you are already signed up but have not entered your name, please do so by editing your profile. If you do not click “Save and Publish” your post will be stored as a draft and will not be visible to the public.

Here are a couple of help pages, if you’re having trouble:

• Signing up for an Action Network account
• Step-by-step guide for local event hosts for event campaigns
• If you still can’t seem to save and publish your event, submit a help request to Action Network

And as always, you can reach UFPJ by responding to this email.

Thank you for taking action!

The post Host or Attend a Rapid Response Action to Protest US Military Action in Syria appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Both the United Nations Charter and the Chemical Weapons Convention provide means for international investigation and sanction of the use of prohibited weapons.  Unilateral use of military force in these circumstances by the United States, which has not been attacked and is not in imminent danger of attack, is unlawful.

Call the White House  202-456-1111 and your Senators and Congressional Representatives 202-224-3121 and tell them that military action only increases the dangers and intensifies the humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

Activate your community. Protest, vigil or march to Say No to War! Let Trump know that bombing is not the answer.

There should be no further strikes against the Syrian military or government. U.S. forces in Syria should be withdrawn. There must be an independent investigation of the chemical attack through the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and immediate, urgent diplomatic efforts to end the war in Syria.

This attack, dangerous as it is in itself, has broader implications. It underscores how impulsive Donald Trump is, and how willing to make decisions on matters of life and death very quickly, on the basis of sparse evidence. More worrisome still, it shows us that there are no elements, either in the broader government or in the military, that appear willing or able to restrain him. It is urgent that the people of the United States act to prevent a wider war.

Two days ago, major newspapers reported that a chemical attack had occurred in a village in Syria, killing and injuring many civilians. Despite the fact that there has been no investigation by any international agency that might confirm a chemical weapons attack occurred or who is responsible, the U.S. military now has launched a direct attack on Syria’s military.

Since World War I, use of chemical weapons has been viewed almost universally as monstrous, and as a violation of treaty-based and customary standards of international humanitarian law.  If they were used in Syria by any party, that action should be condemned, and all states should cooperate in identifying the perpetrators and in pursuing their apprehension and prosecution by all legal means.  There is no provision of international law, however, that allows countries to determine for themselves who they believe the guilty parties to be, and to punish them by acts of war against the territory of a sovereign state. International treaties outlawing chemical weapons and prohibiting their use provide no special exception for such ad hoc use of military force.  

To the contrary, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the most comprehensive instrument concerning chemical weapons, provides for investigation of alleged violations by specialist bodies constituted by the Convention and recourse to the United Nations to authorize any use of force.

These events are occurring amidst a civil war, with outside forces ranging from neighboring states to nuclear-armed great powers aiding an array of warring groups. Russia and the United States, both nuclear-armed, each have troops on Syrian soil and aircraft flying combat missions against targets inside Syria’s borders. Even if the principle is accepted that the world community has a responsibility to protect people from the violence of their own governments, any such action must be crafted to reduce, rather than increase, the level of violence and chaos. Unilateral military strikes by a country already backing factions in a complex civil war are far more likely to intensify an already grave humanitarian crisis, and also could lead to a cycle of confrontation amongst heavily-armed militaries that easily could spiral out of control. In this dangerous context, it is especially important that transparent, credible procedures be followed for investigation of the allegations of chemical weapons use and a determination of the responsible party or parties, as well as for actions to prevent further use and to punish those culpable.

All U.S. military action against Syria’s government and military should cease immediately. All parties in the region, and especially the United States and Russia, which each hold vetoes in the Security Council, should take all necessary measures to facilitate a speedy and thorough investigation of the alleged attack, and to assure that those responsible are held to account. This incident only underscores the danger of this ongoing war and its terrible human toll. All the warring parties and the states that support them must renew a determined pursuit of the war’s end, and of a wider peace.

Call the White House 202-456-1111 and your Senators and Congressional Representatives 202-224-3121 and tell them that military action only increases the dangers and intensifies the humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

The post Stop US Military Action In Syria. Call the White House & Congress appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Please sign the petition urging support for the Stop Arming Terrorists Act.

H.R. 608 is a bipartisan bill, which has been co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-California), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-North Carolina), and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Florida).

The Stop Arming Terrorists Act aims “To prohibit the use of United States Government funds to provide assistance to Al Qaeda, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and to countries supporting those organizations…”. More specifically, it demands that “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds made available to any Federal department or agency may be used to provide covered assistance to Al Qaeda, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and ISIL, and any individual or group that is affiliated with, associated with, cooperating with, or adherents to such groups.”

We believe that the Stop Arming Terrorists Act is a courageous and important first step toward ending the U.S. Government’s policy of forced regime change in other countries with the help of terrorist organizations. This policy has led to endless wars in the past decades, and has cost trillions of dollars at the expense of American taxpayers.

For this reason, we strongly urge all supporters of peace and justice in the United States to sign this joint petition in support of the Stop Arming Terrorists Act. Your signed petition will be immediately emailed to the 65 members of both committees of the House of Representatives.

To sign the petition, please click here.

We also urge you to share this link with as many people and organizations as you can and encourage them to add their signatures to the petition.

Together, we can make a difference!

The post Sign Petition to Stop Arming Terrorists appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Let’s start out the fall with a new commitment to follow more closely the carnage in Syria. Is it a civil war? Is it a proxy war between the nuclear powers ? Is it also a proxy war between Middle Eastern governments? Can ISIS be reined in? Should Assad go? Or stay? What is the USA doing as an actor in the situation? We as anti-war activists should be constantly questioning that. What about congressional moves to demand a new AUMF? Is that wise?

What would diplomacy look like in such a complex set of wars? What are solutions that the US Peace Movement could be pushing? For one, we should be extending the good efforts against arms sales to Saudi Arabia — always promoting the goal of a Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction Free Zone in the Middle East (and why stop there?).

We in the Peace Movement have a deep belief that the American invasion of Iraq started this whole change of events. Syrian Immigrants (as well as those from North Africa) are changing the population map of both the Middle East and Europe. Why is the US taking in so few of those who are fleeing? What is our responsibility as advocates for peace to those who flee from war and violence?

What do the American people know of all this? Once again our mass media has let us all down. What kind of educational campaign can we launch to quicken the sensibilities of the good folk of the United States?

What about the belief in America as a moral force in the world? So many opportunities for America to shine get lost as our treasure goes to “solving” problems with military might. Instead of the greed and corruption fomented by corporations — particularly in the military-industrial area — American ingenuity and trillion dollar investment could dig in with creative answers to climate change. We could lead the world in public education that serves every child in our very diverse democracy. The biggest challenge of all is to address the burgeoning gaps between rich and poor both in this country and across the globe because until that changes, perpetual wars continue. Let’s keep dreaming of a peaceful world and acting to make it so.

Sponsors: UFPJ, PDA, Code Pink

Moderator: Jackie Cabasso, UFPJ

Phyllis Bennis is a Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies, where she directs the New Internationalism project working to change US policy in the broader Middle East. She was a co-founder of both the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and United for Peace and Justice coalitions, and continues work with both the US and global anti-war movements. Her most recent books include Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, and Understanding ISIS & the New Global War on Terror: A Primer.

The post [AUDIO] “The Many Wars of Syria” Briefing with Phyllis Bennis appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

The Middle East and Central Asia
U.S. military intervention continues unabated – in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Libya, leaving chaos in its wake and millions of refugees fleeing war zones.  Administration advisors push to return boots on the ground in areas that Daesh (ISIS) moves into. In Syria, the U.S., Russia and now France – three nuclear-armed nations – are bombing side-by-side and on different sides. Turkey, a NATO member with U.S. nuclear weapons based on its soil, faces off against Russia,and it appears that the U.S. is arming Kurdish Turkish opponents fighting Daesh across the border in Syria.

The humanitarian crises resulting from these wars are horrific and include: the bombing of hospitals – allegedly by both the U.S. and Russia, lack of food and water in war-torn areas, destruction of entire cities and communities, millions of children losing years of education, (can add some more horrors).

The U.S. (the largest weapons seller in the world) and European allies also are selling Saudi Arabia – the biggest supporter of terrorism in the world — billions of dollars of weapons, which then are being used to slaughter innocent civilians in Yemen and repress democracy in Saudi Arabia..

Europe and NATO
In Ukraine and Eastern Europe, the U.S. and its NATO allies and Russia are backing opposite sides in a confrontation involving four nuclear-armed countries. Both NATO and Russia are building up their forces along Russia’s border, and increasing the tempo of exercises of both nuclear and conventional forces. The Obama administration’s new military budget calls for a massive increase in funding to support this dangerous buildup.

These military interventions continue with little Congressional debate and no real discussion about the merits (if any) and risks (many) involved – leaving the American people on the sidelines and further endangering U.S. troops in futile, endless wars.

The Far East
To add to these dangerous conflicts, the U.S. and China, another nuclear-armed nation, are facing off against each other in the seas bordering China and other Asian nations. In January, North Korea conducted its 4th nuclear test (claiming it was an H-bomb). In a show of force, the U.S. responded by deploying a B-52 bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons on a low-level flight over its ally South Korea. North Korea’s subsequent satellite launch has further inflamed tensions in the region.

As the U.S., Russia, China and the other nuclear-armed nations spend billions of dollars to modernize their nuclear arsenals, the danger of wars among nuclear-armed states is growing.

The War at Home
The increasing militarization of police in  communities across the U.S., coupled with an ever-growing disparity in wealth, adds to the violence, racism, and oppression experienced by those marginalized by our society. People of color, immigrants, low-income workers and homeless people face unending harassment, intimidation, aggression, incarceration, and even murder by police and vigilantes. The legal system is failing to provide justice as erroneous or draconian use of the criminal justice process ruins the lives and futures of many.

An increasing technological “surveillance state” monitors civilian activities and conceals governmental and corporate criminality. Calls for closing borders, monitoring of Muslim communities, and ever-present racism fuel xenophobia, islamophobia, and hate crimes. In the face of these threats new campaigns are emerging.  Black Lives Matter, Immigrant Rights, and Indigenous Rights movements are demanding self-determination and real security. As peace activists we must also confront this never-ending war at home and stand with our fellow activists who are calling for economic and racial justice.

Cutting Military Spending
Total military spending in the Administration’s recently released FY 2017 budget request continues to increase, amounting to nearly $623 billion, including the Pentagon budget, nuclear weapons and aid to foreign militaries. The budget provides $583 billion for the Pentagon alone in 2017, a $2 billion increase over 2016.The Pentagon budget is more than ten times the budget allocated for diplomacy under the Department of State. Compared to $7.5 billion for military efforts to fight Daesh, the budget provides just $4 billion for dedicated diplomacy and humanitarian relief around the region.

These endless wars have cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars, while the needs of growing numbers of Americans here at home go unmet. Europe is overwhelmed by the largest refugee crisis since World War II, with huge daily migrations (6,000 people per day) and drownings of people so desperate to escape war zones that they undertake perilous journeys to a place that might be safer. Meanwhile, the United Nations is begging for a mere $550 million in aid for the refugees who are the victims of war.

The post US Militarism’s Expanse and the Need for a Movement to Cut Military Spending and Invest in Human Needs appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Call your Representative today and tell him/her to vote against efforts to slam the door on Syrian refugees. The number is 844-735-1362.

The House leadership is scheduling a quick vote on Thursday November 19 on HR 4038 which is designed to halt the refugee program until massive changes are implemented. This could set the program back by years.

In the wake of last week’s attacks, United for Peace and Justice remains determined to oppose US militarism in all its manifestations, to support inclusive diplomacy and to urge a massive redirection of resources to aid the millions of men, women and children rendered homeless by the proliferating wars.

HR 4038 is a harsh, unnecessary step in the wrong direction.

Call your Representative today and tell him/her to vote against efforts to slam the door on Syrian refugees. The number is 844-735-1362.

To stay posted on future legislation, email rustiandgael@unitedforpeace.org

Click here to listen to the audio recording of this week’s national briefing call on Syria, featuring Phyllis Bennis. Sponsored by PDAmerica, PDAction, and United for Peace and Justice.

Click here to find out more about Phyllis’s upcoming webinar:  “Understanding ISIS: Paris, Beirut, and U.S. Policy”.

Click here to make a donation to UFPJ

The post URGENT House vote to Dismantle Refugee Program Thurs, Nov. 19 appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.

Beirut

The massive news coverage of Paris brings home to everyone the humanity of these particular victims and the tragedy of innocent lives upended or destroyed. Yet in mourning the deaths in France, we cannot the ignore the reality of fourteen years in which millions of civilians in the Middle East and elsewhere have endured shattering losses, as the harsh and irresponsible American “war on terror” exacts its fearful price.

Paris

We recognize there are no simple, easy solutions to the challenge of ISIS and other terrorist formations. But we have had ample opportunity to observe the personal tragedies which ensue when a horrific international crime is transformed into the occasion for war.  Bombing the Syrian city of Raqqa may be cathartic for some, but there are innocent people living there, whose lives are as precious as those of Paris or New York. We do not believe that accelerated air-strikes, increased weapons deliveries or expanded “boots on the ground” are a practical or moral answer to the danger of international terrorist plots.

Egypt

United for Peace and Justice was formed in 2002, in an effort to deter a catastrophic war in Iraq. The emergence of ISIS is dramatic testament to the folly of that governmental decision. The intervening years of suffering and violence have confirmed the necessity for a mobilized, vocal peace movement. We remain determined to oppose US militarism in all its manifestations, to support inclusive diplomacy and to urge a massive redirection of resources to aid the millions of men, women and children rendered homeless by the proliferating wars.

Coordinating Committee of United for Peace and Justice

Please click here to learn how you can participate in our call-to-action for Syria on Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, 2015.

The post Statement on Recent Attacks and Global Violence appeared first on United For Peace and Justice.