[Antiracism] READY? MASS PROTEST SET...

[Nick Camerota]

[WMass version] IAC/Troops Out Now
MASS ANTI-WAR PROTEST SET FOR WASHINGTON, DC ON MARCH 17, 2007 -- the fourth 
anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq
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* Read the call to action for March 17
<http://www.troopsoutnow.org/mar17.html>
* Endorse <http://troopsoutnow.org/mar17endorse.html>
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TODAY MARKS THE LAST DAY of Republican rule of the House & Senate
Angry over the disaster unfolding in Iraq, voters handed Bush & Company a 
significant setback in the Nov. 7 midterm elections. Although the 
Republicans have lost control of the House and Senate, the battle to end the 
war has only begun. Now, all progressives in the U.S. -- and the antiwar 
movement in particular -- must turn this setback for Bush into a challenge 
directed at the new Congress and the old White House.

After almost four years of a failed war and imploding occupation, many 
elected officials said they were waiting for the release of the 
Baker-Hamilton report before taking a position on the war. Nine months and a 
million dollars later, the Baker-Hamiliton Iraq Study Group's report has 
finally arrived. While it embarrasses the Bush administration, it also 
provides political cover for an extended U.S. military occupation of Iraq.

But people around the world aren't applauding the ISG's call for a partial 
withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq sometime in 2008, leaving perhaps 70,000 
troops there while a slow and painful process of 'Vietnamization' drags on. 
By an overwhelming majority, the people want this tragedy to end now.

DON'T RELY ON THE DEMOCRATS

Asked if she'd move to shut off funding to shut down the war, Democratic 
House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi replied, "Absolutely not." (The war and 
occupation have already cost U.S. taxpayers more than $400 billion.) Early 
next year, Bush is expected to ask Congress for another $100 million, or 
more, to pay for the war.

Pelosi also said the ISG's recommendations are consistent with her party's 
proposals. This week her choice for chairman of the influential House 
Intelligence Committee advocated a 20,000 - 30,000 U.S. troop buildup in 
Iraq to combat "the militias."

IT'S UP TO US

What's clear is that Congress won't stop this war, unless the people force 
them to by taking to the streets. It is equally clear that 
corporate-controlled politicians have no intention of taking up issues that 
really affect working people here: the lack of health care and the closing 
of hospitals; the decline in real wages; rebuilding the Gulf Coast; the 
struggle for immigrant workers' rights; increased racism and police 
brutality; and so many others.

MOBILIZATION FOR MARCH 17th HAS BEGUN

An important regional meeting took place in NYC on Tuesday, December 5. This 
planning session is a follow-up to last month's standing-room only Harlem 
Antiwar Summit, where more than 250 activists, representing more than 50 
organizations, began discussing next steps in the struggle against the war. 
[* For an in-depth report on the exciting November 18 Harlem Antiwar Summit, 
access http://wmass.indymedia.org/newswire/display/1307/index.php]

Tuesday's meeting has continued the discussion of:
- How can we merge the antiwar movement with movements against racism and 
police brutality, for the rights of immigrant workers, justice for 
Katrina/Rita survivors, for economic and
social justice -- in a way that goes beyond symbolism?
- How can the movement here in the U.S. show solidarity and  build stronger 
relationships with liberation and resistance movements around the world?
- How can we mobilize to make the fourth anniversary of the war and 
occupation of Iraq in March 2007 helpful to our goal of ending the war, and 
unifying the movements that need to be working together?

HELP MOBILIZE HUNDREDS IN WESTERN MASS. FOR THE MARCH 17 D.C. PROTEST: 
PLEASE VOLUNTEER
- Phone 413-587-0059 (until Dec. 14; additional contact numbers to follow), 
or email wmassiac at hotmail.com
- Please endorse the M17 national call at 
http://troopsoutnow.org/mar17endorse.html
- Visit the Troops Out Now Coalition website at http://www.Troopsoutnow.org
_____________________________________________
SENT IN SOLIDARITY BY the Western Mass. Organizing Committee of the 
INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER/Troops Out Now Coalition
wmassiac at hotmail.com
http://www.IACenter.org
http://www.PeopleJudgeBush.org
SUBSCRIBE TO WMass IAC's low-volume listserve for political analysis, plus 
news of upcoming area events and national mobilizations; email 
wmassanswer-subscribe at yahoogroups.com and reply to yahoogroups' verification 
notice.
[Anyone can subscribe to the International Action Center's national list by 
sending an email request to Action.News-subscribe at organizerweb.com]
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