Moscow – The Anti-Globalization Movement (AGM) of Russia, in cooperation with the Anti-Maidan movement and Yemen Students Union, held a demonstration at the U.S. Embassy here, April 12, to protest the U.S./Saudi-led war on Yemen. Protesters demanded an immediate end to the bombing of Yemeni territory. More than 70 people participated in the demonstration.

#MoscowRussia #Moscow #AntiwarMovement #Yemen #Russia #AntiGlobalizationMovementAGM #YemenStudentsUnion #MiddleEast

There is a growing degree of repression and racist violence in the U.S. Witness the murders of the three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina a few weeks ago. For the Black communities in the U.S., there is a police state, which has existed since the Africans were brought to America as slaves. And the U.S. government war on Arabs and Muslims, both abroad and at home, continues and expands, despite the drawing down of troops in Afghanistan and the end of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. I want to highlight the case of the Palestinian activist from Chicago, Rasmea Odeh, as the an example of repression of that community.

Attacks on democracy domestically have always accompanied wars of aggression abroad. To understand U.S. imperialism today, it’s useful to look at the recent developments in the War on Arabs and Muslims; the wars fought abroad just in the past year; the level of racism and Islamophobia whipped up by the politicians and media; and the prosecution of Rasmea Odeh, the newest victim of political repression by Washington.

This War on Arabs and Muslims began with George W. Bush. He used the 911 attacks to justify launch-ing wars of conquest in Afghanistan and Iraq, with plans for Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia and Sudan. The U.S. had been in decline on the world stage since defeat at the hands of the Vietnamese in 1975. What he named the War on Terrorism was intended to put the U.S. back on top, to regain a position of power and profitability enjoyed in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Things didn’t work out that way. The Iraq War ended a disastrous loss, and Afghanistan is an unfolding defeat.

The empire didn’t learn the lesson from these losses that regular people learned – that the era where big powers can remake the map using military force has come to an end. The White House thinks it is a matter of smarter tactics, choosing wars more carefully and keeping the junior partners in NATO on board. Now President Obama deploys a variety of war fighting methods: drone warfare, special operations, color revolutions and proxy armies – but their objective is the same – to use military force and the murder of hundreds of thousands, as in Syria, to maintain and expand U.S. hegemony, to control markets and to ensure profitability.

The newest Iraq War that started in August might seem to be a response to the danger to the world from the Islamic State. However, there’s nothing new about wars of ‘humanitarian intervention.’ The same pretext was used in Libya in 2011. The U.S. was looking for a reason to justify going back into Iraq, and now they have it.

Officially, the War on Terrorism has ended. That rhetoric is no longer used. But in truth, there continues to be a war on the countries and nations of the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Why are they targeted? Because the countries where they are the majority are the largest oil producers. Because those peoples have had the audacity to believe that their national resources should be theirs to develop.

The endless war on these peoples is required because they refuse to accept the dictates by Washington.

In the U.S., there is a necessary corollary to these wars. It is a domestic war on Arabs and Muslims. The U.S. Attorney’s offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan, went after a Palestinian community activist in Chicago named Rasmea Odeh. Rasmea is 67 years old. She was put on trial and convicted in November, and now faces a possible sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and deportation. What crime did she commit? When she emigrated to the U.S. from Palestine, she failed to admit that she had been brutally tortured and raped by Israeli guards in 1969. She didn’t say on her application for citizenship that a kangaroo court of the Israeli occupation – a military occupation which is illegitimate and criminal in the eyes of the world, convicted her of a bombing, based on a confession that they tortured out of her, and which she immediately denied.

There is no due process in Israeli military courts, which ‘convict’ over 99% of Palestinians who come before them, and ‘evidence’ from these should not be accepted in a court in the U.S. U.S. law doesn't allow the use of evidence obtained through torture. The War on Arabs and Muslims has changed that. We use torture against prisoners in our wars abroad, and our courts now uphold the use of torture by the Israelis.

Rasmea was targeted by the U.S. government also as part of the repression of the pro-Palestinian movement. This movement, often called the BDS movement for Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions, has grown in recent years against Israel’s occupation and wars on Gaza.

The case against her grew out of the investigation of 23 anti-war and Palestinian community organizers in Chicago and Minneapolis, who were subpoenaed to a federal grand jury in 2010. I am one of those activists. My home was raided by 25 FBI agents on Sept. 24, 2010. I was targeted for my role as an or-ganizer of a large protest against the Iraq War, and because I am a supporter of the cause of the Palestinian people.

The grand jury is investigating myself and the 23 activists for allegations that we provided ‘material support of terrorism.’ This is a lie. The FBI and the Justice Department investigated us and are at-tempting to ‘criminalize’ efforts to empower Chicago’s Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities, as well as work to build solidarity with the struggle in Palestine. No one testified to that grand jury and, due to broad public support and a strong defense campaign, no one was indicted.

Rasmea was not one of the 23, but she is a colleague of Hatem Abudayyeh, who was raided on the same morning I was. Hatem is the director of the Arab American Action Network in Chicago, a community service organization. Rasmea is the associate director. But it is clear that Rasmea came under attack by the U.S. government because she is Palestinian, and because for decades, she has organized for Palestinian liberation and self-determination, the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees to their homes, and an end to U.S. funding of Israeli occupation.

On March 12, Rasmea will be sentenced. We are asking the judge for leniency, and we are preparing for the appeal. Rasmea’s story is the tale of the Palestinian people. She and the Palestinians are victims of a brutal occupation that has cost many lives and much suffering.

A growing movement has pledged to continue to work for her until she is out of prison and among the Palestinian community and their supporters. Free Rasmea Odeh.

#MoscowRussia #Moscow #AntiwarMovement #JoeIosbaker #PoliticalRepression #RasmeaOdeh

The delegation of anti-war activists from the U.S. have been staying at a fancy, old hotel right by Red Square in Moscow. The Metropol is over 100 years old.

In 1917, the October Revolution, led by the Bolsheviks, overthrew the capitalist government in Saint Petersburg. The country's capital was moved to Moscow because the imperialist countries on all sides of the Soviet Union were invading to try to crush the revolution, and Saint Petersburg was closer to the border. When the revolutionaries took power in Moscow, the Metropol, which had been a headquarters for the counter revolutionaries, was appropriated to become the Second House of the Soviets.

We have breakfast each morning at a dining room in an enormous hall. There’s a plaque that states that in 1918 and 1919, that room held Bolshevik party congresses, and Lenin gave many speeches there.

Tiles on the exterior of the Hotel Metropol contain a quote from Lenin. It reads, “Only the dictatorship of proletariat can free mankind from the oppression of capitalism.” On the plaque about the history of the building, it’s also written that Lenin met there with members of the “prodotryad” – revolutionary brigades that compelled the rich people to share their food with the starving workers of the city. Perhaps he had the prodotryad in mind when he wrote that slogan.

#MoscowRussia #Moscow #International #AntiwarMovement #Culture #Socialism #Russia #history

Moscow – Vanya is a determined boy of nine. He has a competitive streak, especially for races and bike riding. Because of the war being waged on the people in the Eastern Ukraine region called Donbass, he’s become a celebrity. That’s because he survived shells fired by the Ukrainian army that hit his home, although he lost his legs, one of his arms, and his eyesight. His five-year-old brother, Artem, didn’t survive the blast.

Our delegation from the U.S. went today to the Research Institute for Children’s Emergency Surgery and Traumatology. Dr. Alexander Bryantsev led us to visit with five of the seven children currently under their care.

We next visited Okhsana, a 14-year-old girl. She had her school books, but she was more interested in the beading work she was doing with wires, constructing small, delicate looking flowers. She had a metal frame over her pelvic area, holding together her bones which had been broken when a shell struck her at her home in Makeevka, a suburb of Donetsk, in January. Okhsana was able to smile a little when we came in to her hospital room.

Dr. Bryantsev explained she has a broken femoral neck, the part of the bone just below the ball in the hip joint, and that hers is a difficult injury to heal. If the bones knit back together, she will walk again. If not, she’ll need a brace for the rest of her life.

Next we met Alexander, a 16-year-old who had lost his eye from the shell that struck his home. While his injury was sustained eight months ago, he is waiting for the operation to install a prosthetic eye next week. He was injured because he covered the body of his two-year-old sister when the shells started falling. She survived.

His mother, Galena, told us, “I’m a mother. I don’t want war. But if America wants war, have it on your own land.” She also said how grateful she was to Russia for the medical care provided to her son.

Misha is eight. He has a hole in his forehead and is awaiting surgery. His four-year-old brother died when the bombs hit his home. His mother lost her leg.

Alexandra is seven, Maxsim is 14. Both have head injuries that will require titanium plates. Alexandra’s operation will be the next day, Maxsim a week later.

These are only a few of the casualties of the U.S./NATO backed war waged by the Ukrainian Army and national guard against the people of their own country.

#MoscowRussia #Moscow #Ukraine #Europe

Moscow – On Feb. 22 our delegation of anti-war and human rights activists from the U.S. visited the museum of the Great Patriotic War here in Moscow. Built in the 1980s, before the fall of the Soviet Union, it continues to be a source of lessons on war and fascism and an inspiration to Russians and anyone who visits it.

It is a very large museum, with many exhibits about the war, including dioramas showing major battles, plus many cases of weapons, munitions, uniforms and model aircraft. There is a giant room where the walls are covered with the name of every soldier awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union distinction.

We interviewed several Russians at the museum. Anthony, a 38-year-old man with his seven-year-old son, Igor, told us how important the museum is for the younger generation. “For my generation, we didn’t need the museum to teach us the lessons, because our grandparents were in the war. My grandmother dug trenches to defend Moscow.”

Few people in the U.S. understand the dimensions of the war in the Soviet Union. The fascist armies killed 25 million people – more than have ever died in one country in the history of warfare. The total population of the country was 160 million. One out of every six people died.

Compare that to the U.S., where the population was 130 million. Our country lost 400,000, a small fraction of the losses in the Soviet Union. Yet our ancestors who fought that war continue to be called ‘The Greatest Generation.’

Slava, the interpreter for our delegation from the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, said he had not been to the museum since he was a boy. “Look at these images of the Nazis. Can you understand how terrible it is for Russians to see the fascists in Ukraine wearing the swastikas at their rallies? We can’t understand how they can uphold that part of their history.”

He was referring to the Ukrainian fascist, Stepan Bandera, who led an army that fought with the German army against the Soviets. His army killed an estimated 100,000 Poles and many Jews as well. His photo is now prominently displayed in government buildings of the new regime in Kiev. The party of his followers, Svoboda, has several members in the 20-person cabinet of President Petro Poroshenko.

#MoscowRussia #Moscow #AntiwarMovement #GreatPatrioticWar

Moscow – On an unseasonably warm weekend, 100,000 Russians marched Feb. 21 on the anniversary of the coup in Kiev last year.

The marchers represented many political parties, veterans groups and anti-war organizations. Three activists from the U.S., including Oscar Hernandez-Santoyo, an immigrant rights activist with Youth Empowered in the Struggle of Milwaukee, and Tom Michalak of Detroit Fight Imperialism, Stand Together, joined the protest as guests of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGM). AGM’s website stated, “Feb. 21 in all cities of Russia will be held Anti-Maidan rallies, marches, caravans and other actions in support of resistance to U.S. imperialism, to mark the anniversary of the coup in Ukraine.”

This is the largest protest anywhere opposing the U.S.-funded, fascist-led coup. One year ago, the government of Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine was overthrown by violence, largely led by the Nazi-inspired Right Sector and Svoboda Party. The movement they spearheaded started on Kiev's central Independence Square, also known as the Maidan.

The new U.S./NATO puppet government in Kiev has launched a war against the people of the Donbass region of Eastern Ukraine. Two republics in Donbass voted overwhelmingly to break away from Kiev after the fascist and hard right seizure of power. The Ukrainian armed forces launched an assault on the rebellious area. The military action is also largely led by fascist dominated militias created by the Kiev government.

This new war is taking place on Russia’s border, causing great fear among people here. In World War II, Russians experienced the greatest loss of life by any country in history at the hands of the fascist armies, including the Ukrainian army led by the hero of today’s Ukrainian nationalists, Stepan Bandera.

The anti-war activists from the U.S. came to Moscow to oppose the U.S./NATO inspired war, to express support for the great, anti-fascist struggle in Donbass, and in opposition to the efforts by the West to threaten Russia.

#Moscow #AntiwarMovement #PeoplesStruggles #Russia #Ukraine #antifascism

Moscow, Russia – The delegation of U.S. anti-war activists met today, Dec. 16, with the Embassy of the State of Palestine Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Dr. Fa’ed Mustafa. Ambassador Mustafa agreed to the meeting after a request was made by the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, the hosts of the international conference of anti-war forces.

The delegation that met with the ambassador included Joe Lombardo, co-chair of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), Bill Doares of the International Action Center and UNAC and Mo Hannah, also a member of UNAC and me.

First on the agenda for our delegation was to talk with Ambassador Mustafa about the case of Rasmea Odeh, the Palestinian activist from Chicago and the newest political prisoner in the U.S. She was convicted in a federal court in November of a violation in her immigration application in 2004. In 1969, she was imprisoned by the Israeli occupying army in Palestine. She was convicted by a military ‘court’ there after being sadistically tortured, which caused her to confess to a crime she didn’t commit. In her trial last month, the judge ruled that no evidence could be presented of the crimes of the Israeli occupation.

The ambassador of course knew a lot about her case, and expressed support for her. He agreed to share our report with Ramallah, and to continue to raise awareness about her among people in Palestine. He urged our delegation to link her case to the stories of thousands of Palestinians who are also falsely arrested and imprisoned, tortured and brutalized by the Israelis.

Finally, we expressed to him that the U.S. government complicity with the Israeli occupation in Rasmea Odeh’s case exposes their overall role as the main backer of Israel’s occupation.

#MoscowRussia #Moscow #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #JoeIosbaker #DrFaedMustafa