Who Decides? We Decide!
• All U.S. Troops Home Now! No to All U.S. Wars of Aggression and Crimes Against Humanity -
Who Decides? We Decide!
All U.S. Troops Home Now! No to All U.S. Wars of Aggression and Crimes Against Humanity
The many fighting organizations represented in Washington, DC and across the country today, the many collectives of the people active on all fronts of struggle, the grandmothers and babies, youth and parents, soldiers and military families all standing together represent the drive of all humanity to end war and advance to another world fit for human beings and nature. We want a world where the rights of all are respected and guaranteed!
The U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization salutes all the fighting forces and salutes the vibrant sprit of unity that brings us all together to stand against war and reaction. Together we are one with the necessity to end all U.S. wars of aggression and crimes against humanity, one with the peoples of the world.
The November elections and the many thousands of actions over just the past few months — against the Guantánamo concentration camp, for impeachment, against war in Iraq, for the rights of soldiers to resist, against government racism and raids, for the rights of immigrants, against U.S.-Israeli aggression, for resistance in Palestine, Lebanon and worldwide — all make clear that the people reject the pro-war government.
The people have decided that now is the time to end the war and bring all U.S. troops home. Now is the time to close Guantánamo. Now is the time to stop aid to Israel and start reparations to Iraq, to Africa, Asia and Latin America, wherever U.S. crimes have been committed. Now is the time to stop the war against immigrants and African Americans. We the people demand an anti-war government and we will create it!
President George W. Bush has made clear that the executive will continue with war and aggression. Already there are more troops to Iraq, bombing Somalia, and more battleships and bombers at the ready to bomb Iran. And even before a non-binding resolution calling only for a “new course” in Iraq has passed the full Senate, Vice-President Dick Cheney said, “It will not stop us.” Clearly, it was not meant to. But why the dismissal? Will Bush use yet another signing statement to block the impact of any bill from Congress?
It is also the case that the Democratic majority in Congress seems to think there is a debate as to when and whether to end the war. There is a definite effort by Democrats to change the focus from the clear demand of the people to end the war now, to simply opposing escalation. There is also emphasis going to the need to secure “bipartisan support” for the various bills and resolutions, which again means continuing the war.
There is no doubt a fight is brewing and it will be important to see which bills get to the floor for a vote, their content, the response of Bush and the response of Congress to Bush. Vigilance is required to reject any diversions while standing firm with the demand to End the Iraq War Now! All U.S. Troops Home Now!
The action today and many others make clear: the Democrats are on notice. Their failure to act to end the war now will mean their failure as a political party. No illusions will remain. This presents the opportunity to build up a new electoral system, one where the votes of the people count and the will of the people is enforced.
Just as the Democrats are already presenting candidates for 2008, the peoples too are putting 2008 on their agenda. Now is the time for the people to take charge. Now is the time to take steps to work together to get more anti-war candidates from among the people elected in 2008. Now is the time to be political and become our own politicians. Now is the time to organize for an anti-war government. Together, it can be done!