A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

The truth is that every morning war is declared afresh. And the men who wish to continue it are as guilty as the men who began it, more guilty perhaps, for the latter perhaps did not foresee all its horrors. -Marcel Proust, novelist (1871-1922)

Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around the World

THE BAND

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Musicians from different cultures uniting together for the common purpose of peace through music is a powerful statement. For the past four years Playing For Change has traveled the world with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of such inspiration. Throughout the journey we created a family of over 100 musicians from all walks of life. We connect these musicians together with "Songs Around The World." The Playing For Change Band is the next chapter in our story. Now people everywhere can witness first hand the transformational power of music and love that comes from the Playing For Change Band.

The current members of the Playing For Change Band are: Clarence Bekker (lead vocals), Grandpa Elliott (lead vocals, harmonica) Tal Ben Ari "Tula" (lead vocals), Mermans Kenkosenki (lead vocals, congas), Louis Mhlanga (electric guitar), Jason Tamba (backup vocals, acoustic guitar), Reggie McBride (backup vocals, bass), Peter Bunetta (drum kit) and Mohammed Alidu (talking drum, djembe).

We hope you have the opportunity to see this amazing collection of world-traveling musicians. Please check our tour schedule to see when the Playing For Change Band will be performing at a venue near you!

http://www.playingforchange.com/band

Kilcullen's Long War

Tom Hayden
From the Resource Center

Dear Tim,

It appears that President Obama will miss his last chance to stop the Afghan train to quagmire wreckage. He could seize the opportunity presented by the exposure of Karzai as an emperor with no clothes. Instead he seems to be choosing a blatant makeover of Karzai so the troops can be sent. For a devastating NY Times description of Karzai by Elizabeth Rubin on August 9, follow this link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/magazine/09Karzai-t.html?_r=1 For deeper background on the revival of the Vietnam Phoenix Program in Afghanistan today, see this piece in the current Nation magazine. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091102/hayden The following are excerpts.

"These projections reveal a staggering audacity--not Obama's audacity of hope but an audacity of martial commitment. A fifty- to 100-year military campaign--the subtitle of Kilcullen's book is Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One--will span thirteen presidential terms and twenty-five Congressional sessions, casting a long shadow over generations of politicians not yet running for office. The Long War assumes either perpetual democratic approval by many voters not yet alive or that democracy will simply be circumvented by the national security state. Bin Laden will be dead of natural causes or otherwise long before it's over.
...
There has been little public discussion of the Long War. The term is attributed to Gen. John Abizaid, head of Central Command from 2003 to 2007; it is endorsed by counterinsurgency theorist John Nagl, who heads the Center for a New American Security; and it has been critically reviewed only in a collection, The Long War, edited by Andrew Bacevich."


Tom Hayden

WE ARE THE WORLD

"We Are the World" is a song and charity single recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album" We Are the World'. The idea for the creation of the benefit single for African famine relief had initially come from activist Harry Belafonte, who, along with fundraiser Ken Kragen, was instrumental in bringing the vision to reality. Several musicians were contacted by the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing the song. Following several months of working together, the duo completed the writing of "We Are the World" one night before the song's first recording session, in early 1985. The last recording session for the song was held on January 28, 1985. The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time. click the video bar enjoy and spread the words of HOPE

Dear Tim,

President Obama will soon decide whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

It's time he said no — no more troops to Afghanistan. It's time he said yes to more civilian-led development there.

I'm asking you to e-mail the president today. Tell him not to send more troops. Urge him to work toward the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces and the use of peaceful alternatives.

The Afghan people want an end to civilian deaths — whether they're caused by foreign forces or by the Taliban. They know economic opportunities will give people alternatives to joining armed militias.

More importantly, they want their own government, free of corruption — a government that is responsive to their needs and not dependent on bolstering by outside forces.

The current debate on Afghanistan in Washington, D.C., ignores the desires of the Afghan people. Some policymakers want additional troops in Afghanistan to apply a counterinsurgency doctrine. Others want to draw down troops in Afghanistan, but use remotely controlled aircraft and special forces to implement a counterterrorism strategy focused on Pakistan.

Question: If everybody, including the military planners, agrees there are no military solutions to the war in Afghanistan, why are all the options military?

Tell President Obama and his security council today not to send additional troops to Afghanistan.

Ask him to send a clear message that the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan will not be permanent and that the United States intends a full withdrawal of all troops and bases. Ask him to focus U.S. and international investment in Afghanistan support for Afghan-led efforts for good governance, strengthening civilian institutions, and holistic political reconciliation, rather than failed tools of military intervention.

A few days ago, we e-mailed the president our congratulations on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Now let's urge him to put peace into practice.

Please take the time to make your voice heard.

Peace,




Laurie Creasy,
American Friends Service Committee

Dear Tim,

Thank you for helping us promote One Minute for Peace!

At the American Friends Service Committee, we’ve been working for peace since 1917. I’d like to welcome you to our effort to make the world a safer, more secure place for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.

I believe — along with the entire staff of AFSC — that peace is more than the absence of war. Sometimes peace is a vacant space reclaimed by inner city residents and used to grow vegetables for the local food pantry, as participants in an AFSC-sponsored program do in Baltimore. Peace may be a child disfigured by war who receives a prosthetic limb — and a second chance — in Jordan.

I’m grateful for supporters like you, and I want to make our friendship productive.

Once again, thank you for helping us raise awareness of the military's bloated budget. Together, we can work toward making that spending — and the current wars — things of the past.

Peace,


Mark Graham,
American Friends Service Committee

Thank you for signing the petition to take action against the war in Afghanistan.

Dear Tim ,

Over 5,000 of you signed the petition to end the Afghanistan war these past two weeks - congratulations and thanks!

The petition is useful for outreach and getting people to take a step. But I know you already are doing more, so here are my suggestions:

1. If you already plan to take action on the days of protest this October, think carefully about slogans that will be understood by the undecided, and make sure your literature does the same. The demonstrations will be small in comparison with our potential, so don't be discouraged, this is about base-building for the future.

2. Try to join your local peace and justice coalition if you have time for meetings. Push to double the size of the hard core. Use the petition to have discussions and seek endorsements from groups not necessarily working on the war: seniors, city officials, labor, for example. And military families, always.

3. Create a larger and targeted email list so that the politicians are aware of your presence as a possible tipping point factor in their district.

4. Utilize the videos at www.rethinkafghanistan.com from www.bravenewfoundation.org.

5. Become a bird-dog on voting records. Go to UFPJ's Rusti Eisenberg at hiscze@aol.com to ask where your elected official stands on the war supplemental, sponsorship of the McGovern resolution, opposition to escalation, and other issues.

6. Read, read, read. Try Hayden on the Long War: Understanding the Long War, from The Nation. Also, Juan Cole, Engaging the Muslim World; William Polk, Violent Politics; or Tariq Ali, The Duel.

To take action and become more involved, click here.

To become an anti-war voice in the Democratic party, join http://www.pdamerica.org/.

For a long war we will need a long peace movement. Unity, unity and greater unity!

Tom Hayden