NEWS ITEM

For immediate release            July 25, 2014


           PORTLANDERS SAY "NO MORE US BOMBS ON IRAQ"
  US Policy Stokes Flames of War from Libya and Israel/Palestine to
  Pakistan and Ukraine
  Saturday, July 26, 2014, 12:00 Noon, Terry Schrunk Plaza SW 3rd & Madison

  At noon on Saturday, July 26, Portland area groups will gather
  at Terry Schrunk Plaza, SW 3rd and Madison, across from Portland's
  Federal Building, to raise the cry "No More US Bombs on Iraq."

  As of July 9, President Obama had sent at least 800 US troops,
  ostensibly "advisors," to Iraq.[1] Although it is claimed they
  will not engage in combat, there has already been talk of using
  drones, cruise missiles, and Apache attack helicopters piloted by some
  of these "advisors."[2] The potential for the situation to engulf
  a much broader conflict is heightened by the fact that Syria[3],
  Iran[4], and Russia[5] already have actively engaged
  militarily in Iraq on the same side the US wishes to support, even
  though the US' position on those countries' stance in next door
  Syria's civil war is completely opposite.

  The US destroyed Iraq's infrastructure twice-- in 1991 and 2003-- and
  with its invasion the second time installed a government that
  emphasized, rather than downplayed, the sectarian lines along which
  Iraq is now fracturing.

  The US action comes amidst rising tensions all across the region,
  stretching from Ukraine and Pakistan to Israel/Palestine and Libya, as
  the US economy (and infrastructure) continues to crumble under the
  burden of unparalleled military spending. The active Israeli siege on
  Gaza is made possible by US tax dollars; US troops have been
  dispatched off the coast of Libya while "advisors" are on their way to
  Ukraine; drone strikes in Pakistan resumed after a 5-month pause on
  June 12.

  The action is being coordinated by the Peace and Justice Works Iraq
  Affinity Group and is being supported by Veterans for Peace Chapter
  72, Recruiter Watch PDX, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility,
  Occupy Portland Elder Caucus, Freedom Socialist Party, Americans
  United for Palestinian Human Rights, Little Light of Mine Friends
  Worship Group, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,
  Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, American Friends Service
  Committee, War Resisters League-Portland, Individuals for Justice,
  Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland and other organizations. For more
  information or to get involved contact 503-236-3065 or iraq @
  pjw.info.

Peace and Justice Works
   Iraq Affinity Group
   PO Box 42456
   Portland, OR 97242
   (503) 236-3065 (Office)
   iraq @ pjw.info
   http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html

[1]
"300 more U.S. troops headed to Iraq," CBS/AP, June 30:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-orders-200-more-u-s-personnel-to-iraq/
"The new injection of manpower brings the total number of U.S.
personnel sent to Iraq to deal with the recent crisis to approximately
800."

[2]
"U.S. troops in Baghdad to fly Apache helicopters, drones," Agence
France Presse, July 1:
http://news.yahoo.com/us-troops-baghdad-fly-apache-helicopters-drones- 222125739.html

[3]
"Maliki confirms Syrian planes have bombed Isis positions," The
Guardian, June 26:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/26/maliki-syrian-planes-bomb-iraq-isis-us

[4]
"Iranian pilot killed fighting in Iraq," Al Jazeera, July 5:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/iranian-pilot-killed- fighting-iraq-201475104851577720.html
"Iran's official news agency says colonel was killed while defending a
Shia Muslim shrine in the city of Samarra."

[5]
"Thumbing Its Nose at U.S., Russia Sends Military Experts to Iraq,"
Atlantic Wire, June 29:
http://news.yahoo.com/thumbing-nose-u-russia-sends-military-experts-iraq- 155100726.html

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