Event Co-sponsored by Tacoma VFP and Amnesty International

Counter Terror With Justice Campaign: Phase II

February 17 At UW Campus-      The Response  

First Public Screening

"The Response" is an award-winning courtroom drama exploring the trial of a suspected enemy combatant, based on actual transcripts of the Guantanamo Bay military tribunals.

This film has not yet been released to the general public. Besides the 30-minute film screening, there will be a panel of speakers to discuss the issues.

Screening and panel discussion will take place on

Wednesday, February 17 at 6:30pm in Johnson #102 of the UW-Seattle campus. (See campus map)

Panel Discussion

Arsalan Bukhari, the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Washington, and Joseph McMillan, from the Perkins Coie legal defense team for Salim Ahmed Hamdan, Osama bin Laden's personal driver, will be on the panel to discuss the issues.

* * *

Co-sponored by Tacoma VFP and Amnesty International

2010: Counter Terror With Justice Campaign
Eight Weeks - Eight Actions

Guantanamo has now been with us for eight years. Marking this anniversary, Tacoma and other VFP chapters are joining Amnesty International's COUNTER TERROR WITH JUSTICE (CTWJ) CAMPAIGN.

Amnesty’s position is that torture, indefinite detention, extraordinary rendition, and denial of legal rights including fair trials and habeas corpus are immoral, illegal, ineffective, and counterproductive in the “war on terror”. Military and intelligence experts support this position. We campaign to end and ensure accountability for human rights violations committed by the U.S. government and companies. Terror must be countered, but with justice.

Additional Resources:

• Background Info On Guantanamo
  
  
• Guantanamo and Illegal Detentions
  
  
• Center for Constitutional Rights
  
  

UPCOMING EVENTS: VFP Tacoma

SAVE THE DATE:
Friday, March 19th --

7th Anniversary of the War -- Tacoma Event

War Costs! Who Pays?

And Who Profits?

Friday, March 19th is the 7th anniversary of beginning the "Shock and Awe" bombing in Iraq in 2003.

Save the date to protest our current foreign policy in Iraq, and Afghanistan/Pakistan.

4:00 pm RALLY at the Federal Courthouse in Tacoma, followed by MARCH to I-5 overpass.

Working at 4:00 PM? Then join our demonstration at 5:30 at the Pacific Ave/I-5 overpass (bridge).

Details to follow.

Co-sponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War--Tacoma Chapter VFP, and United for Peace of Pierce County.

For information call 253-573-1504.

Sample Letter Sent to News Tribune

On 1/7 a News Tribune AP story stated that "More of the terror suspects released from the Guantanamo Bay prison are returning to the fight, the Pentagon said Wednesday."

This report should be greeted with skepticism. If these people are only suspects, how do we know that they are "returning" to the fight? This is the same Pentagon that only two years ago was caught running a domestic news infiltration campaign to falsify progress in Iraq.

Right-wing sounding-boards, such as the Wall Street Journal, are using the Pentagon story as talking points to discourage the closing of Guantanamo.

It might be closer to the truth to say that the inhumane practices at the Cuba camp have radicalized some of the detainees. Obama was right when he said Guantanamo "has damaged our national security interests and become a tremendous recruiting tool for al-Qaeda." That is because Guantanamo was erected as a way to bypass the American justice system.

Do we want to hold people preemptively, just in case they might do something wrong? The problem with locking up people without charge and throwing away the key, is that we then become the terrorist.

The President should close Guantanamo, and there should be full government inquiry into U.S. human rights abuses and torture there. Only then can American democratic ideals be restored to their rightful place.

John Bartley, Tacoma

Coffee Strong is now the official meeting-place of our VFP Chapter. Located near Fort Lewis, Coffee Strong is one of only two pro-peace coffee houses believed to be operating near military bases nationwide.

Open Mon. - Sat., 7am to 7pm and Sun. 9am to 7pm
15109 Union Ave SW in Lakewood,
(next door to Subway)
Phone: (253) 581-1565

Coffee Strong provides soldiers, their families and recent vets a place away from the base where they can learn about resources available to them, meet with G.I. Rights Counselors, and access alternative information. The shop holds weekly movie nights, concerts and other events. For more information you can visit the GIvoice.org website.