Kathy Kelly: Bringing Resistance Home

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Kathy Kelly: Bringing Resistance Home

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 12:02am.

Start: Jan 24 2008 - 7:00pm

I am reposting this from email:

Bringing Resistance Home with Kathy Kelly
Thursday, Jan 24
7pm
The Evergreen State College
Lecture Hall 2

Kathy Kelly is the co-founder of Voices for Creative Nonviolence which has deep, long-standing roots in active nonviolent resistance to U.S. war-making. Begun in the summer of 2005, Voices draws upon the experiences of those who challenged the brutal economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and U.N. against the Iraqi people between 1990 and 2003. She is the co-author of Other Lands Have Dreams: From Baghdad to Pekin Prison and appeared in Live from Palestine: International and Direct Action Against the Israeli Occupation.

Ms. Kelly has a wide range of experiences in working in solidarity with the people of Middle East:
Iraqis living under sanctions from 1993-2003
Palestinian refugees in Jenin Camp during the demolitions of 2002
Iraqi Refugee living in Syria and Jordan from 2004
Lebanese civilians during the summer bombardment of 2006
Recently she ha been coordinating a Civil Disobedience campaign targeting presidential hopefuls through Season of Discontent: a Presidential Occupation Project (SoDaPOP) which is calling on Presidential candidates to swear to withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq within 100 days of taking office.

Ms. Kelly will be speaking about her work in Iraqi refugee camps, Republican/Democratic National Convention organizing, and SoDaPOP.

Kathy Kelly's visit is a lead up to The 5th Annual Middle East Film Festival:

Origins. Exile. Refuge.
Film festival runs from Jan 30th to Feb 13th. Please visit www.evergreen.edu/sesame for program information.
co-sponsored by Olympia Students for a Democratic Society, Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation and Students Educating Students About the Middle East

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which is calling on

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 2:44am.

which is calling on Presidential candidates to swear to withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq within 100 days of taking office.

Logistically, I don't think this could happen.

I would probably change this mission statement (I realize it's Ms. Kelly's, so I don't know if I'm wasting a post) to begin withdrawal or something to the extent of equipment and personnel in the process of leaving.

Unless I simply misread the mission and its intent is that an announcement must be made within the first 100 days.

Either way, I wouldn't expect too many tangible signs that we're leaving Iraq from any elected administration in a little over three months in office.

not sure

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 10:03am.

I am not sure if the mission is to begin withdrawal, or to have withdrawal completed within the first 100 days, but I will look it at http://vcnv.org/.

I also agree that withdrawal should not be pursued in a hasty manner. Although it should be expedient and most importantly complete, I think a rapid and hasty withdrawal would be wrong. What I would like to see is a complete shift from military mission to humanitarian. Spend the resources we are now spending on destruction, instead on reconstruction, building schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure (bridges, roads, sewage, water, electrical, etc.).

Withdrawal ought to begin immediately. But I think a reasonable time line for the completion of a complete withdrawal is somewhere around 10 to 12 months.

How to Redeploy: Implementing a Responsible Drawdown of U.S. Forces from Iraq [by Lawrence Kolb, center for American Progress]

100 days

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 10:06am.

The SODAPOP project clearly states that the goal is a complete withdrawal within the first 100 days. I am sure that Kathy Kelly has a good reason to push for that time line. I am curious about it. TFI: If you're back in the area, you could consider attending the event.

Withdrawal ought to begin

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 12:50pm.

Withdrawal ought to begin immediately. But I think a reasonable time line for the completion of a complete withdrawal is somewhere around 10 to 12 months.

Not only is it reasonable, but that's more than likely what would have to happen. Moving personnel is one thing, but I'm almost certain we couldn't move that much equipment out of Iraq in three months if we wanted to.

You don't need to take my word for it, though. The Washington Times has an article from October 2007 detailing how long an exit would take.

Lawrence J. Korb, former assistant defense secretary under President Reagan, says "an orderly and safe withdrawal is best achieved over a 10- to 12-month period." We would only be leaving Iraq in the time line proposed (demanded?) by SoDaPOP if an all-out civil war were to erupt.

And no, I won't be able to attend. I won't be back in the U.S. until September 2008 at the earliest. As I mentioned in another thread, I'm attempting to land another foreign duty station. So that date may be even later.

the washington times

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 7:18pm.

Just wanted to say becareful with The Washington Times... It is run by New World Media, and is often used as a mouthpiece for neoconservative rhetoric. It was started by Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Times

I agree with you about the Kolb analysis. But I am curious to know why VCNV is "demanding" complete withdrawal within 100 days. Maybe it's because they figure by demanding that, they are likely to get the most expedient withdrawal possible, rather than advocate a more practical approach and get something less.

I am looking forward to this event.

Submitted by Mike on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 10:38am.

I am hobbling around on a bad knee right now and waiting for surgical fix, but I think I will get out my cane and come out to hear Kathy Kelly speak. Thanks, Rob, for posting this event.

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