U.S. Spends 11 Times What China Does on Military Per Capita, by David Swanson

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by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
February 24, 2021

NATO and various columnists employed by major U.S. newspapers and “think” tanks believe that military spending levels should be measured in comparison to nations’ financial economies. If you have more money, you should spend more money on wars and war preparations. I’m not sure if this is based on opinion polls in Afghanistan and Libya expressing gratitude for war as a public service or some other source of data less imaginary.

10 Key Points to Ending Wars in Yemen and Afghanistan, by David Swanson

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by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
February 15, 2021

1. Victories that are only partial are not fictional.

When a ruler, like Biden, finally announces the end of a war, like the war on Yemen, it is as important to recognize what it does mean as what it doesn’t. It doesn’t mean the U.S. military and U.S.-made weapons will vanish from the region or be replaced by actual aid or reparations (as opposed to “lethal aid” — a product that’s usually high on people’s Christmas lists only for other people). It does not mean we’ll see U.S. support for the rule of law and the prosecution of the worst crimes on earth, or encouragement for nonviolent movements for democracy. It apparently does not mean an end to providing information to the Saudi military on whom to kill where. It apparently does not mean the immediate lifting of the blockade on Yemen.

Abby Martin: Biden’s Doublespeak About Ending Yemen War

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Dandelion Salad

with Abby Martin

Empire Files on Feb 11, 2021

Abby Martin explains what President Biden really means by the duplicitous language in his major Feb. 4 foreign policy speech on ending the Yemen war.

Abby Martin: Trump Ending Afghanistan War?

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Dandelion Salad

with Abby Martin

Empire Files on Nov 16, 2020

The Empire Update for Nov. 16 covering new US weapons sales to UAE for Yemen war, accelerated Iran sanctions, Pompeo’s UN “human rights” speech, and if the firing of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper indicates an end to the Afghanistan War.

Trump’s Latest Arms Sales To Taiwan Aimed At Winning Votes By ‘Getting Tough’ On China… But Risks War, by Finian Cunningham

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by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Ireland
Crossposted from RT
October 14, 2020

In a reckless provocation to China, the Trump administration has given notice of three major arms deals with Taiwan. The rocket launcher and missiles on offer are advanced attack systems. Beijing is infuriated and vows to respond.

Top Poisoner of Pacific Is U.S. Military, by David Swanson

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by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy, Oct. 12, 2020
October 13, 2020

“We’re number one!” The United States famously fails to actually lead the world in anything desirable, but it does lead the world in many things, and one of them turns out to be the poisoning of the Pacific and its islands. And by the United States, I mean the United States military.

Martin Sheen: What Weapon Currently Kills The Most In Wars Around The World?

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Watch the video below

Dandelion Salad

“Here’s a proposal that could end starvation around the globe. Never again need a human being lack the food to live. Never again need a single child or adult suffer the horrors of starvation. Hunger as a danger to anyone can be made a thing of the past. All that is required, apart from basic skills in distributing resources, is 3 percent of the military budget of the United States, or 1.5 percent of all the military budgets in the world.” — World BEYOND War

Will Griffin: United States Still Largest Weapons Exporter in the World + Green Jobs VS Military Jobs

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by Will Griffin
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Peace Report
March 24, 2020

“Of the top ten largest weapon manufacturers in the world, the first five companies at the top of the list are US companies: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon, and General Dynamics.” — Will Griffin

Shut Down Canada Until it Solves its War, Oil, and Genocide Problem by David Swanson

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by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
February 16, 2020

Indigenous people in Canada are giving the world a demonstration of the power of nonviolent action. The justness of their cause — defending the land from those who would destroy it for short term profit and the elimination of a habitable climate on earth — combined with their courage and the absence on their part of cruelty or hatred, has the potential to create a much larger movement, which is of course the key to success.

Will Griffin: A Soldier’s Journey to Revolution

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Watch the video below

by Will Griffin
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Peace Report, Oct. 21, 2019
October 23, 2019

I recently interviewed an Afghanistan veteran about his transition from US Army soldier to Revolutionary Communist. Mason Bliss deployed twice to Afghanistan, in 2011 and in 2013. Since separating from the US Army in 2015, he has been organizing as a communist, raising the consciousness of the masses and fighting back against the system he once defended, US imperialism.

Christian Sorensen: War Industry Muster–Intro to Foreign Military Sales (FMS)

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by Christian Sorensen
Writer, Dandelion Salad
September 25, 2019

C.P. Sorensen on Aug 10, 2019

Today’s episode of War Industry Muster introduces foreign military sales, or FMS.

Zombie Zombie Zombie by David Swanson (#NoWar2019)

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by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
September 10, 2019

CNN is outraged that Trump was too friendly with Russians, supposedly endangering an honorable spy snooping into the Russian government.

Bruce Gagnon and Will Griffin: Crisis in Ukraine Explained

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by Bruce Gagnon and Will Griffin
Writers, Dandelion Salad
Organizing Notes
August 21, 2019

Global Network board members Bruce Gagnon and Will Griffin discuss the current crisis in Ukraine: how fascists are killing thousands of people, support from the right-wing authoritarian government, and how the US supports and trains the fascists.

Ukraine is a Trigger for World War III by Bruce Gagnon

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by Bruce Gagnon
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Organizing Notes
July 12, 2019

I am like a man possessed when it comes to the Ukraine story. Not only do I suffer while watching the daily genocidal shelling by the US-backed government in Kiev of people living in the Donbass (eastern Ukraine near the Russian border). But I’ve also put my ear to the railroad tracks and hear the train coming.

Eve of Destruction: Iran Strikes Back by Jim Kavanagh

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by Jim Kavanagh
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Polemicist
June 23, 2019

It was a helluva week on the Iran front. It started with attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on June 13^th and ended with Donald Trump ordering, and then calling off, a military attack on Iran on June 20-21. How we got from beginning to end of that chapter in ongoing US-Iran saga is worth close consideration.