Tell Congress: STOP THE DRONE KILLING!

Below are two versions of a suggested letter to your member of Congress or Senator. You can use Govtrack to identify and link to the address for the representative from your district.

VERSION ONE

(Date)

Dear Rep./Sen. ______________,

Last month, 20 of our precious and innocent children were killed in a barrage of bullets from weapons carried by someone unknown to them. Our country still reels from the numbing news. We mourn for them, for their families, and for our country.

In Yemen and in Pakistan, countries with which we are not at war, at least 178 precious and innocent children have been killed by U.S. drone strikes launched by someone unknown to them. As a people, why do we not respond with equal revulsion and sympathy?

Are the children of foreign lands any less precious? And is the government that is responsible for their deaths any less guilty of murder than the Newtown gunman?

You hold in your hands, by the power of your office, the capacity to stop the carnage. In the name of decency, and in memory of the innocent children the world over killed by our drones, I ask you to co-sponsor HR 819, directing the U.S. Attorney General to transmit to the House any and all legal documents and memoranda relating to the use of drones by the U.S. government.

I will look to you, as my elected representative, to sign on to HR 819 before the end of this month. Your failure to do so will announce to the world your complicity in the murder by assault weapons of children no less precious than our own.

Most sincerely,

(Name)
(Address)


VERSION TWO

(Date)

Dear Rep./Sen. _________________,

As members of local peace and justice organizations opposed to the continuation of the Bush administration’s failed wars, we are writing to condemn the Obama Administration's use of unmanned aerial vehicles or “drones”, to kill citizens in at least seven countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia and Yemen. The use of drones is wrong on many levels: the illegality and immorality of assassinations, the violation of international law and the Constitutional protection of due process, the targeting killing of civilian populations, and the violation of national sovereignty. Equally wrong and quite disturbing are killings by U.S. drones of at least 3 U.S. citizens, including a 16 year old boy born in Denver, Colorado, all in violation of their right to due process. We are especially troubled by the Obama Administration's refusal to release, even to Congress, the documents which purportedly give the U.S. legal cover to determine who is placed on the "kill list." A recent House Resolution, HR 819, sought to make these documents public.

The use of killer drones does and will continue to create more enmity toward the United States. Because of the lack of transparency, it remains unclear how many civilians have suffered losses of life, limb or property as a result of strikes. A recent Columbia University study gives strong evidence to support high rates of civilian casualties. Another recent and important study by Stanford and New York Universities revealed in detail how communities living under drone warfare in Pakistan are being "terrorized" by the daily presence of these drones in their skies. High rates of psychological trauma, suicide, and PTSD are just a few of the symptoms, as well as the serious disruption of their entire social structure. We are providing copies of these studies to your staff, and hope that you will take the time to read them. Sadly, Obama has drastically increased the use of drone strikes compared to former President Bush, leading to rampant anti-U.S. sentiment throughout these areas of conflict.

Furthermore, we are also concerned that U.S. drones are used to eliminate political opponents of corrupt leaders. This happened in 2010 in Yemen, when a state governor who opposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh was labeled as a leader of Al Qaeda and killed.

We believe that Congress should uphold its responsibilities in providing the checks and balances needed to protect us from an executive branch that has run amok, acting in total disregard to International and Constitutional law. This would have a profound effect around the world, and could initiate a process of healing. As citizens, we do not see the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia and Yemen as enemies. They are our brothers and sisters. Instead of wasting billions of dollars on immoral drone strikes, take the money from the program and give it to non-governmental organizations working on providing jobs and income to people so that they do not join militant groups. There would be tremendous support for such a program in these war-torn countries.

The illegal U.S. occupations and proliferating drone wars have been demonstrable failures. Now is the time to take a bold step for peace. Imagine becoming a country which has denounced the madness of war, and instead wants to assist and make friendship with the people of the Middle East, Central Asia, and the entire world.

We are asking you to do the following:

- Sponsor a bi-partisan bill calling for an immediate moratorium on all targeted killing by drones, with the ultimate goal of an in-depth Congressional investigation into the ineffectiveness and illegality of U.S. drone warfare.

-Work diligently to get your Congressional peers to support the above bill, and establish Congressional oversight over the illegal practices committed by the Obama Administration, the CIA and the Pentagon, as is your obligation by the U.S. Constitution.

-Sponsor a bi-partisan bill to address some of the most egregious practices of U.S. drone warfare, calling for an immediate ban on:

a.) All extra-judicial killings of U.S. citizens by U.S. drones or by any other means, without due process. Stop the assassination of our own citizens.

b.) The practice of “Double-tapping”, or “secondary strikes”, by U.S. drones, which is clearly a war crime under international law, and has led to the killing of rescuers and medical relief workers, and has discouraged witnesses from providing aid to those injured in drone strikes.

c.) The practice of “signature strikes”, or killing of unknown individuals purely based on “suspicious behavior”, without any knowledge of their identity, which leads to very high rates of civilian deaths.

d.) The Obama Administration’s policy of calling all military-age males “militants” and therefore subject to being drone targets, which also leads to very high civilian death rates.

We would like a response to these requests in the next 30 days, for we feel the lives and well-being of every person that is potentially threatened by these drone attacks requires our and your urgent action. Should you agree to endorse a foreign policy with the goal of peace and justice, we will stand with you. Rejecting our requests will make you complicit in the immoral and lawless actions of the Obama Administration. We will then continue to protest, risk arrest and denounce a foreign policy of endless wars and illegal assassinations and hold Congress complicit with these policies.

We also request a meeting with you in the next month to discuss our proposal to immediately end killer drone strikes and to start a process of healing with the victims of U.S. wars. Please give serious consideration to our proposal of reconciliation and diplomacy rather than be complicit in the continued use of pernicious killer drones. We urge you to provide the necessary checks and balances against the executive branch, a responsibility required under the Constitution, which you have sworn an oath to uphold.

For a more peaceful world,

(Name)
(Address)

Occupy Beale on November 27, Protest Drone Warfare!

Occupy Beale AFB: Upcoming Monthly Protests

Nov. 27 at 3 PM till Nov. 28, vigil from 6-9 AM (Tues/Wed)

Dec. 17 at 3PM till Dec.18, vigil from 6-9 AM (Mon/Tues)

Hello Peacemakers,

The Anti-war, Anti-Drone action at Beale AFB on Oct. 29-30M was a big success! We had about 60 participants, including 15 from Nevada County, and others from Chico, Bay Area, Fresno and Sacramento, and even one from Salinas!

We were able to block the main entrance for four hours, and 4 activists went to the Doolittle Gate, where they were arrested and cited on federal trespassing charges. Then 5 others were arrested at the main gate, also on fed. trespassing charges. All were released and told that we would be receiving court dates in the mail (fed. court in Sacramento). We will update you regarding need for court support as we find out more.

Please go to www.occupybealeafb.org for photos and wonderful videos from Tatiana of the action.

We are hoping to expand the anti-drone and anti-war movement, and hope that more of you will be able to join us in future vigils, and planning for future direct action/risking arrest. Please mark on your calendars the following up-coming vigils at Beale AFB, at the main gate on N. Beale Rd.

• Nov. 27 at 3 PM till Nov. 28, vigil from 6 to 9 AM (Tues. and Wed.)
• Dec. 17 at 3PM till Dec.18, vigil from 6 to 9 AM (Mon. and Tues.)

For more information, and carpooling contact:

Nevada County: Shirley, 941-320-0291 or Pamela, 941-735-8865
Bay Area: Toby, 510-215-5974, ratherbenyckeling@comcast.net
Chico: Cathy, 530-342-5902

November 12 in San Francisco: Pakistan Peace Delegation Report Back

Monday, November 12, 2012, 6pm
War Memorial Veterans Building
401 Van Ness Ave, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA

CODEPINK, in partnership with Veterans for Peace, will gather to hear Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK co-director and founder, and Pakistan trip delegates Toby Blome and Dianne Budd speak at the War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco to discuss their trip to Pakistan and the struggle to stop the proliferation of drones. Delegates will, also, provide tools and resources to take action!

Please join us! Join the Facebook event and tell your friends!

For related posts about the delegation of peace activisits to Pakistan, see:
My visits to Pakistan and Kurdistan by JoAnne Lingle on the Indiana Drones Project website.
Why Do They Hate Us? by Pat Chaffee on the No Drones Wisconsin website.

Beale: Main Gate Blockaded 4 Hours, 9 Arrested, as Peace Activists Protest US Killer Drones

Contact:
Toby Blome, 510-508-1020 ratherbenyckeling@comcast.net www.occupybealeafb.org
Pamela Osgood, 941-735-8865 pamelaosgood@att.net
Shirley Osgood, 941-320-0291 slogood481@hotmail.com www.occupybealeafb.org

Main Gate Blockaded 4 Hours, Nine People
Arrested at Beale AFB Tuesday After Vets,
Peace Activists Protest US Killer Drones

BEALE AFB (Marysville), Ca. – After blocking the main gate for more than four hours, nine (9) military veterans and peace activists from throughout California were arrested around Noon Tuesday here at Beale AFB protesting the inhumane and cruel U.S. Drone Program, killing thousands of innocent men, women and children around the world. The 'Beale 9' were cited for trespassing. Court proceedings are pending.

More photos at: "9 Arrested for Blocking Gate of Beale AFB to Protest Drone Strikes" on the Occupy Sacramento website.

About 100 activists from as far away as Fresno, the SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Nevada City/Grass Valley and other California cities unfurled large banners and carried model drones and large photos of child victims of drone strikes to show the dark side of drone warfare.

Beale AFB has been a target of anti-drone protests for years. Beale AFB is home to the U2 and the Global Hawk, the unmanned surveillance drone that is an "accomplice" in drone killings.

There have been a series of direct actions leading to arrests this year protesting President Obama's use of drones, most recently at Hancock Air Base near Syracuse, NY last Thursday, where 17 were arrested.

Activists demanded: (1) An immediate ban on the use of all drones for extrajudicial killing (2) A halt all drone surveillance that assaults basic freedoms and inalienable rights and terrorizes domestic life in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Somalia (3) A prohibition on the sale, and distribution of drones and drone technology to foreign countries in order to prevent the proliferation of this menacing threat to world peace, freedom and security and (4) The U.S. must immediately stop this lawless behavior of drone warfare that violates many international laws and treaties.

"US military and CIA Drone attacks have killed thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, in the Middle East, Somalia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In the name of combating terrorism against the U.S. we are terrorizing innocent people, and creating many more enemies and potential terrorists in the process," said a statement issued by Veterans for Peace, Code Pink, Chico Peace and Justice Center, Nevada County Peace Center, Peace Fresno, WILPF and World Can't Wait.

"Our government has become lawless powers, acting as judge, jury and executioner, just because they can. They use remote-controlled drones to kill women in their kitchens, elders meeting in their jirgas, mourners at funerals, and rescuers who try to help the wounded. By most independent studies, the vast majority of those killed are civilians," said Toby Blome, of CodePink's Peace Delegation to Pakistan.

"When I learned about what we are doing with drones...killing innocent civilians, and see the faces of dead children and their mourners, I find the passion to do something. That's why I'm taking some action at Beale," said Shirley Osgood, Occupy Nevada County and Nevada County Peace Center and Nevada County Green.

Report: Disruptive Breach of Vandenberg Air Force Base Security Zones

October 22, 2012

Contact: tierralinda@live.com

Nonviolent Backcountry Resisters Cause Disruptive Breach of Vandenberg Air Force Base Security Zones

For the first time in nearly a decade, nonviolent civil resisters caused a disruptive breach of the backcountry security zones at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. VAFB enforces a sweeping global pattern of violent high-tech military abuse. Three participants were arrested for federal trespass and others eluded base security patrols. One participant [Theo Kayser] was hand-cuffed face down on the ground with an M-16 automatic rifle trained on his back during his 2 a.m. arrest, while search lights swept the surrounding hills. He was then held under armed guard for nine hours at a special security command post which VAFB had set up to deal with the backcountry occupation. Vandenberg security stated that they believed at least 15 individuals were spotted in base security zones between 0ctober 20th and 21st.

Action participants hope that others will follow their example in the months ahead. They entered the huge US Strategic Command facility at widely dispersed points and hiked miles into the base, crossing fences and rough terrain under cover of night, hanging banners on nuclear first-strike missile silos deep inside Vandenberg. They also conducted an unauthorized Christian prayer liturgy and exorcism of evil inside VAFB boundaries. Multiple sources, including contacts within VAFB, confirmed that the announced plans and the backcountry security zone occupation caused days of disruptive base alerts, interrupting Vandenberg’s business as usual to prepare for and deal with the security zone breaches.

Backcountry action participants and their supporters say that “Vandenberg, built on land stolen from the Chumash nation, launches and controls key satellites which run worldwide drone strikes that kill civilians, and are positioning US forces for a catastrophic peak-oil war with Iran. VAFB is making nuclear world war more likely by its first-strike Minuteman III flight tests, which seriously contaminate stolen indigenous territory at the Earth’s largest coral atoll, Kwajalein.”

Arrested action participants include Franciscan Priest Louie Vitale and Los Angeles Catholic Worker community members Theo Kayser and Rebecca Casas.


See Count of California Drone Bases Tops National List for drone testing, training, and operations activity at Vandenberg and seventeen (17) other California locations.

UPDATE: Say "No Drones!" at Beale - October 29-30

The growing list of sponsors for the Nonviolent Direct Action planned at our October monthly Beale AFB No Drones Encampment (October 29-30th, Monday 3:00 pm to Tuesday 9:00 am) now includes: Bay Area CodePink, Sacramento VFP, Peace Fresno, and some members of San Francisco VFP and SF IVAW are planning to join us too.

We hope you can support his action, too! There are two weeks left to help build this into a very successful action to stand united against the brutal U.S. drone assassination warfare. Don't be part of the silent majority! Let us know if your organization can be a sponsor.

Please let us know if you can commit ASAP!

Bay Area Contacts:

Toby Blomé (Bay Area CodePink): ratherbenyckeling@comcast.net, 510-215-5974

Elana Levy: rachimin@hotmail.com

Shirley Osgood (Grass Valley): slogood481@hotmail.com, 941-320-0291

PLANNING MEETINGS:

Learn the what, where, why and how and help us plan this important action. Bring friends!

Monday, October 22
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Bill Schwalb's home 3680 1/2 20th St., S.F. (between Guerrero and Valencia, near 16th & 24th St. BART)
(Potluck food welcome)

Tuesday, October 23
Time: 11:00am-3:00pm
Location: Toby Blome's home 1925 Hudson St. El Cerrito (Near El Cerrito Del Norte Bart)
Potluck lunch
To include banner and sign making, call for questions 510-215-5974

California Congressional Delegation: Drones 'R' Us!

Over fifty (50) members of the U.S. Congress have banded together to increase the use of drones ("unmanned aerial vehicles") - including twelve (12) members from California. They are all members of the Unmanned Systems Caucus, also known as the Congressional drones caucus. One of the co-chairs of the caucus is Buck McKeon, who represents California's 25th district. (Read about the members of the drones caucus from other states.)

Here are the California members of the Congressional drones caucus:

Randy Forbes

Randy Forbes represents California's 4th congressional district - in the NE corner of California.

Kevin McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy represents California's 22nd congressional district -- covering parts of San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Los Angeles counties, and anchored in Bakersfield.

Elton Gallegly

Elton Gallegly represents California's 24th congressional district -- covering most of Ventura and inland Santa Barbara counties.

Buck McKeon

Buck McKeon represents California's 25th congressional district -- covering part of Los Angeles County and extending out to broad stretches of interior California along the Nevada border.

David Dreier

David Dreier represents California's 26th congressional district -- spanning the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley from La Cañada Flintridge to Rancho Cucamonga.

Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis represents California's 41st congressional district -- encompassing the eastern region of the Greater Los Angeles Area known as the Inland Empire.

Ken Calvert

Ken Calvert represents California's 44th congressional district -- in the Orange County area.

Dana Rohrabacher

Dana Rohrabacher represents California's 46th congressional district -- covering part of Los Angeles County and Orange County, including Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and Rancho Palos Verdes.

Loretta Sanchez

Loretta Sanchez represents California's 47th congressional district -- made up of parts of Orange County.

Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa represents California's 49th congressional district -- which includes San Diego.

Brian Bilbray

Brian Bilbray represents California's 50th congressional district -- the northern coastal region of San Diego County.

Duncan Hunter

Duncan Hunter represents California's 52nd congressional district -- consisting of many of San Diego's suburbs.