US-NATO

For years, World BEYOND War and other peace groups from around the world had been attending peace conferences in Cuba. When I visited Cuba this past January it was with a visa for that purpose. I published the remarks I made at the conference. We shouted as loudly as we could about January’s conference in websites, social media, emails, and media interviews. The notion that there could be anything wrong with it — or that some institution could punish us for it — never entered our minds.

The ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have become a focal point in global geopolitics. As America navigates its role in the Middle East, questions arise about its motivations and the implications of its actions, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities.  Lost in the sound and fury of United States attacks on Iran is how these protect and approve Israel's merciless obliteration of the people of Gaza.

It is profoundly unfair and globally irresponsible to consider military action against Iran, as President Trump is mooting, in a NATO narrative that has told lies about Iran for decades. The recent outcry from Israel, which attacked Iran, and its allies over an Iranian missile strike that damaged a hospital raises serious questions about accountability. Reports indicate that the damage was a result of a nearby military facility being targeted, and fortunately, there were no casualties.

Israel has just launched missile strikes on Iran, including attacks on Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment program which is under a mountain, and other military targets.

IPAN supports PM Albanese’s firm rejection of US demands to increase military spending by billions. Australia must not be drawn into a conflict with China over Taiwan. AUKUS Pillars 1 and 2 should be cancelled.

[Update 20 March 2025 - It appears that there has been another uprising in Turkey, What will this mean for Israel and Syria?] The Axis of Genocide: Turkey, run by its two-faced President Erdogan, is part of the axis of genocide.

Video inside by Kevork Almassian, a Syrian living in Germany, gives a complex overview of the situation in Syria. We have transcribed it with headings in square brackets for clarity, and included links and explanations for some specific names and places. While we have previously supported Bashar al-Assad's rule and elections amid brutal external interference, we were concerned by his departure from Syria and the Syrian Arab Army's decline.

Independent Journalist Vanessa Beeley, who was based in Damascus up until the Al Nusra coup on 8 December 2024, discusses her evacuation from Syria, and what the end of the Assad Government means for the Syrian people and the future of foreign interference in the country. She also discusses the extreme suddenness of the coup and Russia's about-face, which seemed to lead so unexpectedly to Bashar al-Assad's very uncharacteristic resignation from his presidency.

In 1980, the Swedish pop group ABBA released a hit song, “The winner takes it all”.  As of December 8, 2024, the armed coalition headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, might be singing that song. In every conflict, there are winners and losers. On a scale from 1 to 10, the various factions involved in the Syrian civil war from 2011 to 2024 are rated below.

On December 9, Egypt accused Israel of illegally seizing a buffer zone in Syria. The area extends from the Golan Heights almost to the outskirts of Damascus. Israel troops and weaponry are now within hiking distance of the capital of Syria. Syria is now under the administration of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed opposition group from Idlib, which had been supported prior to 2017 by a covert CIA program.

We express our sorrow at the fall today of Damascus, Syria, - a secular democracy - to takfiri terrorists backed by Western powers. They are led by Ahmed Hussein al-Shar'a, commonly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani.  The US listed Al-Juliani as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist,'  in May 2013, and four years later advertised a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture.

In 2024 Armenians and their country, Armenia, face existential annihilation, if neighbouring Azerbaijan fulfils its ambition to turn Armenia into "West Azerbaijan," and their Prime Minister (pictured right) continues to betray them. US-NATO countries have supplied arms, not to assist the Armenian army with defending the country, but to help the police suppress popular revolt. [1] Update 9 July: This is a battle against the evil within the Pashinyan government - Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan

Of more than 200 submissions to the Australian Senate Inquiry into Australian support for Ukraine, (27March-4 Aug 24), so-far published, most seem to think that more war, with even more money and weapons, is a solution for Ukraine's problems. Almost none argue for peace-negotiations.

Claims by the Australian Government that the Navy was enforcing sanctions against North Korea have been heavily refuted; Australian Navy spying on Chinese Coastal defence and military exercises occurred at the behest of the USA’s Seventh Fleet; IPAN calls for the cancellation of hostile spying activities in the South China Sea

On SyrianaAnalysis, marking the 13th anniversary of the CIA-engineered dirty war in Syria, two Syrian journalists - Kervork Almassian and Hekmat Aboukhater discuss the appalling machinations of the anti-Syria lobby in Washington DC and the ignorance of the US public.

Proposed motion: "The need for the Government to cease using one of the most secretive military export systems in the world to hide from the public the export of Australian military equipment to the State of Israel, particularly as the Chief Economist of DFAT has acknowledged that DFAT data showing millions of dollars in 'arms and ammunition' being exported to Israel is credible." (Senator McKim - Australian Green, Tasmania.) Extract from "Matters of Urgency, Israel" [Australian]

It's a relief to see Yemen use intelligence and a sense of humour to bring pressure on Israel and its backers' vicious attempts to obliterate Gaza-Palestine! Yemenis are now taking boatloads of tourists to sight-see on the Galaxy Leader, the part-Israeli-owned ship they captured on 19 November.  You can also see them dancing in a line on its deck, here.

Looking at recent world events, one might be forgiven for wondering if the Nazis secretly won WW2 and captured the United States. If we look back and forth at war-alliance dynamics then and war-alliance dynamics now, we are struck by how the elites dominating western allies were all against communism leading up to WW2. Yet, these dynastic, corporate, and state leaders, who were so against communism, finished up as allies of Russia during WW2. The conventional explanation is that everyone good united against the Nazis because they were so undeniably evil, in order to save the world.

• Australia should be focusing on diplomatic efforts to end Israel’s invasion and occupation of Gaza
• Australia’s signing of the UN resolution on ceasefire was in direct contrast to the USA’s decision and IPAN calls for a similar stance on the request regarding a war ship
• Australia must stop sending military equipment to Israel

The University of Melbourne is censoring graduating Palestinian and pro-Palestine students and is withholding graduation images from ceremonies taking place this week at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, Melbourne.  

Across multiple faculties and departments, graduating students are expressing solidarity for Palestine by wearing keffiyeh’s and carrying signs demanding that Uni Melb divest from arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin.  

• The US recently blocked a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
• The Australian Government must call strongly for a ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and massive humanitarian aid for Gazans
• The Israeli ambassador should be expelled until such actions are taken.

"The West Bank already started to be destroyed
Jenin streets and homes and another hospital besieged
Our fate will be like Gaza, the terrorist army warned
Beirut too soon and other cities will also be damned
for our "new Middle East" with Starbucks
Grow General Electric and all war stocks
The USA has got Israel's back and gives the weapons to kill
American Taxpayers foot the bill
Will anyone signal stop?"  [More of this poem and links inside.]

"Words fail to express our shock and horror with regard to the ongoing war in our land. We deeply mourn the death and suffering of all people because it is our firm conviction that all humans are made in God’s image.  We are also profoundly troubled when the name of God is invoked to promote violence and religious national ideologies. Further, we watch with horror the way many Western Christians are offering unwavering support to Israel’s war against the people of Palestine."

Syria is in significant difficulties at present with pressure on all sides from the U.S.

France prints colonial money for Burkina Faso, which is one of the poorest nations in the world, although it has gold and uranium. In return France demands 50% of everything Burkina Faso exports.  Burkina Faso's uranium supplies 30% of French nuclear plant needs, but 80% of Burkina Fasoans have no electricity. Gold mined by child-labour mostly ends up in French state coffers.  The French government wants the deposed president reinstated. So, is this a coup or a revolution?

Russia is ready for confrontation with NATO – Putin. Moscow does not want a conflict with the Western-led bloc but is ready for any outcome, Russian president says

In this interview on Going Underground, Afshin Rattansi speaks to ex-US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s chief of staff and retired US Army Colonel, Lawrence Wilkerson.

Look at this footage and ask yourself why Australian PM Albanese just sent another 70 armoured vehicles to Ukraine. For what? There are no good answers, but Mr Albanese isn't likely to find himself with his legs blown off in Ukraine-Russia, struggling on his elbows for the shelter of the last tank, although that is where he and the other US-NATO supporters should all be sent.