Compiled by Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace, Justice, and Ecology
https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2025/06/omni-israel-and-iran-anthology-2-6-20-25.html
What’s at Stake: The UN CHARTER FORBIDS NATIONAL AGGRESSIONS.
JUST TO SAY ‘VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW’ IS MEANINGLESS
AND SAYS NOTHING TO EDUCATE OR WIN SUPPORT.
A BILL OF PARTICULARS IS NEEDED: THE HOW AND THE WHY
OF THE VIOLATION:
THE UNITED STATES HELPED IMPORTANTLY IN DRAFTING THE U N CHARTER.
THE UNITED STATES SENATE RATIFIED IT BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY.
IN CHAPTER 1. ARTICLE 2, #4, THE U N CHARTER FORBIDS, EXCEPT AS AND WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL,THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST ANOTHER STATE, EXCEPT IN CASE OF DEFENSE AGAINST ARMED ASSAULT.
CONTENTS
SEYMOUR HERSH WARNS WAR IMMINENT
JVP. “No war with Iran.”
Sue. “Congress Must Invoke War Powers Act to Prevent U.S. War With Iran.”
Win Without War. “No War in Iran.”
Sandra Tamari. “Briefing on Iran and the movement for Palestine.”
HDC. “Trump moves to drag US into war with Iran”
Trita Parsi. “Trump moves to drag US into war with Iran.”
M.K. Bhadrakumar. “Israel’s War on Iran Has No Future.”
CODE PINK. US Imperial/Media Complex
INSIDE IRAN: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran by Medea Benjamin.
PUT J AT END
“War Is The Worst Thing In The World” BY Caitlin Johnstone.
TEXTS
| SEYMOUR HERSH WARNS WAR IS IMMINENT Comrades, 6-20-25 One of the most trusted sources in journalism, Seymour Hersh, posted his take on the initial battle plan for war on Iran. It’s a paid subscription Substack post, but I thought it was important to share it widely through our chapter blog to begin with. https://www.vfp111bellingham.org/tipping-the-scale-blog/what-i-have-been-told-is-coming-in-iran If Hersh’s sources are correct, all hell’s going to break out over Iran sometime tomorrow. I don’t think we’re at the “duck and cover” stage quite yet, but at least buckle up. Gene Marx, VFP Bellingham |
| JVP. “No war with Iran.” The Wire (6-18-25). |
| Read and share the full Wire on our website. Since the Israeli military carried out an unprovoked attack on Iran last Thursday night, the two states have been exchanging missile strikes in a dangerous and escalating war that once again reflects the Israeli government’s fervent desire to pull the entire region — and beyond — into a catastrophic forever war. After more than a year and a half of impunity for committing a genocide in Gaza and desperate for relief from growing political pressure, Netanyahu is again trotting out his 30-year old claim that Iran is on the verge of developing a nuclear bomb. In the days since Israel’s attack on Iran, mainstream media has been working overtime to initiate a drumbeat for war reminiscent of the pre-Iraq invasion days. But this is not the early 2000s, and pro-war media and politicians are facing a steep uphill climb in their attempts to manufacture consent for this disaster of the Israeli government’s own creation |
| Tell Congress: No war with Iran. |
| After 20 months of escalating genocidal violence against Palestinians, the Israeli government has launched unprovoked attacks against Iran and is bringing the entire region to the brink of disastrous war. Members of Congress have introduced War Powers Resolutions to try to prevent war with Iran. Write your members of Congress today to tell them to support the War Powers Resolutions and to stop arming Israel. Email Congress |
| Earlier this month, Representatives Delia Ramirez, Sara Jacobs, Mark Pocan, and Pramila Jayapal led their colleagues in introducing historic legislation to block U.S. bombs to the Israeli military. Thanks to an immediate mobilization of constituent demands, more co-sponsors have already begun to join the legislation. Now, as Israel tries to spark a regional war while continuing to carry out a genocide against Palestinians, every single elected official must hear from us: BLOCK THE BOMBS NOW. Email Congress |
| What we’re doing: JVP-Chicago hunger strike. |
| Support the JVP Action Wire. With nearly 100,000 subscribers, the Wire is one of the largest American publications dedicated to justice. Every week, we cover important news from Palestine, the United States, and the Palestine solidarity movement — and provide ways to take action. |
“ACT NOW: Congress Must Invoke War Powers Act to Prevent U.S. War With Iran” by Sue at Defending Rights & Dissent <Updates@rightsanddissent.org>
Dick,
As Trump weighs joining Israel’s war with Iran, Congress must tell him NO!
This morning, President Trump said he “may” order a military strike on Iran, or he “may not do it….nobody knows.” This is deeply undemocratic. Only Congress, after a full hearing, debate, and vote, can authorize taking us to war.
Yesterday, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced a bipartisan resolution in the House to invoke the War Powers Act and prevent President Trump from taking U.S. military action against Iran without Congressional approval. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced a similar resolution in the Senate. As War Powers Resolutions are privileged, they will be brought to the floor for a vote. Urge your representatives to support this legislation today, before Trump starts another unconstitutional war. . . .
Write to your congressmembers today, and urge them to support this important legislation. Unilateral action on Iran would be unconstitutional, immoral, and dangerous—senselessly risking dragging the U.S. into another prolonged military conflict in the region with no end in sight.
Take action now: Urge your Senators and Representatives to sign on to these bills at once!
Sue, Chip, and Nathan
Support
“No War in Iran.” Endless War Alert @ Win Without War <info@winwithoutwar.org> 6-18-35
Dick: Military strikes between the Israeli and Iranian governments have pushed an entire region to the precipice of a devastating war. Hundreds of people have already died. Now, families across the world sit terrified, unsure if they or their loved ones will be in harm’s way.
This violent reality is abhorrent to people who believe in peace and justice like us, but that’s not the only reason we’re worried. Troubling reports indicate the Israeli government is urging the United States to enter the war and attack sites in Iran directly[1] — and if the U.S. government is dragged in deeper, things could all get even worse.
Israeli PM Netanyahu doesn’t get to decide when the United States goes to war. But Trump appears to be letting Netanyahu call the shots while recklessly fanning the flames of this conflict — even though war with Iran is hugely unpopular across the country, including with his base.
But, Dick, you have a key role to play in correcting the course. Today, as loud and influential hawks in the media and across DC champion these attacks and urge the U.S. government to intervene directly, we need to do what we do best: Turn up the pressure to stop a war.
It is time to remind the president his powers have limits. Your voice is critical, and our outreach has to start immediately. This weekend, Five million people spoke out to say “No Kings.” Now, let’s join together to say: No war in Iran.
| Thank you for working for peace, The Win Without War teamDonate |
TONIGHT: “Briefing on Iran and the movement for Palestine.” Sandra Tamari <info@adalahjusticeproject.org> View this email in your browser
Hi Dick,
No War on Iran, Stop Arming Israel TODAY, Wednesday June 18 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
We’ll be joined by anti-war activists and expert analysts to break down the latest developments and explore how we can strengthen our collective demands: stop arming Israel, end the siege on Gaza, and prevent another catastrophic war in the Middle East.
RSVP to hear from Alex Shams, an Iranian-American journalist and Brittany DeBarros, Organizing Director of About Face: Veterans Against the War about the urgency of making our voices heard now.
Don’t miss this urgent conversation and this moment to act.
In Solidarity, Sandra Tamari, Executive Director Adalah Justice Project
“Trump moves to drag US into war with Iran” Team HDC. 6-18-25
Dick,
Donald Trump doesn’t need a briefing or a vote to start a war. All he needs is a grudge, a camera, and a moment of distraction. That’s what we saw on June 13th when Israel launched targeted strikes against Iranian officials, and Trump responded not with caution or diplomacy, but with cheerleading and blame.
Not even a pretense of Congressional authorization. No consultation. No debate. Just Trump, jumping at the chance to play wartime president again, this time from the sidelines of a foreign conflict, using American military might like it’s his personal toy set.
Senator Bernie Sanders pulled no punches:
“Netanyahu’s reckless and illegal attacks violate international law and risk igniting a regional war. Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu’s war of choice.”
Let’s be clear: This is not about defense. It’s about domination. And it’s about Trump using our military to settle his political debts and feed his insatiable ego.
Trump has already bulldozed through the legal guardrails that are supposed to keep this country out of unauthorized wars. Sending military assets into a conflict zone without Congressional approval is a flagrant violation of the Constitution.
Senator Ed Markey was direct. . . .
Senator Elizabeth Warren . . . .
Demand immediate Congressional action to block unauthorized war in Iran by signing and sending your message now.
– HollywoodDemocrats.com Team SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN
PAUL LARUDEE fpm.news@lists.riseup.net via uark.onmicrosoft.com
. . . Trump is threatening to attack Iran if it does not surrender first. My thoughts on the subject are in Trita Parsi’s words below. Like many others, I thought that enough sane professionals remained in our military and intelligence services to prevent the global catastrophe that will ensue if Trump puts the entire US armed forces at the disposal of Bibi Netanyahu. That has not happened yet, but it now seems more likely than not.
I hope I am wrong, but Iran is not. It is run by a very principled government that understands the futility of appeasement and the necessity of self-defense. Will the US finally accept that this war is Israel’s doing, and that Israel alone must suffer the consequences? If so, this is quite possibly the beginning of the end for the Zionist experiment. If so, good riddance. The world will be so much better without it. If not, it may be the beginning of the end for all of us. Perhaps I will know where we are headed before I and my family return to the US in less than 48 hours.
Trump’s demand for Iran’s surrender will only guarantee war
“Israel’s War on Iran Has No Future.” Consortium News (6-18-25).
M.K. Bhadrakumar predicts that Netanyahu, by underestimating the Islamic Republic’s powers of resistance, will meet the same fate as Saddam Hussein in the Iraq-Iran War. Read here…
Code Pink. US Imperial/Media Complex
We don’t mean to reduce Israel’s terrorism against Iran to a media literacy challenge, but we’ve seen how has provided cover for Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza. The two of us were babies when the NYT did the same thing with Afghanistan and Iraq. We all know what happened next: a war on terror that killed over 4 million people in the Middle East, made possible by the very same media outlets lying to you now, pushing you to hate Iran and support more insane violence. Here’s what Palestinian journalists think about the mainstream coverage of the attacks on Iranians:
Every time the U.S. seeks to justify attacking Iran, the narrative conveniently shifts to Iran being “inches away” from nuclear weapons. Yet not a word is said about the U.S. or Israel’s massive nuclear arsenal. Twenty years ago, they claimed Saddam had “weapons of mass destruction”; of course, the U.S. had nukes then, too. What is a nuclear bomb if not a “weapon of mass destruction”? The hypocrisy is staggering.
Surely, after decades of U.S.-Israeli propaganda, we know better, don’t we? Now we have the internet and 20 months of horrific crimes against humanity in Gaza to snap us back into reality every time the Western mainstream media tries to sell another lie. This time, not only will we refuse to believe them, we’ll challenge their propaganda by showing solidarity with the people of Iran, who are being terrorized by U.S.-backed Israel. That is our responsibility.
If you need to be convinced even further that the media is trying to manipulate us, think about this: in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the common message was that it was an unprovoked and criminal attack. The media poured out support for Ukraine, an American ally, and then the US sent billions of dollars in weapons to fight that war. However, when Israel attacks Iran, a sovereign country with a government that refuses to submit to Western hegemony — the attacks are suddenly “strategic” and “preemptive.” Suddenly, the media has a million justifications for why it’s acceptable to attack another country.
The reality of the situation is that war never solves any problems. If they truly believe that Iran has nukes, perhaps it would be best not to bomb nuclear sites and risk a catastrophic nuclear fallout. If they were really afraid of Iran using nukes, they would support global denuclearization. Instead of using common sense, they are working overtime to convince us all that Iranian civilians deserve to die because the Iranian government refuses to submit to Western hegemony. We can’t and we won’t fall for it. The NYT has blood on its hands so long as it continues reports on Iran in this way.
Stand with us against propaganda.
This moment demands our vigilance. We cannot allow history to repeat itself, driven by media narratives that pave the way for further bloodshed. By challenging this dangerous propaganda, we defend not only Iranian lives but also the very fabric of truth and justice. Let’s act to expose the lies and demand a world where all lives are valued equally.
Educational Links
Watch: WAR ON IRAN: Dispatches LIVE w/ Elijah Magnier on Israel’s Massive Bombing Campaign
Essential reading: Israel’s Strikes on Iran Spark Growing Dissent in Congress by Medea Benjamin
Other ways to engage:
Tell your Senators to Stop the Escalation on Iran
Click here to dive deeper into Iran!
Act Now Tell Maersk: Stop F-35 Shipments to Israel!
Stream Now – Gaza: Journalist Under Fire
Dive deeper by joining our summer school: Feminists Resisting Fascism.
Check out our recent episode on what accountability means… especially for War Criminals.
· Order our new “I Love Palestinian Liberation” Tee!
Until Liberation,
Danaka, Nour and the entire CODEPINK team
PS: We just restocked our pink keffiyehs from Palestine! Get yours now!
INSIDE IRAN: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran by Medea Benjamin.
Benjamin recounts Iran’s history from the pre-colonial period, through the CIA-engineered coup that overthrew the country’s democratic leadership in 1953, to its emergence as the one nation Democrats and Republicans alike regularly unite in denouncing. Drawing upon firsthand experiences with Iranian politicians, activists, and everyday citizens, Benjamin provides a deeper understanding of the complexities of Iranian society and the nation’s role in the region.
“War Is The Worst Thing In The World” BY Caitlin Johnstone. JunE 20, 2025.
Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley):
War is the worst thing in the world. It is the single craziest behavior exhibited by humans. The most destructive. The most traumatizing. The least sustainable. The least conducive to human thriving.
All the things we fear most become the norm in a land ravaged by war. Death. Pain. Suffering. Rape. Chaos. Uncertainty. Losing loved ones. Losing homes. Losing limbs. Living in terror. Being attacked. Being brain damaged. Being faced with impossible choices. All the things we frighten ourselves with by watching horror movies become a reality from which there is no escape.
War creates a waking nightmare which any sensible person would want to avoid except in the direst necessity. And yet we are ruled by people who actively seek it out. Who will lie and manipulate to make wars happen. Who will smear and slander anyone who resists in the name of peace. Who will actively fight against every healthy impulse in everybody in their society to push their war agenda forward.
They always tell us the new war they want us to fight is about self-defense, or about liberating an oppressed population from a tyrannical dictatorship, or about preventing terrorism, or about spreading freedom and democracy. Usually they tell us it’s about all of these things.
But it never is. They are always lying. Always. They are pushing human beings into the worst circumstances they could possibly experience here on earth for no other reason than power and profit. To advance the hegemonic agendas of empire managers and to fill the coffers of war profiteers. That’s all it ever is. Always, always, always.
They say whatever they need to say and move whatever chess pieces they need to move to get their war, and then they send a bunch of poor suckers to go fight in it, lying to them that they are doing something noble and heroic.
They ship them off to a foreign land, and then they are trapped. They can’t flee into the wilderness because they don’t know how to survive and have no way of getting home. They can’t ask the locals for help because the locals are their victims. They have no choice but to either fight and kill people who have never wronged them, or lay down their arms and be caged like animals.
If they choose to fight, the best case scenario is that they spend the rest of their lives knowing that they killed other human beings who wanted to live just as much as themselves, and who had just as much right to. All because some people who already had far too much power wanted a little bit more.
It’s about the most insane and backwards thing you could possibly imagine. The most powerful individuals in our world are people who actively push for the absolute worst outcomes that could possibly happen. It’s the exact opposite of the way things should be.
Yet we are told it’s normal. We are trained to believe this is just the reality we live in which we should expect and accept, first by our parents and teachers, and then by our news media and by Hollywood. War is aggressively normalized by pundits, propagandists and politicians, and enthusiastically glorified in movies and documentaries.
Those who were forced or duped into fighting in these insane arrangements of mass-scale violence are framed as heroes, and anyone who disagrees with what they were sent to do is framed as disrespectful and ungrateful. Those who push for peace are framed as treasonous freaks who must surely have covert loyalties toward whatever government the empire is trying to target this time around. Those who suggest that there might be some solution apart from war are dismissed as infantile dreamers.
And once the war has started, it is almost impossible to stop. The entire political/media class treats the war as the new normal, and any suggestion that it’s time to wrap things up is regarded as outlandish and suspicious. It’s never time to end the war, because this or that objective has not yet been achieved, or because this or that faction might come into power if troops are pulled out, or because this or that disempowered group might suffer without our military there to protect them.
Ending a war is as difficult as beginning a war is easy. All the institutions which lined up perfectly to help get the ball rolling toward war suddenly transform into giant tar pits of inertia when it comes to ending the conflict. The warmakers say the war must continue for this or that reason, the politicians back the warmakers, the media back the politicians, and the person saying it’s time to end the madness is left standing there looking like they’re the crazy ones.
But they’re not the crazy ones. The ones pushing us toward war are crazy. This whole system is crazy. This whole civilization.
The ones resisting the push toward war are the ones fighting for sanity. They’re the ones who are trying to reverse the tide of madness and drag us into a healthy world.
If this is you, do not falter. Do not let the warmongers shout you down or shut you up. You are right, and they are wrong. Let your voice thunder with confidence. Let nothing cause you to waver.
Blessed are the peacemakers. Don’t let anyone trick you into doubting what you know to be true.
_______________
Caitlin’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece here are some options where you can toss some money into my tip jar if you want to. Click here for links for my mailing list, social media, books, merch, and audio/video versions of each article. All my work is free to bootleg and use in any way, shape or form; republish it, translate it, use it on merchandise; whatever you want. All works co-authored with my husband Tim Foley.
Israel and Iran Anthology #1 https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2025/06/omni-israel-and-iran-anthology-1-june.html
Israel: OMNI ISRAEL-PALESTINE ANTHOLOGIES #18, 9-18-24
https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/09/omni-israel-palestine-anthologies-18-9.html
Gaza: OMNI GAZA ANTHOLOGIES #17, July 30, 2024. https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2024/07/omni-gaza-anthologies-17-july-30-2024.html —https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2025/06/omni-israel-and-iran-anthology-2-6-20-25.html