Aaron Bushnell & A Guide To Getting Out Of The US Military (NOW) With The GI Rights Hotline
As Biden's support for genocide spins into new US wars across the Middle East from the Red Sea to Iraq, now would be a good time to walk away.
Eyes Left Podcast
It's much easier than the Pentagon wants you to think. Whether you're in the military or know someone who is, this is the definitive guide to walking away. And as Biden's support for genocide spins out into new US wars across the Middle East, from the Red Sea to Iraq, now would be a good time to walk away.
Featuring special guest Maria Santelli, longtime counselor with the GI Rights Hotline, which provides secure, free and expert support to any service member who wants to leave the military.
CALL the hotline anytime at 1-877-447-4487 for advice, or visit them online at girightshotline.org
Maria is Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War: centeronconscience.org
WHY HE DIED: Airman Aaron Bushnell Said ‘No’ To US/Israeli Genocide In Gaza
Break Through News (2/29/24)
On February 25, active duty U.S. Airman Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in protest of the war on Gaza. He screamed “Free Palestine” as he burned. His heroic act has shown the profound shift in U.S. consciousness against Israel’s war on Palestine, and inspired even greater resistance. Brian Becker is joined by Mike Prysner, a veteran, anti-war activist, producer of The Empire Files & host of the podcast "Eyes Left.”
Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistP.... We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
On Aaron Bushnell, Methinks Israel Apologist Doth Protest Too Much
By Caitlan Johnstone
Caitlan’s Newsletter (2/28/24)
Currently there has been a famine going on for months in a place that is half children, which means that in the coming days we can expect a massive explosion of children dying due to starvation. And here’s the kicker: the famine is 100 percent deliberate.
I never thought I’d ever see anything worse than babies being ripped apart by military explosives until I started seeing babies being starved. Babies killed with bombs is horrifying, but starving babies causes PANIC. It triggers a deep, primal THIS NEEDS TO STOP instinct.
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Aaron Bushnell wasn’t addressing the Israeli government with his soul-jarring message. He wasn’t even addressing his own government. He was addressing you. Each of us. His goal was to get us all to open our eyes to the horror of what’s happening, and spur us to action to end it.
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If you’ve noticed Israel apologist trolls swarming all over the Aaron Bushnell story, it’s because they know how damaging a US airman self-immolating while screaming “Free Palestine” is to US and Israeli information interests, and they’re scrambling to manipulate the narrative.
Israel apologists are all over the internet swarming the comments of anyone discussing Aaron Bushnell going “No one cares! He died for nothing! He didn’t accomplish anything!” Bitch if he didn’t accomplish anything you wouldn’t be here in my notifications frantically telling me he didn’t accomplish anything.
Who do these losers think they’re kidding? The very fact that they need to do this proves them wrong. They’re like a guy who spends hours sending a woman dozens of texts about how he totally doesn’t care that she rejected his advances. Methinks the Israel apologist doth protest too much.
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Many high-profile Israel supporters have been circulating a fake screenshot of a Reddit account run by Bushnell saying “Palestine will be free when all the jews are dead.” The fact that they’re doing this illustrates two things: that Israel supporters are unscrupulous liars, and that they are freaking the fuck out about how much damage Bushnell has done to their cause.
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Israel supporters keep confidently opining on Aaron Bushnell’s motives and character as though they are even remotely capable of understanding such a person. These weak, shallow, self-centered little bitches can’t even lay siege to Gaza without bringing along cotton candy machines and bouncy castles.
Liberals: We support the fight for civil rights!
Palestine supporters: *boycott*
Liberals: No not like that.
Palestine supporters: *protest*
Liberals: No not like that.
Palestinians: *violent resistance*
Liberals: No not like that.
Aaron Bushnell: *sets self on fire*
Liberals: No not like that.
US liberals in 2016: Wanting universal healthcare is a pie in the sky fantasy
US liberals in 2020: Wanting full student loan debt forgiveness is a pie in the sky fantasy
US liberals in 2024: Wanting your country not to commit genocide is a pie in the sky fantasy
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If the United States really was the defender of justice it purports to be and actually used its military in the way it claims to, it would have told Israel to cease its genocidal atrocities in Gaza and taken military action if Israel refused. Instead, it’s actively running support for Israel’s atrocities.
This shows you what the US empire really is, and what it has always been. This shows you that its “humanitarian interventions” have never actually had humanitarian goals. It shows you that every time the US has attacked a foreign nation under the narrative cover of freeing its people from its tyrannical government was in fact an act of mass military violence based on lies.
There’s nothing stopping the US from moving its war machinery to the immediate surroundings of Israel and threatening to destroy IDF locations if it doesn’t cease its massacres, in the same way Hugh Thompson and his helicopter crew rightly stopped the My Lai massacre by threatening to fire on US troops in Vietnam. That hasn’t happened because the US isn’t what it pretends to be, and does not use its military in the way it claims to.
In reality, the US is the hub of a globe-spanning power structure that requires endless violence to maintain its hegemony, and what we’re seeing in Gaza is just one more expression of that violence. This isn’t some fluke aberration in the US empire’s behavior but a very normal and expected manifestation of it. The facts clash with the United States’ story about itself because the story is a lie.
RATTLED: Aaron Bushnell's Protest Reflects A Much Deeper Crisis In The US Military
Break Through News (2/28/24)
Millions of people are celebrating Aaron Bushnell as a hero for his protest outside of the Israeli embassy. His protest also reflects a growing crisis within the US military. BT's Kei Pritsker explains the military recruitment crisis and the potential mutiny within its ranks.
9-minute video
I'd like to see countries leave NATO, the USA's justifier and enabler.
RIP, Aaron Bushnell. I hope the world can figure out how to take effective action to support your sacrifice and free Palestine.
Help make more conscientious objectors! RIP Aaron Bushnell.