Drone Policy and the Government’s “Right to Kill”

There is ONE major source limiting our Government's Right to Kill. The name of that source is--GOD! Have you forgotten the most important of all the Ten Commandments: 'THOU SHALT NOT KILL'?

Today, affirming God's most sacred Commandment, I and my brothers and sisters/companeros y companeras state unequivocally:

"IN MEMORIAM:  I/We hereby resolve that to honor the murdered children and teachers from Newtown, CT--THERE WILL/MUST BE NO MORE KILLING BY ANYONE, ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON!"

For those of you who still feel the Government still has a right to kill, please remember that God's law supercedes man's law. Moreover, our Constitution, which is "the supreme law of the land" only permits the Executive to defend ITSELF against: "a clear and present danger to the territory and populace of the United States."

Within this framework/context, the assertion by this Administration and prior Administrations of the authority to wage war at will, based on the sole determination of the Executive, the President, is far worse than illegal and immoral and unconstitutional. It is, clearly and unequivocally: MURDER.

Should this President, or any future President, state that he/she has the authority to commit murder (whether through human or mechanical agency, such as a drone), we, the American people, must place him/her under citizen's arrest and then try him/her for the crime of attempted murder. If the murder has already been carried out, then the level of criminality would then be raised to: PREMEDITATED MURDER. The authority I possess to make this statement is my standing as: An American Citizen, the highest standing there is.

The personal qualification I have to initiate this Citizen's Arrest is my status as: the only citizen in the history of the United States, to my knowledge, to initiate three lawsuits against illegal wars in the federal courts, and then pursue each of them, individually, to the United States Supreme Court. The wars and dates of each suit were: Vietnam (1969), Nicaragua (1985-86) and Iraq I (1991). The fact that the US Supreme Court has never heard on the merits the issue of the legality of the Vietnam War (the most heinous of all as it involved the murder of more than three million people in Southeast Asia), nor the legality of any of the other wars, again to the best of my knowledge, makes the executive branch's assertion of its right to kill a CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

  I, and my brothers and sisters/companeros y companeras. demand that those entities with the legal expertise, most especially the Center for Constitutional Rights, assert that they will proceed in the federal courts to seek redress and reclaim our democracy from the dangerous encroachment of an executive branch that appears determined to transform our wonderful democracy into a vicious, criminal dictatorship. This must not happen! The determination of courageous media, particularly Newsday, to whom this is addressed to ensure our Constitutional rights are protected, is essential.

All the best in helping restore the caring democracy run by the people nearly all Americans desire and demand.

Thank you,

Walter Pietsch

                                                              --Walter Pietsch, submitted to Newsday 3/18/13

A lifetime labor/human rights activist noted for his attempted citizen's arrest of Richard Nixon for war crimes, Walter Pietsch is the founder of ARISE (Americans Removing Injustice, Suppression and Exploitation) and author of the newly-released Walter Pietsch: Evolution of an Evolutionary Revolutionary--Updated 2013 Edition (please scroll above for more information and ordering).

How To Help The Rich Get To Heaven

Brothers and Sisters,

Jesus said: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into Heaven." That sounds pretty darned hard to me; doesn't it to you?

Unlike most people, the only thing I don't like about rich people is their money. It upsets me that the Bill Gateses, Warren Buffets (even considering the so-called “Buffet Rule”) and Mayor Bloombergs have no problem going to bed and sleeping on top of their billions of dollars in wealth, knowing full well that the money in their pockets is literally taking the food off the table of poor people, many of whom are starving to death. So, I want to take away the stress Bill, Warren, Mayor Bloomberg and others must be under, especially as they get older, as they realize that their unending greed will probably send them straight to Hell!

Here's the simple answer. Redistribute the wealth of every family with a net worth over five million dollars and individuals with a net worth of over three million dollars to the rest of the people. Under those amounts, take away a little, incrementally (we can figure out exact amounts later, if we agree in principle).

Voila! No more rich people! Eureka! Now Bill, Warren and Mayor Bloomberg and many others will be able to sleep soundly at night, knowing they have been helped to do the right thing, and should have a decent chance to get into Heaven!

Guess what? They don't even have to thank me. Instead, they can pass the Equal Media Access Constitutional Amendment which will take money out of the political process entirely; endorse Employee Consumer Control of All Institutions (these are Phase One and Phase Two of my "vision", respectively, to be found in the Appendix of Walter Pietsch: Evolution Of A Peaceful Revolutionary (see"Books by Walter Pietsch" column for more information). And, they can also support Phase Three: The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Dream Dollar", which will be added to the national currency to create millions of new jobs, just as FDR did in the 1930s. 

By the way, as we help the rich get into Heaven, we will also be taking back our country for the rest of the people. As we do so, please, let's make it a truly caring democracy as we are all God's children (for those who believe in God; I do). 

As you can see, I was only doing a tongue-in-cheek (not my tongue in your cheek; I'm not that kind of guy!) with the title of this op-ed. But now I'm dead serious, and my life is a testament to that. I think you'll like it if you take a look at my story. Then, if you agree, maybe you'll want to join me on the interesting journey ahead. I look forward to passing you an oar to help row the boat, or even help steer the ship!

Oh yes, in honor of the murdered children and teachers of Newtown, CT, my book bears this In Memoriam: THERE WILL/MUST BE NO MORE KILLING ANYWHERE, ANY PLACE, AT ANY TIME, BY ANYONE!

A lifetime labor/human rights activist noted for his attempted citizen's arrest of Richard Nixon for war crimes, Walter Pietsch is the founder of ARISE (Americans Removing Injustice, Suppression and Exploitation) and author of the newly-released Walter Pietsch: Evolution of an Evolutionary Revolutionary--Updated 2013 Edition (please see "Books by Walter Pietsch" at right for more information and ordering).

Walter Pietsch To Be NCC Seniors Group’s Featured Speaker For March

 Come hear Walter Pietsch talk and read selections from the newly-updated edition of his Evolution of a Peaceful Revolutionary on Tuesday, March 5, as guest speaker of the Nassau Community College’s Senior Observers Club.

In addition to describing the humorous, moving and instructive experiences that mobilized a lifetime commitment to peace and social justice, Walter will share some specific, distinctly people-centered proposals toward crafting a more convivial society, including how to recharge the economy and enhance democratic engagement in the electoral process. Recent efforts to promote the latter during the presidential debate at Hofstra University are also included in the 2013 edition of his autobiography (see “Books by Walter Pietsch” section on the right). 

The Senior Observers Club aims to enhance the NCC experience for all senior citizens taking part in the Senior Observer Program. It holds monthly meetings to hear speakers on subjects of general or specific interest to people who would choose school as a retirement activity.

When:

Tuesday, March 5, 2013; 11:30 am-12:45 pm

Where:

Building G, Room G209

Nassau Community College

One Education Drive

Garden City, New York 11530

Contact:

Neil Yeoman

nyeoman@msn.com

NCCSeniorObserversClub@yahoo.com

Book Review: Searching for the Soul of Revolution

Wisconsin: From the Front Lines of the Labor Battle

by Caneisha Mills

Paperback, 75 pp. with chronology, illustrated
$7.95
November 2011, PSL Publications 

Dear Companeros/Companeras at PSL:

After thoroughly reviewing your entire publication, I want to provide you with my own, also thorough analysis of your assessment of that labor struggle.

On the positive side, I particularly commend Austin Thompson for stating on March 8, 2011: ". . the two-party democracy in the United States is nothing but a dictatorship of the rich." That is a statement I myself have made repeatedly for the past fifty years and more, which is nothing but the absolute truth! Equally dramatically, in that same article, Austin made this fiery, moving remark: ". . . as workers, it is completely necessary in this phase of the struggle that just like we could occupy that Capitol, we can occupy factories, we can occupy industries. We can take them over. . ."

On the negative side, I take complete exception to the 2/20/2011 statement by Jeff Bigelow, where he states: "Solving the budget crisis does not require the complete elimination of banking and corporate profits." Excuse me! I cannot believe anyone who supports the Party for Socialism and Liberation would be calling for the continuing rule of capitalism. I KNOW IT MUST BE ELIMINATED - BUT PEACEFULLY, AS I WILL EXPLAIN.

I am just as determined as you to see that the dictatorship of the rich which presently rules us is removed and replaced--but by what? You say "Socialism." I say, not exactly!

In answer to your call for a general strike, and your conclusion that the capitulation by the Democrats, who of course are a big part of the problem caused the failure of a proposed general strike, which would have resulted in - POWER TO THE WORKERS/THE PEOPLE! I reply: IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE!

Yes, we are the people. We are the 98%ers (according to the analysis of two-time CT Green Party candidate for Congress, Richard Duffee, 2%, not 1%, control 50% of the wealth of our country). But for this to occur, it must be done within our own historical framework as a nation, in a manner that all Americans can support. This should not be difficult to accomplish. Why?

There is one brief, but clear, declaration that supposedly is agreed upon by all Americans, one that will sink the capitalist system without firing a shot! That statement/declaration is contained in our most powerful document, perhaps the most powerful ever written, our DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. That statement says, clearly and simply: "ALL MEN (PEOPLE) ARE CREATED EQUAL!" THAT SAYS IT ALL.

I propose a simple, three-phase plan of action that will end the rule of capitalism and replace it with true, caring democracy, one with power from the bottom up. This will NOT be a "dictatorship of the proletariat" or any other kind of dictatorship, as Marx so mistakenly proposed. It will be pure dynamic democracy:

Phase One details the EQUAL MEDIA ACCESS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. This will take money out of the political process entirely. Every candidate fdor office must be required to state whether he/she supports or opposes this Amendment. Their response will be a litmus test. If they support it, and their views are pro-people, we'll support them. If they oppose it, we'll oppose them and see that they are not elected!

Phase Two calls for Employee/Consumer Control Of All Institutions. As I commented earlier, your Austin Thompson dramatically described that occurrence himself. We know this must be done carefully, in collaboration with the labor unions, selecting those companies that are the most anti-worker and the least solvent (e.g. threatening the workers, etc.).

Phase Three will implement the "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 'Dream Dollar'. This will be added to the national currency to fuel Project Rebuild America, that will pay for work performed, as millions of new jobs come into being, just as FDR did in the 1930s.

Believe it or not, WE ARE THE PATRIOTS! WE SEEK TO IMPLEMENT THE PROMISE OF OUR FOREFATHERS, A PROMISE THEY THEMSELVES DENIED THEIR FELLOW AMERICANS, SUCH AS SLAVES, INDIANS/NATIVE AMERICANS, INDENTURED SERVANTS AND, YES, WOMEN!

As we proceed toward our goal, it must include the element of caring for one another. No revolution, peaceful or not, that does not include the vital elements of love and caring is worth anything. THAT MUST BE THE SOUL OF THE REVOLUTION. WE MUST LOVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER!

A revolution that includes happiness, humor, love and caring is the kind of revolution I believe we all truly want. I do. Do you?

                                                               --Walter Pietsch, submitted to laborstruggle.org 2/7/12


A lifetime labor/human rights activist noted for his attempted citizen's arrest of Richard Nixon for war crimes, Walter Pietsch is the founder of ARISE (Americans Removing Injustice, Suppression and Exploitation) and author of the newly-released Walter Pietsch: Evolution of an Evolutionary Revolutionary--Updated 2013 Edition (please see "Books by Walter Pietsch" at right for more information and ordering).

An Honest Mirror On The World… From Solitary

 The new documentary Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary examines the life of convict Mumia Abu-Jamal not just as a globally-recognized resilient symbol of American political resistance, but as an essayist/social commentator, historian and journalist. Only recently removed from death row after being dubiously charged with the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, Mumia, a former radio reporter, was an active member of the Black Panther Party, MOVE and a president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (go to "Dedications To American Political Prisoners" under the Pages section on the right for more information).

His investigative work relating to racial, social/political justice, while earning him the ire of established authority and the corruption of the U.S. court system, has flourished defiantly form solitary confinement in the form of a weekly radio commentary and several books, including Death Blossom, All Things Censored and Jailhouse Lawyers, covering such topics as spirituality, religion, capitalism and the prison-industrial complex.

His typically incisive weekly observations on PrisonRadio.org (click here to listen to his thoughts on Obama’s second term) calls into question who is really isolated: those imprisoned by solid walls, or those by their own limited preconceptions of how things are—as opposed to how they could be?

Directed and produced by Stephen Vittoria (2005’s One Bright Shining Moment), Long Distance Revolutionary, with commentary from Tariq Ali, Cornell West, James Cone and Ramona Africa, premieres February 1 at the Cinema Village in Manhattan, followed by a major city roll-out across the country. Watch the recent interview on Democracy Now! Below:

To find out more about Mumia’s case, his work and to contact him, go to freemumia.com.


A lifetime labor/human rights activist noted for his attempted citizen's arrest of Richard Nixon for war crimes, Walter Pietsch is the founder of ARISE (Americans Removing Injustice, Suppression and Exploitation) and author of the newly-released Walter Pietsch: Evolution of an Evolutionary Revolutionary--Updated 2013 Edition (please see "Books by Walter Pietsch" at right for more information and ordering).

Walter Pietsch On ARISE's Legal Proceedings Against The 1991 Gulf War

Here is a ten-minute interview from May 1991 on Long Island's WLIW 21 with Walter Pietsch, regarding his lawsuit against the first Bush administration for the criminal and unconstitutional underpinnings that led to The American attack on Iraq:

Beyond the supine conduct of Congress, Pietsch's actions also highlight the essential fact belying the myth of war's inevitability or justification--that in reality, it is always instigated through distortion, deception or outright lies.


A lifetime labor/human rights activist noted for his attempted citizen's arrest of Richard Nixon for war crimes, Walter Pietsch is the founder of ARISE (Americans Removing Injustice, Suppression and Exploitation) and author of the newly-released Walter Pietsch: Evolution of an Evolutionary Revolutionary--Updated 2013 Edition (please see "Books by Walter Pietsch" at right for more information and ordering),