This Monday, January 2, 2012, following the Rose Parade, Cindy Sheehan brings an important message to Occupy Wall Street (and Main Street) from the west steps of Pasadena City Hall: How trillion dollar wars serve the interests of the 1% at the expense of the 99%. Specifically – as described in the Occupy LA announcement: Cindy will speak about “the relationship between the Military-Industrial-Congressional complex and the Fortune 500 and Wall Street Banks.”

Good, because up until now that has not been the focus of the OWS movement. While it has been busy targeting the dominance and corruption of the 1% on the domestic side, it has inadvertently given those same people a massive free pass on the foreign policy side. This needs to change. The two cannot be separated, because they control the war economy and the civilian economy.

One obvious example of how these interconnected policies impact us is with funding: austerity measures for the civilian economy are prescribed by the elites and dutifully emphasized by the mainstream media and voted on by politicians as the only remedy for budget shortfalls – that is called sound fiscal policy, while simultaneously funding for the national defense and security apparatus is protected, justified as essential in waging the war on terror.

In short, it will take both movements working together to change these skewed priorities, not to mention stop the next war.

Case in point, entering into another military adventure so soon after ending the Iraq debacle is not an abstract or distant possibility, nor is it insane from our rulers’ point of view. For them, it makes sense, since Iran always was the main target in the Middle East region, nor would such a war pass without some people making out like bandits.

At the very least it will feed the war economy while burying the OWS movement as the focus shifts to rallying behind the troops. Beyond that, if there is a major escalation leading to a full-scale war with Iran, then it is not inconceivable that today’s OWS occupiers will be tomorrow’s draftees.

That said, short of hostilities breaking out with Iran, the overall Bush Doctrine of projecting American dominance globally remains in play for the long term as the Pentagon pursues a long war strategy. Therefore, flare-ups are possible down the road at any time and in any number of regions, each one capable of sucking us into empire support operations. Wherever American interests are deemed vital and there is an uncooperative regime, our leaders are quick to assert our national security interest to justify military action.

Who defines that interest?

I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the same people guiding the crackdown on OWS encampments around the nation.

By the way, do not think for a moment that, in the case of Iran, President Obama is going to save us if there is a sudden escalation. Should military hostilities break out in the Straits of Hormuz, he will behave like all Presidents do: retaliate. And then, we’re really in for it, because Iran is not Iraq. To imagine you can Iraq Iran and get away with that is to live in a dream world, and yet that is the confrontation our government is gearing up for.

So let’s listen to Cindy Sheehan on Monday (and to Marcy Winograd who will also speak to this issue), because when she lays out the centrality of the war economy to foreign policy decisions by the 1% and the consequences the 99% shall suffer, she knows first hand what that means, having lost her son in the last just war. And she also knows something about the courage it takes to stand up to those who expect us to fight and support their noble causes.

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Those wishing to march with OLA should gather from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at Singer Park (about 8 blocks south of Norton Simon) — Sign assemblage starts at 7 a.m. and continues to 9 a.m. on-site in Pasadena’s Singer Park (1 block east of Orange Grove (by intersection of St. John’s and California Avenue – about 6 blocks due South of the central Norton Simon location). We will gather for assemblage of Occupy’s 5 part “Human Float” float#44 / #99. We march to join the parade procession at 9:30 am. Organizers will have 500 + flags available to those who arrive on-site first as well as several hundred Occupy T-Shirts. Again, first come get the available flags/t-shirts.

THE 2012 “OCCUPY HUMAN FLOAT” IS OTRP’S MAIN EVENT. WE MARCH PROMPTLY AT 9:30 AM. BRING LARGE SIGNS & BANNERS. Drummers, other musicians, please join us as well! Coordinators – Activist David Cutter dcutter@aceweb.com or phone (626) 260-1615). British Artists Janet & Matt Driggs janet38@earthlink.net or via phone (213) 300-1421

The rally at Pasadena City Hall after the parade is from 11am to 2 pm. Proceed to the West Side of City Hall for the Occupy LA Media Outreach & Occupy Press Conference. Cindy Sheehan will speak regarding the relationship between the Military-Industrial-Congressional complex and the Fortune 500 & Wall Street Banks. A separate Occupy Music Concert (Michelle Shocked; others) will follow with an end celebratory party at the local Yard House restaurant (2 blocks from Pasadena City Hall).

Viewing from out of town?

Try: Occupy LA video blogger: http://www.ustream.tv/occupyfreedomla

And KPFK, which has been good about covering Occupy events in the LA area. www.kpfk.org They can livestream the audio.

(Disclaimer: There is no guarantee they will cover Cindy Sheehan's speech.)

occupy nothing?

where have you been ?

off for the holidays?

Good info and comments....additional info also included in next article 12/30/2011 " ROSE PARADE OCCUPIED....by 99%"

MTA ride info, and listing OccupyTheRoseParade.org website

to be found..

Those who cannot actually make their own Big B&W signs, should still attend to show the Many that 99% includes,

or at least call and email all friends to encourage anyone who want to "come to see" and then...maybe... join in too.

Even a cheering external crowd that maybe doesnt want to be 'seen on TV' ...they too can make a notable emphatic difference....

showing the reality that MANY of us are really supportive of Occupiers, while most media tends to discount, dismiss and reject "the American People" who all politicians claim to love and address and then forget. Mass media questions in old formula terms and finds ways to negatively criticize if the formula cannot be filled-in-the-bubble-form-as-ordered.

Stay informed by regular information about other actions, events, results and concerns of

www.occupylosangeles.0rg

and anyone can also write on forums and blogs there.

Stay IN VOLVED and what better time that the start of a new calendar year 2012. Resolve to MAKE A DIFFERENCE Now !

[[unfortunately clumping of paragraphs above main article makes for difficult reading or skimming for pertinent info, not fault of writer, often sites dont show previews as they will appear, but best to copy and reduce to readable paragraphs ]

we can clearly see what a degenerate scum the previous comment from this 'lord' reveals itself to be, like all of its other comments, it illustrates the mental illness of its favorite cult of zionism.

it should substitute 'degenerate scum' for its monicker of 'lord'.

Insulting a mother who has lost her son to one of this 'lord's' [degenerate scum's ] favorite wars.

oh, so now we have some alleged 'affair' to gossip about. Sheehan's statements 'supported' by a website also alleged, meaning absolutely nothing.

It doesn't change the degenerate comments by one of zionism's unflagging supporters, this 'lord'.

....I don't see anything particularly "degenerate" about Cindy Sheehan fucking Lew Rockwell......granted,the political optics of it are rather disconcerting....but beyond that,hey,whatever floats your boat,right?

of course not, words like 'pussy' are the normal conversational gist of the mental cripples who toe the line of israel, and without this kind of rhetoric, they are empty. But, degenerate scum locksley, types "....I don't see anything-"

zionism in a nutshell, blind deaf and degenerate.