As Trump Talks of Pardoning More U.S. War Criminals
Revolutionary Vets Condemn U.S. War Crimes—
“It's about all the people of the planet”
| revcom.us
As we post this, Donald Trump is reportedly considering issuing presidential pardons for several U.S. soldiers and military contractors convicted or accused of committing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Earlier this month, he already pardoned one war criminal, an Army lieutenant who tortured and executed an Iraqi detainee. There have been only a few American troops convicted of war crimes, even as the U.S. military has carried out murder, torture, and other crimes on a massive scale in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. But the moves to exonerate even those few convicted war criminals are a part of how the Trump/Pence regime is shattering the previous “norms” of U.S. imperialism—and setting new fascist norms with blanket condoning of war crimes that would give an official green light for U.S. forces to carry out horrors against the people of the world on a whole other level.
In light of this, we are running the following letter from a member of the Revolution Club, Los Angeles, and reposting a piece from a Vietnam War vet.
From a member of the Revolution Club, LA:
Breaking with Patriotism and Revenge
I recently learned that Trump had pardoned a prior U.S. military member. This pardonee was convicted for the murder of an Iraqi, who was suspected of killing U.S. military members. This got me thinking, because I was in the same military unit at the same time as all of this took place.
I remember thinking (around the time the killing of the Iraqi came to light): that myself and others should be upholding this execution. My reasoning was: that the death was justified (by getting revenge). I now think about this and realize: how that kind of thinking can only serve to keep things the way they are.
I ask myself why I took up those ideas and understand: that this was part of the us versus them mentality that is necessary in order to justify all of these wars for empire. I write this to let others who are trying to process all that comes along with having been part of the U.S. war machine, that there is a way to get back on the right path. The first step is to get into this website, then start asking questions from those who are associated with the work being done through it, and then put yourself to the task of getting involved as well. Because: it is not just about you, but about all the people of the planet. There is much more to lay out in order to better understand, but you have to begin and go from there.
Follow: @TheRevcoms
Read: www.revcom.us
Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs
Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!
Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!
The Ongoing Need for Sustainers
During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.
So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.
Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.
You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.
Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:
