by Stephen Lendman

Never in human history has it been more urgent to stop wars. US-dominated NATO's rage to wage them.

Ongoing in multiple theaters. Direct and proxy conflicts. Others awaiting to be launched. Risking nuclear war with Russia.

Humanity's survival is up for grabs. Stopping this madness matters more than ever. Ridding America of imperial war hawks risking mass annihilation.

Numerous anti-war groups exist worldwide. Including ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). Also called International ANSWER.

A US-based umbrella group. Including many anti-war/civil rights organizations. Founded three days post-9/11.

Initiated nationwide protests in the run-up to Bush's Iraq war. On October 26, 2002, around 200,000 demonstrated in Washington.

Inspiring other actions nationwide. On January 18, 2003, half a million people packed Washington's mall. Under the slogan "Stop the War Before It Starts."

The Washington Post called the protest America's largest since anti-Vietnam War turnouts.

On February 15, 2003, millions protested worldwide. ANSWER called it "the largest coordinated anti-war actions in history."

On April 12, 2003, three days after Baghdad fell, ANSWER organized 30,000 people in Washington. Under the slogan "Occupation is not Liberation."

ANSWER "uncompromising(ly)" supports the rights of Palestinians to live in peace. Free from Israeli occupation.

In April 2002, it organized perhaps the largest ever Palestinian solidarity demonstration in America. Over 100,000 people participated.

Last August during Israeli aggression on Gaza, ANSWER led a 50,000-people march in Washington.

Its other efforts include support for ending Haiti's occupation. Opposing its illegitimate/US-installed rule.

Contesting America's Afghanistan occupation. Continuing despite Obama's claim otherwise. Opposing Obama's Libya war. Its US-supported puppet government.

Against Obama's Iraq and Syria wars. Others he likely has in mind.

Actively contesting drone wars. On Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and elsewhere.

Maybe coming to a neighborhood near you. America kills everywhere. At home and abroad. Largely murdering civilians. Bullies like picking on victims unable to fight back.

ANSWER is resolutely for peace. Ending militarism, occupations and wars. Against racism and police brutality. Supporting fast disappearing social justice.

Backing initiatives and ideas deserving universal support. Wanting America liberated from war-mongering profiteers. Wanting it made fit to live in. Wanting peace breaking out worldwide.

World Beyond War is another anti-war organization. A global "movement to end war and establish a just and sustainable peace."

Spreading awareness of what's most important. Wanting a world at peace. Ending ongoing bloodshed.

Wars harm everyone. They don't protect. Or increase safety and security. Conflicts beget more of them.

America is the most violent country in world history. Since inception. At home and abroad. Contemptuous of human life and welfare.

Stopping its madness matters most. Through nonviolent resistance. A universal right. More important now than ever. Nationwide and abroad.

So-called good wars don't exist. Or wars to en all wars. Never in human history. Waging them assures more to follow.

Super-weapons make them more destructive. Trillions of dollars wasted on militarism and endless wars. Down a black hole.

Benefitting war profiteers. In league with corrupt politicians. Choosing more targets for more wars. Giving waste, fraud, abuse, ruthlessness and lawlessnes new meaning.

"Our goal is to support steps away from war and to spread understanding of them as just that - steps in the direction of war's elimination," says World Beyond War.

"We are building something truly international, connecting people and organizations, and adding support to antiwar endeavors of all kinds around the world."

"This is a global campaign of education, lobbying, and nonviolent direct action."

"Peace is not free." Vast support is needed. For what matters most.

Activists call wars "organized murder." A "lie." The biggest of Big Lies. A "racket." Barbarism. State terrorism.

Murder for profit. Anti-life. Out-of-control militarism. Lose-lose. Unwinnable. Collective punishment. Beyond cruel and unreasonable. A life-destroying cancer.

The powerful preying on the weak. The supreme crime against humanity. The worst kind of madness.

AJ Muste (1885-1967) was one of the leading nonviolent social activists of his time. Widely respected for his work.

An ordained minister. A pacifist. A civil libertarian. A trade union supporter. Fellowship of Reconciliation chairman. A religious pacifist organization.

American Workers Party co-founder. A radical in the best sense of the term. A supporter of racial equality.

Head of the Committee for Nonviolent Action. An organization involved in blocking US nuclear activities.

Helped organize the World Peace Brigade. Worked actively with African liberation movements.

Was Martin Luther King's close friend and mentor. Especially noted for his anti-Vietnam War activism.

In 1966, he led a group of pacifists to Saigon. Demonstrated for peace. Was arrested and deported.

Months later went to Hanoi. Met with No Chi Minh. Weeks later he died in New York.

Today he's largely unknown. "In a world built on violence, one must be a revolutionary before one can be a pacifist." he said.

"War is not an accident. It is the logical outcome of a certain way of life. If we want to attack, we have to attack that way of life."

There is no way to peace. Peace is the only way."

"The problem after a war is the victor. He thinks he has just proved that war and violence pay. Who will teach him a lesson?"

"They that sow the wind shall reap the whildwind. You get from the universe that you give, with interest!"

Norman Thomas said Muste made "remarkable effort to show that pacifism (isn't) passivism, and that there could by such a thing as a nonviolent social revolution."

Muste's are needed more than ever today. ANSWER, World Beyond War and likeminded groups are vital to stop today's madness.

Headquartered in Washington. Bipartisan criminals in charge. Waging war on humanity.

Risking its destruction if not stopped. Top priority above all others. Demanding universal support. It bears repeating, Now more than ever.

-###-

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.