Congresswoman Dingell Statement on the House Passing War Powers Resolution

Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

 Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) released the following statement on the House of Representatives passing a War Powers Resolution to limit the President’s military action regarding Iran: This according to a press release from the office of Debbie Dingell.

“I continue to be concerned about an escalation of military involvement in the Middle East and the potential for war. Such action puts US service-men and -women and their families, diplomats, and Americans overseas in significant danger, as well as contributes to instability in the Mideast and the world.

“Those serving in the military are all our sons and daughters. We have to do everything we can to prevent war. Former Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg observed in 1948 that ‘politics stops at the waters edge.’ We must be diligent and united in working towards the goal of preventing war. Escalating tension in the Mideast makes America less safe. 

“The 1973 War Powers Act – which was passed in the wake of the Vietnam War to prevent another drawn-out, undeclared war – makes clear that only Congress can declare war or sustained military conflict. The President must work with Congress.

“We are Americans who must all work together to put forward a coherent, robust strategy to de-escalate tensions with Iran. Diplomacy, not military action, must come first. I will do everything possible working with my colleagues to accomplish this, to prevent war and protect our national security.”

Hundreds Participate In No War On Iran Demonstration Wednesday In Ann Arbor On U-M Campus.

Photo Jeff Brown Purple Walrus Press.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

With temperatures in the teens, approximately 500 people participated in a No War On Iran Demonstration Wednesday evening on the campus of the University of Michigan in front of Angel Hall. Protesters demonstrated against the ever-increasing tension between the United States and Iran. Demonstrators are angry with what they see as U.S. imperialism and aggression in the Middle East.

Demonstrations are being held across the United States following the U.S. airstrike that targeted and killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani last Friday in Iraq. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated that the U.S. targeted Soleimani because of what the Trump administration believed was a imminent attack.

Wednesday evening's demonstration on the U-M campus included a sign-making table, and interactive art build for children and people of all ages. Swarm Street Medic Team was present, as well as a medic tent. There was also a children accessible seating area in the front of the rally directly in front of Angel Hall. Demonstrators were also able to access the entrance hall area of Angel Hall to use the restroom and warm-up.

The event, hosted by Hoai An Pham, featured several speakers including University of Michigan History and commentator on the Middle East Juan Cole, U-M Arab Student Association President Arwa Gayar, U-M Persian Student Association members, veteran U.S. Special Operations Stan Goff,  Ann Arbor City Commisioner Zaynab Elkolaly, and EMU professor of Political Science Ebrahim Soltani. The event emcee was Amytess Girgis.

Several counter-demonstrators held signs stating, "Keep U.S. Troops In Iran" and "Solemani Killed My Family."


Photos Jeff Brown Purple Walrus Press.

U.S. Veteran Stan Goff.

CAIR -WA Reports That They Are Assisting Iranian-Americans Detained At Peace Arch Border Sunday.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to CAIR-Washington, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is currently assisting at least 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans  who were detained for long periods of time and questioned at length at the Peace Arch Border crossing located in Blaine, Wash. The Peace Arch border connects the cities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia on the Canadian-United States border.

According to CAIR, there are reports that many more were refused entry to the United States because of lack of capacity for Customs and Border Patrol to detain them. It is reported that as of 2:00 pm Sunday, other Iranian Americans were about to cross the Peace Arch Border while returning back to their homes in the United States after attending an Iranian pop music concert that took place Saturday in Vancouver, Canada.

According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, those who were detained stated that their passports were confiscated and that they were questioned about their political views and allegiances.

Note: CAIR published "Know Your Rights" information online in English, Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Farsi, Bengali, and Bosnian.

According to CAIR, a 24 year old American citizen and medical student and her family were allegedly detained and interrogated for over 10 hours at the Peace Archer Border Crossing prior to being released early Sunday morning. CAIR stated that according to Crystal, "The vast majority of people being detained last night were American citizens."

News Alert: Statement By the Department of Defense In Aftermath of United States Air Strike On Baghdad Airport That Killed Senior Iranian Military Official Thurday.

Photo english.alarbiya.net

Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to the Pentagon, President Trump ordered an airstrike Thursday, January 2, that has killed a Senior Iranian military official. This airstrike may prove to create must instability in an already volatile region.
Read the Statement from the Pentagon below:

"At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. 

General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more. He had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months – including the attack on December 27th – culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel. General Soleimani also approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week.  

This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans. The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world".

On The Flint Water Crisis In Brief: By Purple Walrus Press Contributor and Flint Activist Melissa Mays

Flint River and Downtown Flint.

Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

Day #2052 in the #FlintWaterCrisis: WHY are we STILL waiting on Lansing, environmental agencies, legislators and our Government as a whole to learn lessons from our ongoing water disaster? As they sit by and let us languish in our catastrophe in Flint, they are also allowing more disasters to unfold as they do nothing. Lovely.