The media's cheerleading of war and violence can't eliminate the skepticism that Americans feel about the billions spent and the lives lost to maintain U.S. empire. July 15, 2010 THE TV anchorwoman was conducting a split-screen interview with a journalist who had volunteered to be a witness at the execution of a man on death row in Utah for 25 years. "He had a choice," said the journalist, "lethal injection or firing squad." "Wow!" said the anchorwoman. Cue a blizzard of commercials for fast food, teeth whitener, stomach stapling, the new Cadillac.

Picture of picket in solidarity with Brighton EDO activsts now on trail for action against a Raytheon-related arms company.

The picket was at the site of a  plaque erected on Derry's Walls by the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign in memory of all those killed with weapons produced in Derry.

In response to a question by Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh, the Minister for Defence stated that Irish taxpayers would by paying an estimated €800,00 to cover the costs of training in the Nordic EU Battle Group.

Roger Cole, Chair of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance said:

Veterans and human rights experts are asking why footage of U.S. soldiers committing atrocities against Iraqi civilians is being treated like an anomaly, writes Dahr Jamail

From the Galway Alliance Against War April Newsletter

Friday 19th 2010 is the 7th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and the beginning of seven years of occupation and suffering for the country and its people.

Nato's current offensive in the town of Marjah is being
portrayed as a low casualty mission in the "good war" to get
rid of the Taliban.The deaths of the 12 civilians this weekend is a brutal
reminder of the heavy price many Afghans will pay in the
months and years to come

On December 27, in the eastern Kunar region of Afghanistan, ten Afghans, eight of whom were schoolchildren, were dragged from their beds and shot by US forces during a nighttime raid. Afghan government investigators said the eight students were aged from 11 to 17 years.

Almost €10 million has been spent in just three years on protecting US troops passing through Shannon airport on their way to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Was the relentless pressure for displays of the poppy in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday an expression of ethical idealism? asks Eamonn McCann