'The politics of war'

From an Aug. 19 audio message prepared for September anti-war mobilizations.

We live in an era when war is all but a machine for profit and a mechanism for hyping up nationalism to attract votes. That’s because when you listen to the so-called presidential debates, all you hear is an appeal for more and more war. As if the Iraq war isn’t enough, you now have political candidates of both parties trying to ramp up word wars against Iran.

First come the word wars; then you have the bullets and bombs. Don’t think for a minute that it really matters whether a Republican or Democrat gets elected, for the paymasters behind them both are the same.

The argument between Republicans and Democrats is one of management. Who will manage this madness of imperial war better? When was the last time you voted for an invasion? When was the last time you voted for regime change? When was the last time you voted for bombing?

Yet, mark my words; millions of us are doing exactly that when going into the voting booths in November 2008 and vote for someone who stands for nothing but the status quo.

The status quo is imperialism. And imperialism is naught but unbridled violence and exploitation of the world for corporate profit. In 2004, Sen. John Kerry was poised to crush George W. Bush in the presidential elections.

What happened? Two things. First, Bush and his cronies stole the election by blocking votes in Ohio.

And second, Kerry, by announcing in a debate that he would call for 40,000 more troops for Iraq, squandered what portion of anti-war voters he had attracted. Those many who were opposed to Bush couldn’t bring themselves to vote against him if it meant more troops, more war and more death, so they stayed home.

What will you do in 2008? You can’t get change by voting for the very same thing. You can’t get peace by voting for war. Only the people united can change the direction of this monstrous war machine.

If you wait for politicians, it will be 10 more years and thousands more dead and maimed. If you want change, you have to make it happen. On the move!! Long live John Africa!! And down with imperialist war!! From death row, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.