Just Security just published the piece: “How Obama’s Drones Rulebook Enabled Trump.” Last week, the New York Times reported: “Trump Poised to Drop Some Limits on Drone Strikes and Commando Raids.”
Syracuse.com reports that: “Seven drone protesters were arrested Monday morning at the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in DeWitt.
“The Upstate Drone Action protesters blocked the entrance to the base with several large signs and banners, and refused to remove them.
“‘Officers from the base came out and told us to leave, and when we didn’t, we were arrested,’ Upstate Drone Action founding member Ed Kinane said. ‘We’re trying to make a statement about the war crimes being committed at the air base with drones that kill human beings.’ …
“Those charged were: Ann Tiffany, of Syracuse; Dan Burgevin, of Trumansburg; Kinane, of Syracuse; Harry Murray, of Rochester; Julienne Oldfield, of Syracuse; Mark Scibilia-Carver, of Trumansburg; and Rae Kramer, of Syracuse.
“The protesters said they placed a ‘huge dollar sign dripping with blood in the main entrance way to the base.
“‘The six-foot high dollar signs dramatize what the group believes determines the many overseas wars the Pentagon/CIA engages in: Corporate greed,’ Upstate Drone Action said in a news release announcing the arrests.
“In 2010, the Hancock base became the site of the 174th Attack Wing of the National Guard’s MQ-9 Reaper drone operations and the first to have an MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft squadron. The drones have missions in Afghanistan and elsewhere.”
The following are among the activists available for interviews:
ED KINANE, edkinane340 at gmail.com
JUDY BELLO, judith at papillonweb.net, @elladabella13
See the news release from Upstate Drone Action. Julienne Oldfield said: “The Hancock Reaper terrorizes whole communities, generating desperate refugees.” Mark Scibilia-Carver adds that “U.S. taxpayers fund this terrorism keeping the pot boiling and creating enormous ill will toward the United States — instead of funding health, education and infrastructure here.” Video of protest is on YouTube.
See by Norman Solomon from earlier this year: “Killer Drones in the Empire State.”
See pieces on Truthout by Kinane, including “Weaponized Drones And The Phony ‘War On Terror.'”
