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    e     a  a  t      t  h  h e       s     t  a  a  t  e    !!
    eeee  aaaa  t      t  hhhh eeee     ss   t  aaaa  t  eeee !!
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      a forum for anti-authoritarian political opinion, research
                              and humor
         
    ------------------------------------------------------------
     
                     ELECTRONIC TEXT-ONLY VERSION
     
        September 10, 1996        published weekly           #1
     
       In this issue:  
       
       WHY EAT THE STATE!? 
       WHY THE U.S. BOMBING OF IRAQ WAS STUPID, POINTLESS AND ILLEGAL 
       CRACK REPARATIONS 
       THE BILLYBOB CLINTONDOLE SHOW ROLLS INTO TOWN
     
    ------------------------------------------------------------
     
    WHY EAT THE STATE!?
     
         Welcome to this, an initial issue of what we intend to
    be a weekly, four-page forum for--like the masthead
    says--anti-authoritarian political opinion, research, news
    and humor.
         While Seattle already has lots of forest-eating print
    publications, including some very good political ones, it
    doesn't have one that is explicitly anti-statist (by which
    we mean both governments and corporations, which these days
    are essentially the same); explicitly activist; or published
    frequently enough to respond to breaking events, decode the
    news and publicize activist initiatives.  That's what we
    wanna do.  We also think being clearly biased in our
    approach is not only more honest than so-called "objective"
    corporate media, but lots more fun to read.
         Short, frequently published broadsheets, interpreting
    the news of the day in a way the newspaper barons would not,
    were a staple of the radical U.S. labor movement in the late
    19th and early 20th centuries.  They served to link isolated
    communities and provide a voice and soapbox for the
    voiceless.  The "Democracy Wall" writings of China's student
    movement in 1989 filled a similar function.  On a more
    modest scale, that's what we hope to do, too:  avoid
    rhetoric, make the issues of the day relevant to our daily
    lives, get the word out, inspire, have fun, and encourage
    each other to think for ourselves and look beyond what
    self-interested corporations and governments hand to us.
     
    OUR MISSION STATEMENT
     
    Missions were used by the Spanish to colonize Mexican
    California in the 18th century.  Their establishment was
    instrumental in the genocide of California's native peoples.
     
    We oppose them. 
     
    WHY THE U.S. BOMBING OF IRAQ WAS STUPID, POINTLESS AND
    ILLEGAL
     
         Okay, first, let's see if we can condense into a
    paragraph some of that complicated background information
    that the networks and our local daily papers didn't have
    time to tell you.  
     
         Kurdistan, home of ethnic Kurds, was divided by
    colonial powers early this century into land now belonging 
    to Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and a handful of former Soviet
    republics.  Power in the portion of Kurdistan within Iraq's 
    borders is divided primarily among two factions, hostile to 
    each other and both hostile to Saddam Hussein.  One faction
    got lots of arms from Iran recently and started to attack 
    and overrun the other.  Fearing for their lives, the other 
    side asked their enemy, Hussein, to intervene and restore 
    the original balance.  Responding to a request from Iraqi 
    citizens, who were under attack from a foreign-supplied 
    army, Hussein moved some of his troops into the area, 
    resecured it, and withdrew.
     
         The United States responded, without help or approval
    from the U.N. or any other country in the world (save Great
    Britain's faithful lapdog, John Major), by bombing the hell
    out of military and civilian targets in a different part of 
    Iraq.
     
         The U.S. action would be absurd were it not so
    dangerous and tragic.  There are nearly as many objections
    as there are U.S. media outlets refusing to list them.  To
    name some of the more obvious:
         1) Hussein had every right to do what he did;
         2) The action involves the U.S. in a complicated
    Kurdish ethnic quagmire, ala Bosnia, for no particular
    reason;
         3) The action escalates tensions in the area by
    introducing another non-neutral force;
         4) The "message" the U.S. sent to Hussein would have in
    no way influenced his actions, nor will it change future
    ones - it just killed some hapless Iraqi civilians;
         5) The U.S. ignored and refused to cooperate with
    previous chances to negotiate a non-military solution;
         6) The U.S. has hung the Kurds (and pro-democracy
    forces in Iraq) out to dry so many times in the last five
    years that its claim to want to help now is transparently
    silly;
         7) The air strike enters the U.S. into a defacto
    alliance with Iran.  Remember Iran?  They blew up some
    Marines in Saudi Arabia recently;
         8) The cost of any of those cruise missiles the U.S.
    fired (45 that we know of) would have restored the school
    lunch program.  The overall cost of this exercise in
    missile-wagging could have restored a lot of the welfare,
    education and human needs programs gutted in the name of
    fiscal distress;
         9) What are we doing in that part of the world anyway?;
        10) War is inherently evil; and
        11) "Gee, I sure hope this doesn't hurt Bill Clinton's
    standing in the polls during an election campaign."
     
         On top of this idiocy, one of those infamous "unnamed
    senior White House officials" announced over the weekend
    that while they'd gone north, Hussein's troops had also
    interrupted and put the final coup de grace to an already
    disintegrating, six-year-long CIA plot to overthrow and
    assassinate the Iraqi leader.
     
         This leaves one with the distinct impression that
    Clinton's bombing of Southern Iraq had nothing to do with
    the Kurds, and everything to do with the U.S. throwing a
    temper tantrum because its expensive, secret, illegal
    conspiracy to assassinate the leader of a country of 20
    million people got spiked.
     
         Nearly as shameful as the bombing itself was the
    appalling chorus of unanimity that followed from virtually
    every elected official, network and pundit in the U.S. 
    One doesn't even have to agree with any of the above points
    to concede that some are worth considering, but nowhere in
    any official circles was Clinton's attack debated.  In
    crowing her approval, Sen. Patty Murray expressed relief
    that the Dole and Clinton campaigns had not turned the
    murder of Iraqi civilians for no particular reason into "a
    political issue."  (You know, like it was in the rest of the
    world.) 
     
         To his partial credit, Slade Gorton cast the only
    dissenting vote against the Senate resolution endorsing
    Clinton's crime.  Gorton noted, correctly, that the air
    strikes were a meaningless gesture.  (His solution,
    predictably, is better bombing.)
     
         A morning-after poll showed 80% U.S. public approval of
    the air raids.  It sounds discouraging until you realize
    that virtually noone in the U.S. had heard anything but
    official U.S. government versions (back in the days of the
    U.S.S.R. we called this "propaganda") regarding the events;
    and still, 20%--that's some 50 million people--were
    skeptical.  Their concerns were totally and completely
    excluded from both the halls of government and the media
    that covers them.  So much for the two-party system, and the
    free unfettered press.
     
         One more note:  part of the reason the opposition
    didn't make news was not just that politicians weren't on
    board; the folks who were appalled weren't loud enough. 
    There was a day-after demonstration at Seattle's Federal
    Building at which every major news operation in town was
    present--along with fewer than 100 people.  If even a
    reasonable fraction of the folks pissed off at these events
    had shown up, it could have, at least locally, sent a
    powerful message that the politicos were out of touch and
    out of line.  Instead, it made opponents of a random act of
    war look marginal and isolated; a truly lost opportunity.
     
         What can we do?  Murray and Gorton should still hear
    about their failure to offer even basic skepticism on the
    issue, and their support for sanctions that have already
    killed over half a million Iraqi children in five years
    (according to a U.N. report released early this year to
    deafening silence in the U.S. media); if the bombing
    resumes, there should be thousands at the Federal Building
    next time; and we need to become organized enough that when
    these things happen we all know how to find out when and
    where to go and what to do to have maximum impact.  And then
    do it.
     
         Oh, and about that assassination plot:  it's long past
    time to abolish the CIA.  And the entire National Security
    Act apparatus (the secret agencies and "black budget" that
    the CIA is only a tiny part of) along with it.
     
    CRACK REPARATIONS
     
         While on the topic of war crimes and the CIA, recent
    relevations that the CIA, in the early '80s, was largely
    responsible for the introduction of crack into U.S. inner
    cities as a means of funding its Contra wars in Nicaragua
    have also not yet been picked up by the networks, "official"
    newspapers like the NY Times and Washington Post, and most
    other mainstream media.  Call, write, fax, e-mail, ask them
    why not.
     
         The original series of articles appeared three weeks
    ago in the San Jose Mercury News; locally, the Seattle Times
    (owned by the same company) reprinted some of the material. 
    All of it--along with original court and government
    documents and lots of other damning material--is posted at a
    web site, http://www.sjmercury.com/drugs/start.html, and is
    well worth the read.
     
         Gary Webb, the reporter who single-handedly broke the
    story (and deserves at least a Pulitzer, if not a Medal of
    Honor, for his efforts), was on Dave Ross's KIRO radio talk
    show last week and made a number of additional good points. 
    His articles trace the CIA's west coast crack supply network
    from the street level backward through the CIA to Central
    and South America; he noted on air that Demopublicans are
    all culpable in the matter, since it was Reagan's war
    (backed by Dole) and the east coast network ran through
    Mena, Arkansas, while Bill Clinton was governor (and killed
    an investigation).  Webb listed other reporters who got part
    of the story over the last ten years (including two AP
    reporters and the Christic Institute) and were crushed by
    the feds as a result.  He, and his paper, are banking on the
    advent of the Internet as protection now against a similar
    fate--by posting the extensive documentation they hope to
    avoid being stigmatized as crackpots.  And Webb noted quite
    correctly that this is what the government most fears about
    the Internet, and why the current Net censorship efforts
    represent only a foot in the door in its dangerous effort to
    suppress the free flow of information.
     
         In many cities, including Seattle, groups have sprung
    up to demand government reparations to the primarily black
    communities ravaged by CIA-introduced crack.  It's not as
    outlandish as it sounds; reparations are a standard
    punishment when governments are found to have engaged in war
    crimes, and this surely qualifies.  In Seattle, contact the
    Alliance For Reparation to the People and Communities
    Victimized By CIA Crack:  (206) 325-6746 or 527-7055.
     
    THE BILLYBOB CLINTONDOLE SHOW ROLLS INTO TOWN
     
         Both the Iraq debacle and the ugly CIA crack story add
    yet more examples--as if we needed them after the garish
    farces in San Diego and Chicago--of the essentially
    indistinguishable nature of the two major political parties
    and their current candidates for President.  Other examples
    include, but are not limited to:  free trade; trashing the
    environment; attacking civil liberties; slashing welfare and
    food stamps; scapegoating youth, minorities and immigrants;
    lavishing excess billions on the Pentagon; expanding the
    death penalty; tripling the prison population; queer-
    bashing; conservative court appointments; hostility to
    campaign reform; rolling back affirmative action; and, of
    course, an obsessive love of corporate welfare.  Indeed,
    meaningful differences between Democrat and Republican seem
    to occur these days only when no significant money is
    involved.
     
         Clinton will be in Seattle next week (Wednesday the
    18th) to accept bribes--er, raise money--and campaign. 
    There will be a $10,000 a plate dinner at Columbia Tower,
    and an evening fundraiser at the Paramount.  And, a
    Citizens-Against-Tweedledum event is being organized by a
    number of local activist groups to draw attention to our
    one-party corporate state and urge people to reclaim a
    political process that's supposed to belong to us.  Spread
    the word!  There's a planning meeting Thursday evening at
    Central Area Motivation Project (722 18th Ave. in the C.D.)
    at 7:00 PM; there are flyers available and much work to be
    done.  To plug in call 547-0952.  
     
         On the 18th, gather at 6:00 P.M. at Westlake Park
    downtown, and be prepared to make a lot of noise.  The real
    spectrum in U.S. politics is not the meaningless pseudo-
    debates between left and right; it is the chasm between the
    wealthy and all the rest of us.  They've got the money, but
    we've got the numbers; let's use those numbers.  Be there!
     
    RECLAIM OUR HISTORY
     
    Sep. 11.  1973:  CIA overthrows democratically elected
    government of Chile, assassinating Pres. Salvador Allende
    and many others.  Sixteen years of repressive U.S.-supported
    military rule follow.
    Sep. 12.  1970:  Comandos Armados Liberacion bombs U.S.
    Governors Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
    Sep. 13.  1982:  European Parliament votes to phase out
    promotion and advertising of war toys.
    Sep. 15.  1963:  Six children attending Sunday School are
    killed in a KKK bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church. 
    Birmingham, Alabama.
              1981:  Blockade starts at nuclear power plant
    construction site, Diablo Canyon, Calif.  Over two weeks,
    1,901 are arrested in the largest occupation of a nuclear
    power site in U.S. history.
    Sep. 16.  1910:  Mexican revolution ends U.S.-supported
    dictatorship of Portolio Diaz.
              1991:  Philippine Senate defeats treaty allowing
    continued operation of U.S. military bases in the
    Philippines.
     
    ACTIVIST CALENDAR
     
    Sep. 10.  7 P.M., 5519A Univ. Way NE, Open House Kickoff
    Party for Nader '96 Presidential Campaign.  527-8937.
    Sep. 12.  7 P.M., at Central Area Youth & Family Services. 
    Presentation of Felony Traffic Stops & protecting our youth
    against police assaults.  Sponsored by Mothers Against
    Police Harassment, 329-2033.
    Sep. 12.  7 P.M., CAMP, 722 18th Ave., planning meeting for
    VOTE WITH YOUR FEET protest at Bill Clinton's Seattle Visit.
    NACC & many others.  547-0952.
    Sep. 13.  12:30-1:30 Federal Building, 2nd & Madison.  SAVE
    OUR HOMES rally to protest cuts in federal funding for
    housing.  Sponsored by Seattle Tenants Union & others. 
    Info:  Siobang Ring, 722-6848.
    Sep. 15.  4-6 P.M. Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 901 Stewart. 
    City Council Candidate forum on housing & homelessness
    issues.  Harass these people; City Council desperately needs
    a voice that will stand up to developers and landlords. 
    523-2569.
    Sep. 17.  Primary election day.  Eat the State! recommends: 
    lunch.
    Sep. 18.  VOTE WITH YOUR FEET at Bill Dole's--or was that
    Bob Clinton's?--visit.  6 PM at Westlake Park, 4th & Pine. 
    547-0952.
     
    For an excellent and much, much longer weekly compilation of
    upcoming and ongoinng progressive events in Seattle, check
    out Jean Buskin's Peace Calendar. 
    http://weber.u.washington.edu/~buskin or e-mail her at
    bb369@scn.org
     
     
    QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  "I confess that I cannot understand how
    we can plot, lie, cheat and commit murder abroad and remain
    humane, honorable, trustworthy and trusted at home." -
    Archibald Cox, former Nixon cabinet member
     
     
    The tiny print:  EAT THE STATE! is a shamelessly biased
    political journal.  We want an end to poverty, exploitation,
    imperialism, militarism, racism, sexism, heterosexism,
    environmental destruction, television, and large ugly
    buildings, and we want it fucking now.  We are not
    affiliated with any political group or party.  We publish
    EAT THE STATE! as a way of sharing information, resources,
    opinions, and hopefully inspiring ACTION in our community. 
    Please help!
         EAT THE STATE! is published and distributed weekly in
    Western Washington.  We welcome articles, letters, comments,
    feedback and success stories.  Write us at EAT THE STATE!,
    P.O. Box 85541, Seattle WA  98145; or email ets@scn.org.
         EAT THE STATE! is edited by Geov Parrish; layout and
    production assistance is provided by Northwest Forest Action
    Network, Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia, and
    Catalytic Communications.  All rights are cast to the wind;
    feel free to reproduce.  We'd appreciate it if you credit
    us, and let us know, when you quote or reprint our stuff.
         Subscriptions by mail to EAT THE STATE! are available
    for $13 for 26 weeks or $24 for one year.  E-mail
    subscriptions, in text-only format, are free.  Donations are
    welcome; if you value publications like EAT THE STATE!,
    support us, because we're always money-hemorrhaging
    propositions.  ETS! is supported in part by donations from
    readers like you, and in part from redirection of resisted
    federal taxes donated by people who in conscience refuse to
    willingly pay for militarism and class warfare.  We accept
    paid advertising only from enterprises which actively work
    to further our goals of a vibrant, decentralized, free
    society.  EAT THE STATE! is also distributed free at
    numerous outlets in Western Washington, and will be
    available at a web site as soon as we can figure the damn
    thing out.