Marine Vet Hawking Decries Bush's War at West Point Commencement
by New Paltz Nation Editorial Staff

 Howie Hawkins, a Marine Veteran himself, who recently secured the Green Party nomination for candidate of the New York Senate gave a powerful speech to more than the 1,000 Bush protestors gathered outside of the West Point Military Academy this past Sunday to protest President George Bush’ commencement speech to the cadets.

“Our troops are dying and disabled for lies. It's time to support the troops by bringing them home," said Hawkins. “The Green candidate for US Senate joined a contingent of Green Party members who were out in force Saturday along with veterans, military families, and peace groups to condemn the War in Iraq and challenge pro-war candidates like Hillary Clinton. 

           Hawkins called for the immediate withdrawal of US troops in Iraq. "Bush was AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard, just like his WMDs were AWOL from Iraq. The people have been lied to. Our troops are dying and disabled for lies. It's time to support the troops by bring them home."

           A former Marine who once organized opposition to the Vietnam War and co-founder of the Green Party, Hawkins declared, "The problem is not just Bush,” Hawkins said. “The problem is Bushism, which is bipartisan. Pro-war Democrats like Hillary Clinton consistently vote for Bush’s war.  It's time for the peace movement to declare its independence from the two-party system of big business and militarism and support the anti-war Green Party."
 Hawkins added, "Expecting the Democrats to end the war is like expecting the crack addicts to turn in their dealers. The Democrats, like the Republicans, are addicted to the political economics of militarism. They depend on campaign cash from military contractors.  They are afraid to oppose the military contracts the Pentagon strategically places in every state and congressional district in the name of job creation."
 Calling the need for a crash program in renewable energy development “the moral equivalent of war,” Hawkins said, "I have a better idea for job creation and real security. I want to take about half of the military budget -- $300 billion a year -- and invest it in a global public works program for renewable energy. That will create a global engine of job creation and sustainable economic development. It will enhance our national security by spreading good will toward the United States instead of the resentment toward us we are creating with resource wars for oil in Iraq and possible soon Iran.”
 Hawkins said his peace conversion proposal would have several other benefits, including reducing oil imports and the US trade deficit, stabilizing energy costs at an affordable level, and reducing greenhouse gas emission that contribute to global warming. “Converting military spending to renewable energy spending will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in New York retrofitting our buildings, industries, and infrastructure systems for the efficient use of renewable energy systems," Hawkins said. http://www.hawkinsforsenate.org/

Hawkins will share the Green Party slate this November with renowned literary, acting and political activist Malachy McCourt, the unanimously nominated Green Party candidate for New York State Governor and author of several books including “A Monk Swimming” and “The History of Ireland,” also the brother of prize-winning author Frank McCourt of Angela’s Ashes.

The Greens are out in full force this November in New York and plan to make the centrist democrat platforms of their opponents crack and splinter with the cold realities of a misbegotten war and a quick march towards pre-emptive attacks in Iran.

            Susan Zimet, Ulster County Legislator [D-New Paltz] and candidate for the New York State Senator against Republican John Bonacic, was also on hand to protest Bush, the war in Iraq and his the President’s anti-environmental policies. Zimet has been joining forces with people from across the political divide, to ensure the Indian Point Nuclear Plant is shut-down and pledges to continue that battle if elected to the State Senate. To learn more about Zimet, a progressive, pro-choice, anti-war Democrat log onto www.susanzimetforsenate.com

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