Fight Back News Service is circulating the following interview that appeared on the website of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Tampa, FL – 60 people gathered outside the office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson at the Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse July 11. They were there to demand Senator Nelson actively support bringing home Tariq Khdeir, the 15-year-old Tampa resident brutally beaten and arrested by Israeli police while in Jerusalem.

St. Paul, MN – About 250 supporters of Palestine rallied here, July 11, to protest Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza. More than 100 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes over the last several days. These air attacks often target homes. There are indications that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza.

San Salvador, El Salvador – Protesters gathered in front of the Israeli embassy in San Salvador on July 11 to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, and to protest against Israel's military assault on Gaza. The protesters waved Palestinian flags and held signs condemning the attack on Palestine. This was the second protest in front of the Israeli embassy here this week.

Minneapolis, MN – Protesters confronted President Obama during an electoral-season fundraising swing through Minneapolis on June 26-27. Immigrant rights, anti-war and environmental groups protested together outside a big-money fundraiser where Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on the evening of June 26.

St. Petersburg, FL – On June 23, thirty activists gathered for a discussion panel on recent threats of U.S. intervention in Iraq. The panel was moderated by local progressive radio station WMNF, and included representatives from organizations like St. Pete for Peace, Green Party, Progressive Democrats of America, Uhuru Solidarity Movement, and the Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice. People asked about US domination of the Middle East and how prolonged military intervention in the region caused the current crises in Iraq and elsewhere.

It is vital that everyone who wants peace with justice raise their voices against another new war on Iraq. This means no troops, no military ‘advisors,’ no drones, no air strikes, no weapons shipments and no financial aid packages. For the last 20-plus years the U.S. government has been either waging a war on Iraq or preparing to wage a war – it time for this to stop once and for all.

Miami, FL – Over two dozen activists gathered at the Torch of Friendship in downtown here, June 21, to rally against U.S. intervention in Iraq. As the news comes out that the Obama administration is considering military action in Iraq, south Florida anti-war activists sent a message that the people of this country are opposed to endless war.

Chicago, IL – 150 people protested President Obama’s threat of a new war on Iraq. Called by the ANSWER Coalition, and involving a number of other groups, including the Anti-War Committee-Chicago, the June 20 protest showed that there is a lot of opposition to U.S. plans.

Minneapolis, MN – Speaking out against a new U.S. war in Iraq was the task of over 50 people who joined an anti-war protest here, June 21, along the sidewalks at Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street, one of the most visible locations in the city on a Saturday afternoon.

Provo, UT- Facing disaster in Iraq, President Obama addressed the rapidly developing conflict in a June 19 address. President Obama claimed, “American troops are not going to be fighting in Iraq again.” However, in the next breath Obama also laid out his plans to expand U.S. intervention.

New York, NY – Anti-war activists joined Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Bashar Jaafari, for a press conference at the U.N. on June 18, at 11:00 a.m. Paul Larudee, Joe Iosbaker, Judy Bello, Scott Williams and Jane Stillwater were observers of the presidential elections in Syria on June 3. They joined official governmental delegations from 11 countries, including Venezuela, Bolivia, Iran and Brazil.

Minneapolis, MN – The organizers of a weekly peace vigil on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue Bridge are urging people to attend the Wednesday, June 18 vigil as an initial way of speaking out against a new U.S. war on Iraq.

Emergency protests being planned

Chicago, IL—With sectarian militants seizing cities and towns across northern Iraq and threatening war on Bagdad, President Obama announced on June 13, “We will not be sending US troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options.” In response, antiwar leaders in the US are speaking out against US intervention and mobilizing people to protest US war moves.

Damascus, Syria – Election observers gathered June 4, the day after election day, to discuss what they had seen and adopted a statement that the elections were democratic and wished the Syrian people a new stage of stability, national unity and reconciliation. Parliamentarians from 11 countries officially participated as observers, including Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and The Philippines. There were also journalists, anti-war and international solidarity activists from Canada, the U.S., Ireland, Pakistan, Malaysia and Bahrain.

Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities area peace and anti-war groups held a protest at the office of Senator Amy Klobuchar, May 30, to respond to President Obama’s announcement that the U.S. plans to leave nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan. Organized under the call of “Zero Troops in Afghanistan – Bring All the Troops, Drones and War Dollars Home Now,” about 25 people joined the picket.

Editors note: Prominent Chicago- based anti-war activist Joe Iosbaker is in route to Damascus, Syria where he will participate in a delegation of observers for the Syrian election’s. Fight Back! will publish commentary by Iosbaker as we receive it.

Damascus, Syria – Ten people from the U.S., Canada and Ireland have traveled to Syria to observe the presidential elections taking place here June 3. Our delegation is mainly anti-war and international solidarity activists who are members of organizations including the International Action Center, Syria Solidarity Committee, the Anti-War Committee-Chicago, the United National Antiwar Coalition and the International Solidarity Movement. We are hosted by a Iranian non-governmental organization, the International Union of Unified Ummah (Muslim community).