Sanctioning 'Peace': US Labels Non-Profits 'Threats' While Funding War
📰 THE STORY: Newsweek reports on US sanctions and visa barriers imposed on members of a 'Board of Peace' for allegedly engaging in activities 'detrimental' to US interests. The article treats these actions as legitimate responses to nebulous threats, without questioning the underlying motivations or the legitimacy of the 'peace' group. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US
has a long history of targeting peace movements and anti-war activists, particularly those challenging its foreign policy. During the McCarthy era (1950s), the State Department denied passports to hundreds of Americans deemed 'subversive,' including Nobel laureate Linus Pauling, for international peace efforts. More recently, organizations advocating for Palestinian rights, recognized by
international bodies as human rights defenders, face similar vilification and financial blockades, often under the guise of counter-terrorism. Double Standard: While individuals and groups promoting peace and challenging US foreign policy face severe sanctions and travel restrictions, individuals known for promoting war, arms sales, and coup attempts often enjoy privileged access to US
institutions. For instance, former US officials with direct roles in the 2003 Iraq invasion – a war that destabilized an entire region and killed hundreds of thousands – face no such sanctions, instead often enjoying lucrative positions in media or defense industries. Similarly, groups openly lobbying for increased military spending and intervention, like AIPAC, face no scrutiny, having