This war came at a perfect time for the U.S. government and war profiteering corporations. Just as military operations in Afghanistan were ramping down and there seemed to be fewer excuses to keep producing the weapons for war at current levels, a new war appeared in which U.S. soldiers are safe, but U.S. weapon manufacturers keep raking in the profits.

Exploded House in Borodyanka, Ukraine. Photo by Алесь Усцінаў from Pexels.

In April, the Pentagon hosted representatives from the top 8 U.S. weapon manufacturers to discuss whether they could meet demand for a war in Ukraine that may last years. Yes, the U.S. and its weapon manufacturers are planning for a war that will continue the hellish conditions in Ukraine for years. And the longer this war continues, the more likely that a line will be crossed leading to a direct war between Russia and the United States.

You probably already know that the largest-funded military in the world belongs to the U.S., whose military budget surpasses the budgets of the next nine highest-funded militaries combined. On a weekly basis—and often on a daily basis—the U.S. military is killing civilians using drones. This has not stopped during the war in Ukraine.

Although U.S. imperialism does not normally make headlines on the evening news, it is a reality that affects countless lives around the globe. With the help of the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee’s (NWTRCC’s) wonderful resources, I have been able to refuse the payment of taxes that fund this imperialism for over 20 years. War tax resistance is also giving me tools to refuse paying for the kind of “aid” that sends billions of dollars of U.S. weapons to Ukraine and other war-torn regions.

I first discovered NWTRCC when I joined the Milwaukee Catholic Worker in 1998. Their bookshelf contained a copy of each practical booklet published by NWTRCC. A year later, attended my first NWTRCC conference, where I met some wonderful people from all over the United States who were refusing to pay for war. Although the conferences continue, most folks discover our literature online, with NWTRCC’s website receiving visits from 40,000 unique visitors each year.

I am very proud to be part of NWTRCC’s 40 year history, as well as part of the rich and diverse history of war tax resistance that spans diverse peoples and cultures throughout human history. If you are interested in learning more about war tax resistance, NWTRCC’s resources are all freely available at www.nwtrcc.org.

[Editor’s Note: This article was previous published in the summer 2022 edition of the Servant Song, the newspaper of the Agape Community in Ware, Massachusetts.]

Post by Lincoln Rice

The post U.S. Weapons, Ukraine, and War Tax Resistance first appeared on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

The post U.S. Weapons, Ukraine, and War Tax Resistance appeared first on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

Afghan vineyard worker from Flickr

In the New York Times article The Salvaged Relics of a Very Long War: Shops Near Vacated Afghanistan Base Sell Vestiges of US Presence describes how Bagram, surrounded by grape vineyards, has an economy based on the refuse of two superpowers over the past 40 years. The article mentions that even the US Special Inspector General does not know how many firearms were sent to Afghanistan or if there are more American M16s than Russian Kalashnikovs. In some places, Afghan troops have surrendered to insurgent groups because they do not have ammunition. 

“As they left, the Americans demolished things like armored cars and more than 15,000 other pieces of equipment deemed excess property, a catchall that allows US forces to destroy items so that they are not sold by the Afghans for profit.” Still some who have been left behind in the ravages of war were able to gather some of the spoils/ scraps of war to sell to try and make a living or to preserve life. 

During a press conference later in the day after US troops left Afghanistan, President Biden cut off a question on the issue saying, “I want to talk about happy things,” which for him meant the US jobs report. When asked about concerns about the US pulling out troops, Biden said “Look, we were in that war for 20 years. Twenty years. The Afghans are going to have to be able to do it themselves with the Air Force they have.”  The US has offered to support the Afghan troops with teleconferences and drones from afar. 

As with many of the wars, the US government has depended upon the US people to be unaware or apathetic about the fighting. Former Air Force analyst, Daniel Hale was concerned that the US public was not getting important  information about the nature and extent of US drone warfare. He had worked for the National Security Agency at Bagram Air Force Base and could not distinguish who was being targeted in drone attacks. He released information to the public and is facing sentencing on July 27 on charges related to whistle-blowing. He was appealing to the conscience of the people of the US responsible for growing numbers of civilian casualties from drone airstrikes. 

Syracuse Cultural Workers Barbara Lee quote

Fortunately, throughout all of the history of wars, there have been people raising awareness and resisting wars; cutting through rhetoric about ‘good wars’ and other ways of distancing from the impacts of war.  In the US, we are in a unique position with the largest portion of our taxes going to war to resist these taxes in ways that are not as easily done in other parts of the world. Barbara Lee, who was the sole vote against the authorization of use of force following the September 11 attacks, has recently introduced legislation that would reduce funding to the Pentagon. While she has acknowledged that it may not be passed this year she states, “we cannot continue to prioritize funding for a department known for its waste, fraud, abuse, and failure to pass an audit—especially when the money to ‘protect national security’ is failing to protect our most vulnerable citizens.”

Post by Chrissy Kirchhoefer

The post Left in the Dark: $2 Trillion and Counting… first appeared on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

The post Left in the Dark: $2 Trillion and Counting… appeared first on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

FDR memorial from wikimedia

Brown University’s Costs of War project published a report Afghanistan’s Rising Civilian Death Toll Due to Airstrikes 2017-2019. The study reports that from the end of the Obama administration to the last year that information is available from the Trump administration, that the number of civilians killed by US led airstrikes increased by 330%.  After the Trump administration relaxed the rules of engagement with regard to airstrikes, 3,800 Afghan civilians killed in 2018 alone. That time also saw an increase in military spending from $580 billion in 2016 to $713 billion in 2020.  

In Trump’s Pernicious Military Legacy, Michael Klare writes that Trump inherited the Global War on Terror, a seemingly endless wars throughout the globe while Biden will inherit a shift that some refer to the “Great Power Competition.” He writes “The posture he’s bequeathing to Joe Biden is almost entirely focused on defeating China and Russia in future ‘high-end’ conflicts waged directly against those two countries—fighting that would undoubtedly involve high-tech conventional weapons on a staggering scale and could easily trigger nuclear war.”  

Money and War from Flickr

While the path ahead may appear to position the U.S. against China and Russia, the reliance on covert operations will increasingly be a larger part of U.S. military strategy as evidenced by spending. Just this past week the Army Times wrote, “Congress plans to raise funding by 50 percent for the obscure authorities used by U.S. special operations forces to counter adversaries in foreign countries through irregular warfare, according to the defense bill approved by both the U.S. House and Senate, but still pending the president’s approval.” These programs use U.S. Special Operational Forces in “grey zones” outside of traditional armed conflicts like island developments in the South China Sea and differs from a similar program that uses surrogate forces in places like Africa that has seen increased funding in the past decade.

In These Times, Sarah Lazare wrote a timely article “Congress is Deadlocked on Covid Relief But Came Together To Fund the Pentagon for $740 Billion: There is always money for war.” She states, “The so-called ​’War on Ter­ror’ has turned the whole plan­et into a U.S. bat­tle­field, and now the Unit­ed States is plan­ning to inten­si­fy its mil­i­ta­riza­tion of the Asia-Pacif­ic region in order to esca­late against Chi­na, which the cur­rent National Defense Authorization Act reflects, with bipar­ti­san sup­port. That we can find the mon­ey for war but not for coro­n­avirus relief expos­es the moral rot at the cen­ter of U.S. pol­i­tics, a rot that must be dug out and expunged if we are to get through this crisis.”

Jeremy Scahill wrote an article about the Biden administration’s appointments and what they seem to indicate for the incoming president in Biden is the Perfect Figure for the National Security Establishment.  “There is a consensus among the old establishment Democrats and Republicans that militarism and the myths of American exceptionalism are eternal, nonpartisan truths. In their eyes, a team of rivals doesn’t include leftists. It is a tactical or strategic rivalry among a handful of camps within the same war party about how best to conduct imperial policy.”

Many are looking towards putting pressure on the Biden administration by focusing on the first 100 days in office. The Poor People’s Campaign has created 14 Priorities to Heal the Nation.  #13 states “Redirect the Bloated Pentagon Budget toward these Priorities as a Matter of National Security.”

Poor People’s Campaign 14 Point Policy for Biden’s first 100 days

Post by Chrissy Kirchhoefer

The post Hindsight, Looking Forward with 2020 Vision first appeared on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

The post Hindsight, Looking Forward with 2020 Vision appeared first on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

Below is our press release for tax day. Feel free to adjust it for your own use. If you are having a tax day action, but have not alerted the NWTRCC office, please email the details to nwtrcc@nwtrcc.org, or use the online form. As stated in the press release, we are asking war tax resisters to make their present felt online on April 15th, by posting the call: “Don’t Pay for War!” and using the hashtags, #NoTaxes4War and #NWTRCC. You can post a picture of yourself with a homemade sign or use the ready-made graphic, which can be found here. When posting a picture or graphic, please let folks know they can find out more info about WTR at nwtrcc.org and also write in, “#NoTaxes4War #NWTRCC.” Writing these “hashtags” with your message will mean that anyone can find your post on Facebook or Twitter by searching “#NoTaxes4War” or “#NWTRCC.”

In Resistance,

Lincoln

Press Release 2020

Tax Day 2020

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2020
National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC)
Contact: Lincoln Rice, Coordinator
800-269-7464 (262-399-8217) or nwtrcc@nwtrcc.org

Tax Day Protests Demand End to the War on the Environment
War tax resisters redirect tax dollars from the Pentagon to People

Calling for an end to endless war on people and the environment, activists are calling for funding for people and the planet. Thousands of people across the United States—from San Diego to Manhattan—are pushing an online protest campaign on Wednesday, April 15. In this past, local actions featured public hearings on an immoral budget, flying kites instead of drones, and “Burma shave” sign displays during rush hour. These actions may be re-instituted on July 15, the day on which taxes and tax forms are due this year. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, these activists will make their present felt online on April 15th, by posting the call: “Don’t Pay for War!” and using the hashtags, #NoTaxes4War and #NWTRCC.

War Tax Resisters will post this graphic online for Tax Day (April 15).

Or take a picture of themselves with a sign! Photo by Ed Hedemann.

The proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2021 aims to take our country in the wrong direction. Noticeably missing in Trump’s $3.5 trillion proposed budget is any mention of funding to combat climate change. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency would face a 26% decrease in funding with 50 programs facing elimination. This is worsened by the fact the U.S. military is the number one institutional user of oil in the world, burning about 240,000 barrels of oil each day. The U.S. military can afford to exert this environmental harm because approximately 50% of federal income taxes are directed to past, present, and future military spending.

“Where You Income Tax Money Really Goes” War Resister League Pie Chart

This massive proposed budget also includes about $2 trillion in cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid, student loan programs, federal housing assistance, food stamps, and federal disability insurance.

This is all in addition to increased funding for the militarized Custom and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which terrorize our immigrant communities with raids and inhumanely separating families. Additionally, the Department of Defense has already transferred $4.3 billion in military equipment to local law enforcement agencies. Militarized police are deployed more in Black, brown, and indigenous neighborhoods and often act like an occupying army.

Often forgotten is the growing use of drone warfare. According the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, there were 1,878 drone strikes during Obama’s eight years in office. During Trump’s first three years in office, there have been 11,760 drone strikes. Since 2002, there have been 8,850 to 16,800 drone deaths, including 900 to 2,200 civilian deaths.

The explicit focus of federal income taxes being utilized for the killing of human beings and the destruction of the environment while programs to address human needs face steep cuts is unacceptable.

Not waiting for the government to act, many activists will openly refuse to pay their taxes to the IRS and will instead redirect those funds to humanitarian programs. Bill Glassmire of Corvallis, Oregon, says, “I am resisting war taxes in order to redirect resources away from U.S. militarism and routine violence and toward building a peaceful and healthy earth.”

In Berkeley, California, members of Northern California People’s Life Fund will redirect $50,000 in resisted war taxes. They received grant applications earlier this spring and will announce the names of the groups receiving $2,500 grants around April 15. They prioritize “essential day-to day human services which the government is not adequately furnishing, together with educational or other work that identifies and seeks to change the root causes of the problem.” The group was founded by war tax resisters in 1971 to pool their resisted war taxes. People’s Life Fund member Susan Quinlan says, “There are so many excellent groups that are working to protect families, communities, and the natural environment, and we are delighted to support these efforts. With U.S. military spending surpassing $1 trillion, we invite others to imagine what good could come from redirecting these military funds on a grand scale.”

The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) has coordinated tax day actions since 1983. NWTRCC is a coalition of local, regional and national groups providing information and support to people who are conscientious objectors to paying taxes for war. NWTRCC partners with the Global Days of Action on Military Spending coordinated from Barcelona, Spain to join protests of war spending in the U.S. with a demand for global disarmament and a shift in priorities to sustainable development.

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Resources:

War tax resisters are available for interviews. Please contact NWTRCC, 1-800-269-7464, nwtrcc@nwtrcc.org, for contacts in your area.

“Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes” — War Resisters League pie chart, https://www.warresisters.org/resources/wrl-pie-chart-flyers-where-your-income-tax-money-really-goes

Global Day of Action on Military Spending, http://demilitarize.org/

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism — Drone Warfare
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/projects/drone-war

The post Tax Day Press Release 2020 first appeared on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

The post Tax Day Press Release 2020 appeared first on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

Photo by Ed Hedemann

There have been a couple news stories in March about American military drones.

On 6 March 2019, Trump signed an executive order ending the requirement that CIA officials “report civilian deaths in drone attacks outside active war zones.” Trump referred to the requirement as a distraction. Obama put the requirement in place in 2016, during the last year of his presidency. (The Pentagon is still required to report civilian deaths to Congress, but the CIA program is responsible for covert drone strikes outside of war zones.)

According the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, there were 1,878 drone strikes during Obama’s eight years in office, which was a dramatic increase compared to the drone use by George W. Bush. During Trump’s first two years in office, there have been 2,243 drone strikes. There have been 6,786 confirmed drone attacks since 2004, resulting in 8,000 to 12,000 deaths. Included in this number are about 800 to 1,700 civilians and about 250 to 400 children. Though, as Intercept journalist Jeremy Scahill notes in this latest podcast, we really have no idea how many people have been killed. The numbers provided by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism are based on what they have been able to discover.

This past month, there has also been great publicity about Amazon, which also owns Whole Foods, seeking a $10 billion Pentagon JEDI (Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure) contract to build a global surveillance and targeting system. According to the Pentagon, this system will greatly increase the “lethality” of the U.S. military. The purpose of this contract is the move the Pentagon’s information technology infrastructure to the cloud. This is not a new idea. Amazon already holds the $600 million cloud contract for the CIA.

According to Truthout, “JEDI is intended to not only improve information sharing, but to dramatically increase the US military’s ability to collect and sort through huge amounts of surveillance information from many, many sources on individuals and groups—governmental and non-governmental—around the world. This will be part of a process of using artificial intelligence and algorithms to identify probable targets for killing.”

Essentially, once JEDI is in place, the Pentagon will be able to collect and analyze information to be able to find and target potential drones targets at a much increased rate. The result will be a tremendous increase in killing. These targets could be determined simply by patterns of behavior without any legitimate proof that someone is a terrorist. This has already been documented with a journalist who was placed on the terrorist death list because of contacts made with known terrorists.

What is the proper response to all this? Should we boycott Amazon? I would not blame someone for doing so, especially when one considers how they treat their employees. But it should be remembered that Google and Microsoft also have government military contracts. Apple produces microchip processors that are used in missiles. Basically, anyone with a cell phone or computer is probably supporting companies with military contracts.

Although actions need to be taken to end the contracts that these companies have with the U.S. military, war tax resistance is one the clearest options. I cannot reconcile boycotting certain American companies that are benefiting from military contracts while voluntary paying taxes to the federal government that pays those contracts.

Post by Lincoln Rice

The post Increasing “Lethality” of Drones first appeared on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.

The post Increasing “Lethality” of Drones appeared first on National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.