The War Comes to Walpole

A touching piece by Emily Rooney on the memorial service for Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich (27), and on the activities in Walpole and Norwood this morning, on Greater Boston: "First Lt. Andrew Bacevich - who was killed in Iraq last week - is buried today. We discuss the impact of the war on Massachusetts".

The video piece preceeds an interesting discussion between Ms. Rooney and two academics (from Tufts and the Kennedy School).

Walpole Mourns Lt. Col. Andrew Bacevich
direct link to vieo

More tributes in the MMS:
Video from WBZ-TV
Video from NECN
Story w/ video on WCVB

Story w/ audio on WBUR
Here and Now on WBUR
OnPoint on WBUR

There are a few articles from the Globe here:
"A somber service in Norwood for a fallen soldier"
"Following war tragedy, son and father revered"
"BU professor creates scholarship fund in memory of son killed in Iraq"
"Rescinding the Bush Doctrine (by Andrew J. Bacevich)"

Offer support here: "Guest Book for Andrew J. Bacevich"

From the National Desk at the New York Times:
Former Soldier, Now a Professor, Loses His Only Son to a War He Actively Opposed"

And coverage from the Herald:
"Hundreds line streets for fallen soldier"

And a few write-ups in The Daily Transcript:

"Hundreds line streets for fallen soldier"
"Mournful morning"
"His father staunch critic of war"

From the blogosphere:
Stram - done that: "They gave it all"
Free Our Fobbits: "Correspondence on Bachevich's death"
Jules Crittenden - Forward Movement: "Beloved Son"
ToughEnough.org: "Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich, 27, of Walpole, Mass."
Jeff Egnaczyk - boonville blog: "RIP, Andrew Bacevich"
Steve Clemons - TMP Cafe: "What is Andrew Bacevich's Son's Life Worth?"

A day of sorrow; a day Walpole will clearly remember for some time. It was amazing to see all the support downtown; obviously, Lt Bacevich's service and sacrifice have touched many. Our condolences to the Bacevich family.

Press Release Joe Gerson Talk May 8th

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is sponsoring a talk by Joseph Gerson on his new book “Empire and the Bomb: How the U.S. Uses Nuclear Weapons to Dominate the World”. The talk will be held at the Walpole Public Library, May 8th, at 7:30 PM. Joseph Gerson will show how the U.S. has repeatedly used the threat of a first strike nuclear attack to bolster our foreign policy and imperial ambitions. This policy of using nuclear weapons to threaten other countries has only served to drive the proliferation of nuclear weapons with these countries attempting to acquire their own weapons. Every U.S. president since President Truman has used the threat of nuclear weapons. Over 12 of these threats have been made in regard to the Middle East. For example, the U.S. has made implicit threats of using ‘bunker-buster” atomic bombs to destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

In his talk, Joseph Gerson will give a history of the U.S. nuclear weapon policy, from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the present standoff with North Korea and Iran. He will also give a history of the anti-nuclear movement. He will show the difference between “arms control” and “nuclear weapons abolition” and why it is imperative that nuclear weapons be abolished. The talk is particularly timely given the part that the alleged nuclear weapon threat played in initiating the war with Iraq as well as the current crisis over North Korea’s and Iran’s quest for developing nuclear weapons.

Joseph Gerson is the Director of Programs of the American Friends Service Committee in New England and a leading figure in the U.S. peace movement. He has spoken at over 70 colleges and at international conferences like the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima, the Japan Peace Conference in Sasebo, and the Swedish Peace Council. He is the author of several books and it is a great honor to have him speak in Walpole. The public is invited. There will be a book-signing after the talk.

Philip