Remember International ANSWER?

Anyone remember International ANSWER? Galvanizing Americans' ambivalence on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, they originally attracted tens of thousands to their San Francisco rallies. But San Franciscans aren't stupid, and ANSWER was unmasked fairly quickly. San Francisco ANSWER, under the leader of Richard Becker is strongly rooted in the Workers World Party, a tiny vestigial organ of the Communist party.

From Sf Gate:

The Workers World Party and Richard Becker, a party leader and leader of International Answer, have defended Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, Kim Jong Il of North Korea, Milosevic -- who is on trial at the Hague for war crimes -- and Chinese leaders who put down the 1989 "counter-revolution" in Tiananmen Square.

International ANSWER rallies became huge hate fests filled with anti-American and anti-Semitism symbolism. People kept away in droves. ANSWER became less and less relevant, attracting only the most extreme local activists to their events.

Like a lingering flu, ANSWER just won't go away, still trying to ride the coat tails of whatever social movement seems promising.

Keeping with their tradition of supporting dictatorial regimes, today ANSWER, along with the air plants of Code Pink co-sponsored a pro-Iran rally, taking a firm stand (sit down for this one) against sanctions directed towards the Islamic republic of Iran. Only at an ANSWER rally in San Francisco would you find a kaffiyeh clad women carrying a sign glorifying both Fidel Castro and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Cindy Sheehan was there, too, anxiously attempting to prove her relevance and extend her 15 minutes of fame.



The dictatorial regime of Iran is denying one Holocaust while planning another. Iran routinely persecutes gays, minorities, and women, and supplies and trains its Hamas and Hezbollah proxies in their war against the Jewish state. It is a perversion for ANSWER to use the image of civil rights visionary Dr. Martin Luther King in support of the Iranian theocracy. Sadly, we expect no better from International ANSWER.

(thanks to dholsey for use of the photos)

Look Who Thinks They Started A Revolution

If there is one thing that anti-Israel groups with an agenda really can't stand, it's the sight of people organizing and protesting without them, and even worse, pursuing an agenda other than the one the anti-Israel groups would really like to see, ie, trashing Israel.

So, to some extent, the Occupy movement has to be a bit of nightmare for the likes of International ANSWER. The sight of large, quasi-organized groups of left-leaning Americans blaming the problems of the world on economic inequality, rather than the State of Israel is infuriating.

There are a couple of ways to handle this. One is to attempt to persuade the Occupy Movement that protesting the existence of Israel is, in fact, something that should be a priority. Hence, the (tabled) attempt to convince the General Assembly of Occupy Oakland to protest at last night's AIPAC conference. Despite plaintive claims about AIPAC, Occupy declined to follow Code Pink and Students for Justice in Palestine out to the Hilton, and their rally drew fewer than fifty people. They did their best to link their hate to the memes of the Occupy Movement, carrying signs insisting that "AIPAC is the 1%", and falsely accusing AIPAC of forcing the US into Iraq, but it seems that the actual Occupiers weren't interested, staying away in droves.

The other way, of course, is to simply claim credit, as in this charming e-mail that landed in my box:

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the ANSWER Coalition. Founded just three days after the September 11, 2001 attacks, ANSWER has been the central organizer of many major demonstrations against war, racism and repression in cities from coast to coast over the past ten years. Today, ANSWER is an integral part of the Occupy movement that has swept the country and around the world, providing vital logistical as well as political support to this electrifying new expression of popular opposition to injustice, war and inequality.  

INTEGRAL! Do you hear me, we're INTEGRAL!!

The year 2011 has seen an amazing resurgence of grassroots resistance here and around the world. In January and February we saw the popular uprisings that brought down the U.S.-backed regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.


I almost get the sense that ANSWER also wants credit for bringing down the governments of Tunisia and Egypt.


ANSWER has played a key role in linking the anti-war struggle to the Occupy movement, Richard Becker continues. He doesn't exactly go on to prove this, however, he just states:

While most U.S. troops will finally be leaving Iraq after devastating that country, thousands of “contractors” (really military in different uniforms) will remain. U.S. officials have made it clear they will continue to surround Iraq with U.S. bases that blanket the region. Following the bombing war against Libya, the Pentagon continues attacks on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and other countries with impunity, threatens Iran, funds Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and has just sent an initial contingent of troops into central Africa. The real military budget this year will be well over one trillion dollars, more than $3 billion every day!


What to do about all of this? Send money, of course. International ANSWER may not be able to get Occupy out to protest AIPAC, but they still hope for a pity check or two.

International ANSWER calls for Solidarity with Who???????

Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi said Monday that opposition to the Iranian government is growing, spurred by an increase in government violence, more human rights violations and deepening poverty
The human rights lawyer, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her efforts to promote democracy, said in an interview with The Associated Press that she came to the United Nations to talk about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran and seek support for a draft U.N. General Assembly resolution that would condemn the country's rights record.

read more here:

This must come as a surprise to the lovely Becker boys (Dick and Brian) at "International A.N.S.W.E.R." , who have recently emailed a "Solidarity with Iran " appeal

Initial signers joining the ANSWER Coalition in support of the International Appeal include former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Fr. Roy Bourgeois; peace activist Cindy Sheehan; Denis Halliday, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1994-98; Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, civil rights attorney; Gloria La Riva, Coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five; and Brian Becker, National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, among many others.

In the midst of growing U.S. hostility, including the imposition of a new round of economic sanctions, a delegation of activists from the United States and Canada recently traveled to Iran to express solidarity with the people of Iran and to oppose U.S., UN, and European Union military threats and sanctions.


Yes, You read it correctly. ANSWER, always a bit of a joke, has moved into the ROFL category, supporting a medieval regime that stones women for adultery, hangs gays and bisexuals, and murders their political opposition. Way to go, International ANSWER. I can't imagine a gesture more indicative of just how out of touch you are with global reality