Interview: U.S. anti-war activists welcome diplomatic efforts on Syria

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Interview: U.S. anti-war activists welcome diplomatic efforts on Syria

(Xinhua) 08:33, September 13, 2013

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, anti-war activists in the United States say they welcome diplomatic efforts in finding a solution to the Syrian chemical weapons crisis.

"We are very excited that John Kerry might move from his war track to be what he is supposed to be, a diplomat," said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of peace group "Code Pink," which has emerged as the face of protesters during the debate on whether the U.S. should attack Syria for its alleged chemical weapons use.

Kerry was sent to Geneva by President Barack Obama to meet with Lavrov to discuss matters concerning Syria, including "the use of chemical weapons and steps to address these developments," according to the State Department.

At her daily protest camp, dotted with all-pink anti-war slogans, flags and chairs in the southeast corner of the Capitol Hill, Benjamin said "Code Pink" is against any military attack on Syria. "We think it would only make the problems worse, increase the violence, cause retaliation on the side of President Bashar al- Assad. It would not get rid of the chemical weapons."

Obama announced on Aug. 31 that he will ask for Congressional authorization on a limited military strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, to punish the alleged Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in the suburbs of Damascus, which the U.S. claims killed more than 1,400 people. The Syrian government has denied this accusation.

"The Congress should not pass any resolutions that authorize the military force," said Benjamin, adding they stop and ask lawmakers coming by her camp and ask them what their positions are. "For the most part, they have been saying we are with you on this one... Whether they are Republicans or Democrats," she added.

But Benjamin admitted that Obama's decision to seek authorization from the Congress before launching a limited strike, is a phenomena that they "have not seen before."

She believed this decision is in part due to the anti-war sentiments of Americans, manifested in almost daily protests against a strike on Syria by anti-war groups.

Once flush with hundreds of thousands of supporters during the George W. Bush era, "Code Pink" has gotten smaller in recent years under Obama's administration. "But our group continues to be out on the street saying we don't want more war."

During the Syrian chemical weapons debate, "Code Pink" has put a face to the protests, organizing a much publicized blood-hand protest during a House hearing.

Benjamin said the faux bloody hands behind Kerry was her idea. "We were there with our hands painted red, to show that the blood would be on Americans' hands if we went in and caused more deaths. "

The bloody-hand protest broadcast live has been taken note by thousands of Americans, as protesters raised their hands painted blood-red behind Kerry when he was testifying at the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Syria on Sept. 4.

"We think it was quite an effective protest," said Benjamin.

Benjamin said her group is planning to contact anti-war activists in Switzerland to protest outside the meeting between Kerry and Lavrov on Syria, and ask them to say "The whole world is watching. The whole world wants peace, not war."