By Debra Sweet

Press reports say Obama will make a major address at West Point’s commencement Wednesday morning on US foreign policy objectives, and portray the US as “the ultimate guarantor of international order” according to The New York Times. Days after his “surprise visit” to Afghanistan to announce that whoever is president after Karzai will allow occupation troops to stay past this year, we speculate on this vision of international order...

Will Obama talk about the order created by the 1,200 US military bases worldwide; its possession of more nukes — and history of using them — than any other country? Or the order created by NSA's vacuuming of data on whole populations and other world leaders? Or how his government holds people indefinitely, even after promising to release them? Or the “order” of targeted assassination and indefinite detention from the Oval Office?

The international press needs to see messages from us against all this. We will be at the gates with model drones and photos of known victims of the US military and secret CIA targeted assassination program. The display is for family and friends of the 2014 graduating class as they enter West Point gates at 7 am. The protest will extend to 9:30 am; graduation ceremonies begin at 10:00 am.

This protest has special meaning for those in the US Army because the MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone (above), a more deadly version of the infamous Predator drone, is being integrated into use in every Army division. Gray Eagles are now being used in Afghanistan, where the United States is conducting intensive drone attacks in anticipation of a reduction of US ground forces.

KnowDrones estimates that at least 5,000 people have been killed by US drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and the Philippines since drone attacks began in 2001. In addition, thousands of people live in terror from continuing drone surveillance because of the knowledge that missile attacks may come at any time. The protest is sponsored by KnowDrones, World Can't Wait, WESPAC Foundation and Code Pink. Look for reports later this week or dial in to the conference callThursday night to hear more about it.

Event details