Posted by andreas from p3EE3C39B.dip.t-dialin.net (62.227.195.155) on Saturday, September 14, 2002 at 2:12AM :
EPIC Alert 9/13/02
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I. Update – Bush’s Ultimatum to UN: Act on Iraq or We’ll Strike
II. TAKE ACTION!
III. Articles of Interest
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I. Update – Bush’s Ultimatum to UN: Act on Iraq or We’ll Strike
The week started with an important success for EPIC and other organizations and Americans who have demanded more honesty in the national debate over Iraq. The Bush administration has dropped one of its central arguments for a military campaign against Baghdad: allegations that Iraq is linked to al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Lacking any evidence of a 9/11 or al-Qaeda connection, the Administration has instead turned its attention to Iraq’s non-conventional weapons. Read the full story at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59403-2002Sep9.html
Following this important disclosure, the Bush administration presented its case for a ‘pre-emptive’ war on Iraq to the world. On September 12, President George W. Bush addressed the United Nations General Assembly. His challenge to the UN: take action on Iraq, or the U.S. will. In his speech, the President accused Iraq of violating 16 UN resolutions. Preceding Bush, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan addressed the General Assembly and urged the U.S. not to act unilaterally.
The President’s speech offered no new information, cited events that happened over a decade ago, and did not answer why a rush to war against Iraq is now justified. President Bush attempted to hide his unilateral plans amid a claim that, "We want the resolutions of the world's most important multilateral body to be enforced.”
The President laid out the following five conditions which Iraq would have to fully comply with “if the Iraqi regime wishes peace.” Iraq must:
1. Immediately and unconditionally forswear, disclose, remove and destroy all weapons of mass destruction, long-range missiles, and all related material.
2. Immediately end all support for terrorism and act to suppress it.
3. Cease persecution of the civilian population, including Shi'a, Sunnis, Kurds, Turkomans, and others.
4. Release or account for all Gulf War personnel whose fate is still unknown. Return the remains of any who are deceased, return stolen property, accept liability for losses resulting from the invasion of Kuwait, and fully cooperate with international efforts to resolve these issues, as required by Security Council resolutions.
5. Immediately end all illicit trade outside the oil-for-food program. Accept U.N. administration of funds from that program, to ensure that the money is used fairly and promptly for the benefit of the Iraqi people
The White House released a document entitled, “A Decade of Deception and Defiance,” which was the basis for Bush’s 9/12 speech. To familiarize yourself with the President’s “justifications” go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020912.html
For the case against war, read Stephen Zunes’ response to the President in The Nation.
http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20020930&s=zunes
And to consider the costs of ‘going it alone’ in Iraq, don’t miss this one-pager from the National Priorities Project - www.nationalpriorities.org/iraq.pdf
On Capitol Hill, the debate over Iraq continues. Today, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) held his third briefing on Iraq. Speakers addressed Iraq’s alleged nuclear threat, the incredible economic costs of another Gulf War and the role of oil in the Administration’s war plans. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) joined Kucinich in the briefing to express his concerns. For an interesting read on oil as a motivating force for war see “Iraq: the Struggle for Oil” by Jim Paul, Executive Director - Global Policy Forum http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/2002/08jim.htm
II. TAKE ACTION! September Calendar
If there is a War Resolution, it could be introduced as early as late September and would likely come to a vote during the second week of October. Therefore, the NEXT FEW WEEKS ARE CRUCIAL. Call your Senators and Representative often and implore them to vote against a war resolution on Iraq.
SEPTEMBER 19 – House International Relations Committee (HIRC) Hearings
The HIRC is planning to hold full committee hearings on Iraq on September 19th. Witnesses listed so far include:
* Richard Perle; Chairmen of the Defense Policy Board
* James Woolsey; former CIA Director
* Jessica Mathews; Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace (She is calling for weapons inspectors to be armed, a dangerous proposition.)
* General Charles G. Boyd (invited), President and CEO Business Executives for National Security.
Obviously, this list of witnesses is heavily weighted in favor of war. If your representative sits on this committee, urge them to demand a more balanced roster of witnesses, and encourage them to represent your concerns at the hearings.
THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER – In every way you can, publicly express your opposition to an unprovoked war of aggression against Iraq. Such a war repudiates the U.S. constitution, the UN Charter, and who we are as a nation.
* Sign the peace pledge at www.peacepledge.org
* Write letters to the editors of your local paper and national papers
* Call, write, fax and email the White House, State Department and your members of Congress often! A quick and easy way is through www.congress.org or the NETWORK website at http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=403786&type=CO
* Take part in nonviolent vigils or protests in your area.
* Engage your family, friends and coworkers in thoughtful dialogue and concentrated efforts to stop a senseless war that will kill innocent Iraqis, endanger U.S. troops, destroy international law, incite anti-Americanism, and cost tens of billions of dollars.
III. Articles of Interest
US Military Builds Up Huge Attack Force
UK/Guardian 9/13/02
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0913-01.htm
Observers: Evidence for War Lacking
Washington Post 9/13/02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10645-2002Sep12.html
Congressional Democrats push go-slow approach
USA Today 9/13/02
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020913/4446684s.htm
US could strike in 3 weeks, some analysts say
Boston Globe 9/13/02
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/256/nation/US_could_strike_in_3_weeks_some_analysts_say+.shtml
British Troop Movements Fuel Talk of War with Iraq
Reuters 9/13/02
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=search&StoryID=1445252
Ten Reasons Why Many Gulf War Veterans Oppose Re-Invading Iraq
Commondreams.org 9/13/02
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0913-01.htm
Noah and 9/11 by Thomas Friedman
New York Times 9/11/02 (registration required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/11/opinion/11FRIE.html
Excerpt from Noah and 9/11: …Those suicide hijackings were such an evil act that they shattered your faith in human beings and in the wall of civilization that was supposed to constrain the worst in human behavior. There is now a big jagged hole in that wall…
After the deluge of 9/11 we have two choices: We can numb ourselves to the world, and plug our ears, or we can try to repair that jagged hole in the wall of civilization by insisting, more firmly and loudly than ever, on rules and norms — both for ourselves and for others.
…Yes, we must kill the murderers of 9/11, but without becoming murderers and without simply indulging ourselves. We must defend ourselves — without throwing out civil liberties at home, without barring every Muslim student from this country, without forgetting what a huge shadow a powerful America casts over the world and how it can leave people feeling powerless, and without telling the world we're going to do whatever we want because there has been a flood and now all bets are off.
Because imposing norms and rules on ourselves gives us the credibility to demand them from others. It gives us the credibility to demand the rule of law, religious tolerance, consensual government, self-criticism, pluralism, women's rights and respect for the notion that my grievance, however deep, does not entitle me to do anything to anyone anywhere…
In short, numbing ourselves to the post-9/11 realities will not work. Military operations, while necessary, are not sufficient. Building higher walls may feel comforting, but in today's interconnected world they're an illusion. Our only hope is that people will be restrained by internal walls — norms and values. Visibly imposing them on ourselves, and loudly demanding them from others, is the only viable survival strategy for our shrinking planet.
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EPIC Alerts
Education for Peace in Iraq Center
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