Posted by Lilly from ? (160.129.27.22) on Thursday, September 26, 2002 at 11:28AM :
NAAA-ADC ACTION ALERT
ISSUE: On September 19, 2002, the White House sent to Congress a
draft resolution which would authorize President Bush to "use all
means that he determines to be appropriate, including force, in order
to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolutions [previously
adopted], defend the national security interests of the United States
against the threat posed by Iraq, and restore international peace and
security in the region." Members of Congress are scheduled to debate
the proposed draft resolution and could vote on a resolution
authorizing force against Iraq during the first week in October.
RESPONSE: NAAA-ADC, the government affairs affiliate of the American-
Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), is opposed to a
Congressional resolution authorizing the use of military force against
Iraq. Iraq's full compliance with all UN Security Council resolutions
is necessary and must be dealt with through diplomatic means and not
by a military invasion of Iraq. Such an attack on Iraq is not in the
interests of either the American or the Iraqi peoples and would
severely harm U.S. national interests in the Middle East. A military
attack at this time, particularly if it is preemptive and unilateral,
would profoundly increase anti-American sentiment throughout the Arab
World and would play directly into the hands of extremist groups such
as al-Qaeda.
TAKE ACTION: NAAA-ADC urges all ADC members to contact members of
Congress to express strong opposition to a Congressional resolution
broadly authorizing President Bush to use military force against
Iraq. Please call, email or fax your Representative and Senators
immediately by logging on to NAAA-ADC's website (see link below).
TALKING POINTS:
. Saddam Hussein is a cruel and inhumane dictator. The Iraqi
people definitely deserve better than their current government.
However, it is solely the responsibility of the citizens of Iraq to
demand and bring about a regime change in their country. It is not the
responsibility of the U.S. Administration or that of Congress to
replace foreign governments for being cruel, dictatorial or non-
democratic.
. Invading Iraq at this time would destabilize the Middle East,
harm innocent civilians, inflict havoc on the international economy,
and fuel a whole new wave of hate against the United States. This was
the rationale of the first Bush Administration for not invading Iraq
in 1991.
. Alternatively, the United States should work in concert with
the international community, primarily the United Nations, to pressure
Iraq to comply with international standards and norms and implement
all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. American policy should
focus on accomplishing its goals through skilled and effective
diplomacy. Unilateral military action by the U.S. will undermine the
credibility of the United Nations and weaken international legitimacy.
. In order to demonstrate a consistent U.S. policy against the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the Bush
Administration should pursue, with the support of Congress, the goal
of declaring the entire Middle East a region free from all weapons of
mass destruction and delivery systems.
. The Administration has not presented credible evidence that
Iraq possesses or is about to acquire nuclear weapons.
. The United States must stay the course on the global war
against terrorism and focus on defeating al-Qaeda. To date, there is
no credible evidence that Iraq has ties to al-Qaeda or is linked to
the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
. President Bush's draft resolution is clearly too broad and
would allow the President a free hand in possible unilateral military
action against Iraq. Such broad authority undermines the basic
foundations of the American political system of checks and balances
against the abuse of power.
. The Administration's draft resolution fails to adequately
define the mission in question and appears to authorize President Bush
to do virtually anything anywhere in the Middle East. The resolution,
as drafted, is likely to alarm many of America's most important allies
instead of encouraging other nations to work closer with the United
States.
. Conquering Iraq is not a serious military challenge for the
United States. However, rebuilding Iraq's economy and establishing a
viable, democratic regime in Baghdad definitely constitute a major
challenge that we appear ill-equipped and ill-prepared to face.
. The people of Iraq have suffered more than a decade of
debilitating economic sanctions, routine bombing and international
isolation, all of which have fostered greater, not less, dependency on
the Iraqi regime. Instead of war, intensive diplomatic efforts are
urgently needed to avoid conflict, address international concerns, and
begin to lift the economic sanctions and other restrictions that have
impoverished and isolated the Iraqi people.
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NAAA-ADC is the government affairs affiliate of the American-Arab Anti-
Discrimination Committee (ADC)
-- Lilly
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