[1831] in peace2
Action on Iraq
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Aimee L Smith)
Mon Jul 29 00:08:45 2002
Message-Id: <200207290408.AAA23560@gold.mit.edu>
To: peace-announce@MIT.EDU
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Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 00:08:26 -0400
From: Aimee L Smith <alsmith@MIT.EDU>
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(Eric organized a good meeting tonight to plan actions and events against
what seems to be an impending war, but meanwhile, you can call congress.)
Act Now to Stop War in Iraq
The Bush Administration is gearing up for war against Iraq. As reported by the
New York Times and other news sources, President Bush has ordered his staff to
draft a new national security doctrine of pre-emptive action against states
and terrorist groups trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. The
President has already ordered the CIA and the Pentagon to take preemptive
action against the government of Iraq by toppling Saddam Hussein's regime.
Already, at least 1,000 Senior U.S. commanders, war planners and logistical
support specialists have been moved into the Persian Gulf region in
preparation for a full-scale invasion of Iraq.
Preemptive, unilateral U.S. covert or military action to topple Saddam
Hussein's regime is unwarranted and ill-advised for a number of reasons.
*A US invasion of Iraq could cause a massive loss of life and could end with
the use of nuclear weapons by the United States or Israel.
* The Bush administration has yet to present the American people or the UN
with clear evidence that Iraq has attacked or is preparing to attack the U.S.,
either through support of terrorist groups or with weapons of mass destruction.
* The administration has not presented evidence that Iraq has restored its
capacity to produce weapons of mass destruction, a capacity which was largely
destroyed by UN weapons inspections teams prior to their withdrawal in 1998.
* The U.S. cannot deliver peace, security, human rights, democracy, and the
rule of law to the Iraqis. The role of the U.S. must be to work in solidarity
with the people of Iraq and to assure that current U.S. policies do not
undermine these goals (such as current U.S. threats of war and the current
devastating UN economic sanctions).
* It will undermine cooperative international efforts to bring to justice
those who helped carry out the attacks of September 11 and to reduce acts of
terrorism around the world, including those targeting the United States .
TAKE ACTION!
Next Wednesday and Thursday, July 31 August 1st, the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee will hold hearings on the Bush administration's war plans for
Iraq. These hearings will be the first public congressional debate on war
with Iraq. Unfortunately, the hearings could be used to further war plans by
only calling pro-invasion witnesses or by those present asking only
superficial questions. In order to ensure fair and balanced hearings, Congress
needs to hear from you.
Please join thousands of people across the country in calling the offices of
Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, and Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Foreign
Relations Committee. Demand fair hearings by ensuring a balanced range of
witnesses (see list below).
Capital switchboard toll-free: 1-800-839-5276
Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE): 202-224-5042
Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC): 202-224-6342
Also call Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) who sits on the Foreign Relations
Committee.
Capital switchboard toll-free: 1-800-839-5276
Washington D.C. office: 202-224-3553
Los Angeles office: 213-894-5000
San Francisco office: 415-403-0100
Implore her to ask these difficult questions:
Why?
+ What has Iraq done since 1990 to justify risking the lives of hundreds of
thousands of American servicemen and women - and millions of Iraqi civilians -
in a new war?
+ What is the hard evidence linking Iraq to the September 11 attacks?
+ How can we make sure that UNMOVIC and other UN arms control programs will
return to Iraq, an action that can both prevent war and lift economic
sanctions?
+ As a signatory to the UN Charter and member of the Security Council, how
will a unilateral invasion be justified under international law?
AT WHAT COST?
+ What will happen once Saddam Hussein is removed?
+ What are the expected numbers of civilian casualties?
+ How many troops will be required and what are plans for force protection?
+ What will be the cost to taxpayers and where will the money come from?
+ What will be the impact on the international effort to bring those truly
responsible for 9/11 to justice?
+ Are we prepared to stay and commit resources for 5 or more years for nation
building efforts in Iraq?
List of Witnesses
Recommendations for witnesses should be sent directly to the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. The telephone number is 202-224-4651. Names of witnesses
can be faxed to 202-228-1612 attn: Puneet Talwar. It should include your
location and phone number to assist the committee.
Witnesses who will provide critical perspectives of the Administration's war
plans include:
Scott Ritter - Former UNSCOM Weapons Inspector in Iraq
Edward Peck - Former Ambassador to Iraq
Tun Myat - Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (2000-2002)
Hans Von Sponeck - Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (1998-2000)
Denis Halliday - Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (1997-1998)
Richard Falk - Princeton University Professor of International Law
Laith Kubba - Iraqi intellectual, National Endowment for Democracy
Louis Fisher, PhD - Author and War Powers Expert, Congressional Research
Service
Brent Scowcroft - Former U.S. National Security Adviser
Information for this alert was provided by Education for Peace in Iraq Center,
www.epic-usa.org, and Friends Committee on National Legislation, www.fcln.org.
