[1849] in peace2
meet with Senators about Iraq
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Julia Steinberger)
Tue Aug 13 17:07:13 2002
Message-Id: <200208132105.RAA26318@biohazard-cafe.mit.edu>
To: peace-announce@MIT.EDU, no-war@MIT.EDU
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 17:05:21 -0400
From: Julia Steinberger <julias@MIT.EDU>
fill out form at
http://www.moveon.org/iraq_meetings.html?id=674-892810-LqrcC0Wuc3jPaWMK3sdl0g
Dear friend,
The Bush Administration appears determined to launch a war on Iraq,
regardless of the information presented at last week's hearings.
According to The Guardian, a British newspaper, "senior US
officials have said that a war against Iraq is now inevitable."
This news comes despite the evidence raised at last week's
hearings -- that a war in Iraq will be very expensive, in lives and
in money; that it will take years, thousands of troops, and
billions of dollars to reconstruct the country; that a war could
spark regional conflict. Although many members of the
Administration itself don't support attacking Iraq any more, the
hawks at the helm have blinders on.
That's why we have to convince Senators to be more vocal. Many of
them are concerned that if they speak out on these issues, they'll
be labeled 'unpatriotic.' Nothing could be farther from the truth,
of course: with our troops, our money, and our nation's reputation
on the line, a true patriot would be very reticent to engage in a
massive and bloody war based on so little evidence and such
half-baked theory. As a constituent, you can help to convince them
to ask the hard questions.
We're setting up meetings between all 100 Senators and constituents
who are concerned about the war juggernaut. For you, the meetings
will likely take place in Boston or Springfield, during the last
week of August. They'll only last about half an hour, but such
meetings can have a major impact on a Senator's policy outlook.
Would you be willing to come?
Please let us know at:
http://www.moveon.org/iraq_meetings.html?id=674-892810-LqrcC0Wuc3jPaWMK3sdl0g
If you indicate that you're up for the meetings, we'll get back to
you soon with more details on how they'll be structured and how to
prepare.
Thanks for your help. These meetings can make a real difference,
but they won't happen without people like you.
Sincerely,
- --Eli Pariser
International Campaigns Director
MoveOn.org
Thursday, August 8, 2002
BACKGROUND ON A POSSIBLE WAR WITH IRAQ:
* The Bush Administration is planning a war on Iraq. Troop
deployments indicate that it could come in October; a "surprise
attack" could come even sooner. Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld and other top officials are honing a war plan that will
require up to a quarter million troops.
* The Bush Administration contends that a war on Iraq is needed
because Saddam Hussein possesses or is intent on acquiring weapons
of mass destruction. But no evidence of development of these
weapons or the weapons themselves has been made public, or even
offered to our allies in NATO.
* Bush labeled Iraq a part of the "axis of evil," states which
supposedly back terrorism. But there is no evidence at all that
Iraq was behind the September 11th attacks or any other recent
terrorist activity against the United States.
* Even the top U.S. generals are counseling restraint. They're
concerned that there will be lots of urban fighting and a
probability that if Saddam does have weapons of mass destruction,
he'll use them against U.S. troops or Israel. In the State
Department, Colin Powell and other senior officials have urged a
more diplomatic route -- they don't support a war right now either.
* The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings last week
to determine whether a military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein is
necessary, but they were a whitewash -- none of the people asked to
testify were likely to argue against a war. And even those experts
argued that a war would be costly, long, and difficult.
* According to military and Middle East experts, a war in Iraq
will likely cost hundreds, if not thousands, of American soldiers'
lives; kill many more Iraqi civilians, both through direct combat
and through the eradication of crucial infrastructure; further
destabilize the Middle East; alienate America's closest allies,
almost all of whom (except Great Britain) oppose an attack; commit
the military to a three-to-five year stay while Iraq rebuilds; and
cost in the range of $60-100 billion in taxpayer dollars.
* For the amount that a war with Iraq will cost ($60-100 billion),
the U.S. could double humanitarian aid to poor countries, double
K-12 education funding, increase federal funding for clean energy
and energy efficiency, reduce debts of impoverished nations,
renovate public schools over 10 years, offer health insurance to
all uninsured American kids, fully fund Head Start, provide public
financing of federal elections -- and we'd likely have billions
left over.
* Despite the lack of a strong case for war, Senators are nervous
about asking hard questions because they don't want to be branded
"weak on terrorism." But if they don't push the Bush
Administration for answers soon, the nation could embark on a war
that it will deeply regret. A former National Security Advisor,
Brent Scrowcroft, noted that there's no quicker way to lose the War
on Terrorism than to attack Iraq.
_______________________________
You can help decide the direction of MoveOn.org by participating
in the discussion forum at:
http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?forum_id=223
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<P>
Dear friend,
<P>
The Bush Administration appears determined to launch a war on Iraq, regardless of the information presented at last week's hearings. According to <I>The Guardian</I>, a British newspaper, "senior US officials have said that a war against Iraq is now inevitable." This news comes despite the evidence raised at last week's hearings -- that a war in Iraq will be very expensive, in lives and in money; that it will take years, thousands of troops, and billions of dollars to reconstruct the country; that a war could spark regional conflict. Although many members of the Administration itself don't support attacking Iraq any more, the hawks at the helm have blinders on.
<P>
That's why we have to convince Senators to be more vocal. Many of them are concerned that if they speak out on these issues, they'll be labeled 'unpatriotic.' Nothing could be farther from the truth, of course: with our troops, our money, and our nation's reputation on the line, a true patriot would be very reticent to engage in a massive and bloody war based on so little evidence and such half-baked theory. As a constituent, you can help to convince them to ask the hard questions.
<P>
We're setting up meetings between all 100 Senators and constituents who are concerned about the war juggernaut. For you, the meetings will likely take place in Boston or Springfield, during the last week of August. They'll only last about half an hour, but such meetings can have a major impact on a Senator's policy outlook.
<P>
Would you be willing to come?
<P>
Fill out this survey to let us know:
<P>
<form method="get" action="http://www.moveon.org/survey/process_survey.html">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="user_name" VALUE="Julia Steinberger">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="user_email" VALUE="julias@mit.edu">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="survey_id" VALUE="iraq_meetings">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="redirect_url" VALUE="http://www.moveon.org/thanks.html">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="Q_re" VALUE="email">
<p>
Name: Julia Steinberger<br>
Email: julias@mit.edu
<p>
<INPUT TYPE="radio" NAME="Q_meetings" VALUE="Yes"> I'm willing to join with other folks from MoveOn and meet with
my Senator about Iraq.<br>
<INPUT TYPE="radio" NAME="Q_meetings" VALUE="Maybe"> I'm interested, but I may not be able to make it.<br>
<INPUT TYPE="radio" NAME="Q_meetings" VALUE="No"> I can't do it.
<p>
<INPUT TYPE="checkbox" NAME="Q_coordinate" VALUE="Yes">I'm willing to coordinate my group.<br>
<INPUT TYPE="checkbox" NAME="Q_pr" VALUE="Yes">I'm willing to serve as PR liaison for my group.<br>
<INPUT TYPE="checkbox" NAME="Q_spokes" VALUE="Yes">I'm willing to serve as head spokesperson for my group.
<p>
<B>Comments:</b><br><TEXTAREA NAME="Q_comments" ROWS="5" COLS="40"></TEXTAREA>
<p>
<CENTER><INPUT TYPE="submit" VALUE="Submit Survey" NAME="Submit Survey"></CENTER>
<P>
If the form doesn't work, go to: <a href="http://www.moveon.org/iraq_meetings.html?id=674-892810-LqrcC0Wuc3jPaWMK3sdl0g">http://www.moveon.org/iraq_meetings.html</a>
<p>
If you've indicated that you're up for the meetings, we'll get back to you soon with more details on how they'll be structured and how to prepare.
<P>
Thanks for your help. These meetings can make a real difference, but they won't happen without people like you.
<P>
Sincerely,
<P>
- --Eli Pariser<BR>
International Campaigns Director<BR>
MoveOn.org<BR>
Thursday, August 8, 2002
<P> <br>
<STRONG>BACKGROUND ON A POSSIBLE WAR WITH IRAQ:</STRONG>
<P><UL>
<LI><B>The Bush Administration is planning a war on Iraq.</B> Troop deployments indicate that it could come in October; a "surprise attack" could come even sooner. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other top officials are honing a war plan that will require up to a quarter million troops.
<P>
<LI>The Bush Administration contends that a war on Iraq is needed because Saddam Hussein possesses or is intent on acquiring weapons of mass destruction. But <B>no evidence of development of these weapons or the weapons themselves has been made public</B>, or even offered to our allies in NATO.
<P>
<LI>Bush labeled Iraq a part of the "axis of evil," states which supposedly back terrorism. But <B>there is no evidence at all that Iraq was behind the September 11th attacks</B> or any other recent terrorist activity against the United States.
<P>
<LI><B>Even the top U.S. generals are counseling restraint.</B> They're concerned that there will be lots of urban fighting and a probability that if Saddam does have weapons of mass destruction, he'll use them against U.S. troops or Israel. In the State Department, Colin Powell and other senior officials have urged a more diplomatic route -- they don't support a war right now either.
<P>
<LI>The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings last week to determine whether a military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein is necessary, but they were a whitewash -- none of the people asked to testify were likely to argue against a war. And even those experts argued that a war would be costly, long, and difficult.
<P>
<LI>According to military and Middle East experts, <B>a war in Iraq will likely cost hundreds, if not thousands, of American soldiers' lives</B>; kill many more Iraqi civilians, both through direct combat and through the eradication of crucial infrastructure; further destabilize the Middle East; alienate America's closest allies, almost all of whom (except Great Britain) oppose an attack; commit the military to a three-to-five year stay while Iraq rebuilds; and cost in the range of $60-100 billion in taxpayer dollars.
<P>
<LI>For the amount that a war with Iraq will cost ($60-100 billion), the U.S. could double humanitarian aid to poor countries, double K-12 education funding, increase federal funding for clean energy and energy efficiency, reduce debts of impoverished nations, renovate public schools over 10 years, offer health insurance to all uninsured American kids, fully fund Head Start, provide public financing of federal elections -- <B>and we'd likely have billions left over</B>.
<P>
<LI>Despite the lack of a strong case for war, Senators are nervous about asking hard questions because they don't want to be branded "weak on terrorism." But if they don't push the Bush Administration for answers soon, the nation could embark on a war that it will deeply regret. A former National Security Advisor, Brent Scrowcroft, noted that <B>there's no quicker way to lose the War on Terrorism than to attack Iraq.</B>
</UL>
<p><hr><p>
You can help decide the direction of MoveOn.org by participating
in the discussion forum at:<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?forum_id=223">http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?forum_id=223</A>
<P>
To remove yourself from this list, please visit our subscription
management page at: <br>
<A HREF="http://www.moveon.org/subscrip/i.html?id=674-892810-LqrcC0Wuc3jPaWMK3sdl0g">http://www.moveon.org/subscrip/i.html?id=674-892810-LqrcC0Wuc3jPaWMK3sdl0g</A>
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