[1850] in peace2
Re: meet with Senators about Iraq
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jed Ela)
Thu Aug 15 12:01:30 2002
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Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 11:59:15 -0400
To: peace-announce@MIT.EDU, no-war@MIT.EDU
From: Jed Ela <jed@shitbegone.com>
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While you're at it write a letter to your Senators and Representatives on this. Now, if you haven't done it already. (If you have then please ignore me). I'm still registered in NY but I write to Kerry and Kennedy too for good measure (on stationery with my Cambridge address, of course).
Not everyone can make a meeting on this, especially if it's in Washington, but I do not think this is "inevitable," actually I think the Senate is leaning against it already and it's just a matter of a couple somebodies stepping up to make a showdown out of it. It is a great chance to embarrass the hell out of Dubya and the Democrats know it. And obviously even many Republicans are strongly enough against this war to have broken ranks already.
So write the letter. It's easy, you just say what you're thinking, like you were writing to your friend... you can even do it by hand for added effect, if your handwriting is neat. People eat that shit up, handwritten letters. I bet they give a handwritten opinion 10x the points of a printed one, 100x more than if you email. And it takes you five minutes. So don't put up with the "inevitable" hoo-ha and tell your Senators not to either!
>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
>
>To remove yourself from this list, please visit our subscription
>management page at:
>http://www.moveon.org/subscrip/i.html?id=674-892810-LqrcC0Wuc3jPaWMK3sdl0g
>
>
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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>
></BODY>
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--
Jed Ela
ShitBegone Paper
http://shitbegone.com
