[2281] in peace2
Action: Email Security Council Members
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Laura Doughty)
Tue Feb 25 10:55:35 2003
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:53:57 -0500
Message-Id: <200302251553.h1PFrvc07449@mgm.mit.edu>
From: Laura Doughty <laura@mgm.mit.edu>
To: peace-announce@MIT.EDU
Below is an email I sent to UN Security Council
representatives, complete with their email addresses if
others wish to do this kind of action. If Patriot Act II
passes, I wonder if this could be viewed as an act of
treason worthy of stripping me of my citizenship??
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From laura Tue Feb 25 09:57:44 -0500 2003
From: Laura Doughty <laura@mgm.mit.edu>
To: france-presse@un.int, rusun@un.int, chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn,
bulgaria@un.int, info@cameroonmission.org, guinea@un.int,
mexico@un.int, syria@un.int, ang-un@angolamissionun.org, chile@un.int,
contact@germany-un.org, spain@spainun.org, Pakistan@un.int
Subject: thank you for your careful consideration
Dear Honorable UN Security Council members,
I write to first thank you for doing the most difficult job there
must be---to uphold the United Nations Charter in an effort to forge
peaceful means to end conflicts around our precious planet.
There is so much conflicting information surrounding the alleged need
to invade Iraq in order to disarm them of possible weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) and whether they pose an immediate threat to any
other nation. I am an American who has tried to listen to the voices
of experts directly knowledgeable about Iraq, though our
corporate-owned media does not often let us hear these voices. Former
weapons inspector, Scott Ritter, says that while he has no guarantee
that Iraq does not have WMD, he believes it is unlikely, unless they
have been able to reconstitute their programs. Furthermore he states
that the shelf-life of chemical and biological munitions made in the
80's is not long enough to have these materials viable. You, of
course, have access to his testimony. He and many others have
convincing information that is at odds with the information that the
US administration is giving us.
We do know that Iraq is a devasted country whose people are
malnourished and undergoing a huge rise in cancer rates and water-born
illnesses (to name only a few of their pressing problems). We know
that Iraq's weapons programs are now being contained by UN weapons
inspectors. We know that we CANNOT know what the impact of another
war will be on the civilians in Iraq or on the region as a whole. We
do not know if such an attack will rally more terrorist actions or a
global escalation of violence. I believe that any war should be a
LAST option, when all other options have been exhausted. Right now
the inspections program seems to be working. If you believe this too,
I hope your future votes will be votes of consience and not votes
resulting from pressure.
I am trying not to let my fears keep me from sending you this message.
Many people feel as I do, but they are afraid to say so. I admire
those who are marching on this day to proclaim their democratic
right to free speech and freedom of expression (I wrote this message
on February 15, but only now am feeling the courage and urgency to
send it to you).
Please do all you can to consider all options and to think of all
possible ways to resolve this crisis.
Respectfully yours,
Laura Doughty
