 Growing
International Opposition
To Bush's War Plans
As President Bush ratchets up the pressure to make Iraq the next
target in his open-ended "war on terror," public and international
opposition to his foreign policies continues to grow.
[Veterans Opposed to War]
[New York Congressman Speaks Out]
[US Diplomat Resigns in Protest]
[Nations Voice Fresh Opposition to War]
[Polls Show Uneasy Public]
[Mandela Criticizes Bush Policy]
[EU Parliament Against Unilateral Attack]
[UN Inspectors Say Unresolved Questions are
Not Proof of Weapons]
[The Iraq Peace Pledge]
Veterans Oppose the War
More than 100 U.S. Veterans, led by Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan,
USN, Retired and Brigadier General Evelyn P. Foote, USA, Retired
informed President Bush that, "it
remains in our nationıs best interest to avoid another war."
New York Representative
Charles Rangel Speaks Out Against War
In early March, New York Representative Charles Rangel told
an audience at the Riverside Church that, ³If we do not get
the authority and the support of our friends and allies in the United
Nations, not only does it mean that itıs the first time that our
country has ever struck another country without provocation, but
it means that we lose the moral authority to be able to tell countries
that God made us to live together, to work together, and to try
to live in a peaceful environment.²
American Diplomat
Resigns Over Bush Doctrine
 John
Brady Kiesling, a seasoned U.S. diplomat currently serving as political
counsel at the U.S. Embassy in Greece has submitted his resignation
over President Bush's proposed war with Iraq. The counselor told
Secretary of State Colin Powell in
a letter submitted this week that the United States is, "straining
beyond its limits an international system we built with such toil
and treasure, a web of laws, treaties, organizations, and shared
values that sets limits on our foes far more effectively than it
ever constrained America's ability to defend its interests.
African Nations
Unite in Opposition to War
More than 50 African nations unamimously backed a statement declaring
"there is an alternative to war" at an African-French
summit on February 21. The statement, whose signatories include
three key nations on the United Nations Security Council, said U.N.
weapons inspectors should be given more time and that force "should
only be a last resort."
The leaders "express their support for continued inspections and
for substantially reinforcing the (inspectors') human and technical
capacities in the framework of resolution 1441." The statement also
called for "immediate, active cooperation" from Iraq and reiterated
Africa's confidence in chief U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and
Mohamed ElBaradei. According to the statement, "The use of force,
which comes with serious risks of destabilizing the region, for
Africa and for the world, should only be used as a last resort."
Non-aligned
Movement Also to Oppose War
The Franco/African statement comes just days before the 114 nation
Non-Aligned Movement is expected to adopt a resolution stating that,
"We are fully cognizant of the concerns expressed by millions
in our countries...who reject war and believe, like we do, that
war against Iraq will be a destabilizing factor for the whole region."
New Polls
Show an Uneasy U.S. Public
A new CNN/Gallup/USA
Today poll reveals that a majority of Americans, (56% of those
surveyed) favor giving UN weapons inspectors more time to assess
Iraq's suspected weapons programs. Opposition to attacking Iraq
has grown to the highest levels since September 11, 2001. According
to the USA Today:
"Opposition to an invasion with U.S. ground troops is at 43%,
up from 38% in a poll taken Jan. 10-12 and 20% in a poll taken in
November 2001. Support for an invasion is at 52%, down from 56%
in January and 74% in November. But half of those polled said support
would depend upon the outcome of inspections."
A recent Washington
Post/ABC News poll taken on January 22nd found that:
"...the doubts about Bush's Iraq policy are broad and
deep. In barely a month, Bush's performance rating on Iraq has
dropped 16 percentage points, to 42 percent, among young people
18 to 30 years old. Bush also lost support among middle-aged Americans
but held his ground among seniors."
Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela Urges
American People to Oppose Bush Iraq Policy
Former South African President and Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela
sharply criticized President Bush's planned war on Iraq and lauded
the burgeoning American peace movement for its vocal opposition
to war. In a January 30 speech to the the International Women's
Forum Mandela said, "One power with a president who has no foresight
and cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into
a holocaust." Mandela expressed hope that the peace movement "will
one day make...(Bush)...understand that he has made the greatest
mistake of his life."
European Parliament
Opposes Pre-emptive Strike Against Iraq
The European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution on January
30 that opposes Bush's plans to pre-emptively attack Iraq without
explicit backing from the United Nations Security Council. The resolution,
passed 287 to 206 argued that:
"Breaches of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 currently identified
by the inspectors with regard to weapons of mass destruction do
not justify military action."
The resolution further stated that:
"A pre-emptive strike would not be in accordance with international
law and the U.N. Charter and would lead to a deeper crisis involving
other countries in the region,"
Chief UN Inspector Catalogue
Successes and Unresolved Questions
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"Iraq has on the whole cooperated rather well so far
with Unmovic in this field. The most important point to make
is that access has been provided to all sites we have wanted
to inspect, and with one exception it has been prompt. "
- Chief UN Weapons Inspector, Hans Blix
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During a recent address to the United Nations Security Council
on Iraq's suspected weapons programs, Chief UN weapons inspector
Hans Blix recently noted that, "It has been recognized that
more weapons of mass destruction were destroyed under... (the previous
UN inspections regime) ..than were destroyed during the gulf war.
Large quantities of chemical weapons were destroyed under Unscom
supervision before 1994."
Blix told the United Nations that the inspections agencies "do
not contend that weapons of mass destruction remain in Iraq, but
nor do they exclude that possibility. They point to lack of evidence
and inconsistencies, which raise question marks, which must be straightened
out, if weapons dossiers are to be closed and confidence is to arise."
UN Nuclear Weapons Inspector Calls
Inspection Process Best Road to Peaceful Resolution
Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, joined Hans Blix at the United Nations on January 27th and
offered these remarks regarding Iraq's nuclear weapons activities:
"No prohibited nuclear activities have been identified during
these inspections."
"Inspections are time-consuming but, if successful, can ensure
disarmament through peaceful means. It is worth recalling that in
our past experience in Iraq, the elimination of its nuclear weapons
program was mostly accomplished through intrusive inspections. It
is also worth recalling that the presence of international inspectors
in Iraq today continues to serve as an effective deterrent to and
insurance against resumption of programs to develop weapons of mass
destruction, even as we continue to look for possible past activities."
As individuals who work for peace and justice, and who oppose further
devastation being visited upon the people of Iraq, we invite you
to stand in the way of this mad rush to war. We invite you to join
us in the Iraq Pledge of Resistance,
a campaign to build a network of nationally-coordinated, nonviolent
civil disobedience to oppose President Bushıs plans for war on Iraq.
Take Action
Help Peace Action of New York State
prevent another war against the people of Iraq and help us end
the sanctions regime that continues to take the lives of innocent
Iraqi civilians.
Write a letter to the editor
of your local paper.
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