Didn't surrender anything....Read the link and focus comment on that. /R -----Original Message----- From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of L. Mirza Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 4:46 PM To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither U.S. Aggression Nor Theocratic Repression Okay, I accept your surrender Richard. lol --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > For a number of reasons I'm not getting into > here....I wanna get off this > damn comp. > > But, for a third time, here's a link: > http://www.nysun.com/article/22712 > > Dear Loraine, my life would be much simpler if you > just accepted everything > I say. :) /R > > -----Original Message----- > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > Behalf Of L. Mirza > Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 6:47 AM > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither U.S. > Aggression Nor > Theocratic Repression > > > Richard, > Just how do you get the impression, the elected > government of Iraq is allied with the US? Since I > follow Ayatollah Seestani and also speak daily with > a > lot of folks I have known for years in Iraq I > understand the strategy of the coalition. > > That strategy is to take measures to get the > Americans > out of Iraq ASAP. The sooner the coalition forms a > stable government, the sooner the Americans will > have > no further excuse to continue the occupation. The > so-called insurgency on the other hand is committing > its acts of violence in attempts to ferment > sectarian > divisions, create instability, prevent rebuilding of > infastructure and prolong US occupation. > > It is the US trying to create its version of a free > market economy, which only really means, how much > oil > they can exploit before they are given the boot. > > --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > The short of it is I don't support any gov allied > > with the present US gov > > and currently that's reality as I see it. Free > > market democracy is not for > > me. > > > > No, I wasn't in Iraq and Iran as the war was on > and > > there was no way I could > > obtain a visa in Jordan or elsewhere. /R > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > > Behalf Of L. Mirza > > Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 7:52 PM > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither > U.S. > > Aggression Nor > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > Why do you reject the current Iraq government > > Richard? > > It was elected. The winners were a coalition of > > mostly > > Shia, but some Kurdish and Sunnis, oh and I > > understand > > there is a Christian party in it as well. > > > > The first election was boycotted by most or at > least > > many Sunnis, so if they refused to stand up and be > > counted how in the hell can they complain when not > > in > > the count!!!! > > > > However, in the most recent and second election, > > Sunnis did join in as both candidates and more > voted > > than in the first elections. > > > > The coalition that won the majority of votes is > > certainly entitled to the government. This was not > > an > > installed government but one that was elected. Not > > that it matters who you support Richard, since you > > are > > not an Iraqi and can not vote there. However, > uncle > > sam is doing its best to keep the pot boiling so > it > > can maintain the occupation. > > > > I don't recall hearing you had ever been to Iraq. > I > > have and the Shias were completely oppressed, the > > only > > slums in Baghdad were where the Shias lived, and > > while > > all of the Central and Northern Iraq were well > > developed, had good water supplies and very good > > roads, that changes drastically once you drive > south > > in Iraq. You could tell exactly where the southern > > Iraqi dividing line was by the way the super four > > lane > > each way highway, suddenly turned into a one lane > > dusty, pot-holed road. In the south all the cities > > were crumbling, streets were in poor shape and > > services such as water and electricity were > minimal. > > Unlike central Iraq where everything was rebuilt > > from > > the Gulf war, just 9 months earlier, nothing in > the > > south had been rebuilt since 1988 when the Iran > Iraq > > war ended, let alone the the 1991 Gulf war. > > > > Are you saying Richard, that an oppressed majority > > can > > not now be allowed to rule as a majority in their > > own > > country? > > > > --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > You last paragraph may turn out to be accurate > but > > > for the present Bush and > > > his admin are hand in hand with Chalabi and I > can > > > only assume that's their > > > intent for the future. With the current > > arrangement > > > I have to reject the > > > Iraqi gov and hope things change for the better. > > /R > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > > > Behalf Of L. Mirza > > > Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 6:26 PM > > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither > > U.S. > > > Aggression Nor > > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > Chalabi is actually in no one's graces. He tied > > his > > > wagon to the coalition only because he figured > > with > > > Ayatollah Sistani's blessings, it would win the > > > popular vote. Had there been a chance for the US > > > backed candidate or another, he'd have hitched > to > > > that wagon. > > > > > > Right now the coalition has no policy to bar > > anyone > > > who wanted to join in, and getting into any kind > > of > > > battle trying to bar some would only divert them > > > from > > > what already is a difficult situation. As I > would > > > guess from experience in other countries where > > > numerous parties have joined together to defeat > > one > > > party or another, and the most recent aliance of > > > past > > > avowed enemies, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif > to > > > defeat Parwaiz Musharaf, is an example > expediency > > > for > > > a temporary period in order to gain political > > > advantage. In Bhutto's father's time, 9 parties > > > lined > > > up in a coalition in an attempt to defeat him. > > > > > > In Iran five so-called "moderate" parties joined > > up > > > to > > > attempt to gain in the elections. However, > before > > > the > > > elections took place none of the five was > willing > > to > > > bow out and support just one candidate. That led > > to > > > the election of Dr. Ahmedijad > > > > > > Today's allies will no doubt fall out and be > > > tomorrow's rivals in Iraq as well. > > > > > > --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > > > No Bushy wasn't but now empowered Chalabi, > back > > in > > > > US graces, and his > > > > friends are the prime nexus btw him and the > > Iraqi > > > > gov and they have control > > > > of the oil, defense, and finance ministries. > > One > > > > can look at the gov one > > > > way or another but to me that, along with > > > > Shia/Sharia domination of the > > > > judiciary in the background, constitutes prime > > > > power. I see an imperial > > > > alliance and on that ground I object to the > > Iraqi > > > > government. > > > > > > > > This is an anti-imperialist POLITICAL position > > re > > > > the particular matters of > > > > the two involved states and not an attack on > the > > > > islamic Faith in general. > > > > > > > > May Allah's will prevail. /R > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > > > > Behalf Of L. Mirza > > > > Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 5:45 AM > > > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither > > > U.S. > > > > Aggression Nor > > > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > > > > bush is not at all happy with the results of > the > > > > results of the elections in Iraq. He's just > been > > > > forced to live with the results. Have you > > > forgotten, > > > > the US state department backed another party > > > > altogether? Now they have to learn to "live" > > with > > > > the > > > > coalition party and try to make the best by > > > > attempting > > > > some manipulation. Thus, I am convinced that > the > > > US > > > > is > > > > behind much of the sectarian violence which of > > > > course > > > > gives the USA more time to keep the occupation > > > > going. > > > > > > > > If peace really breaks out in Iraq uncle sam > > will > > > > have > > > > to pack and leave. > > > > > > > > --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > > > > > Come on, your first sentence is nonfactual > > > > > spin....the new left is based on the fem > > > principle > > > > > not the male. You're > > > > > turning truth on its head. > > > > > > > > > > Hey, all it boils down to is some support > one > > > set > > > > of > > > > > beliefs and others others; all tend to > > encourage > > > > > spread and > > > > > empowerment of their own ideas and povs. > But > > > then > > > > > there's the matter of imperialism, > > specifically > > > > that > > > > > of the US. > > > > > > > > > > I'm sorry, Altaf, but it's, like, > > anti-imperial > > > > left > > > > > vs the imperial US gov and its allied govs > and > > > > mvts. > > > > > That's the > > > > > bottom line and it doesn't just happen Bush > is > > > pro > > > > > the present Iraqi gov anymore than it used > to > > be > > > > pro > > > > > Shah. The new > > > > > left works against the beast's interests not > > for > > > > > them. > > > > > > > > > > I might say it's interesting seeing if > > Venezuela > > > > can > > > > > create an oil alliance contra the US, one > > > > including > > > > > Iran and other > > > > > nations. /R > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > Behalf > > Of > > > > > Altaf Bhimji > > > > > Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 1:27 PM > > > > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] > Neither > > > > U.S. > > > > > Aggression Nor Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > this so-called "new left" however does wish > > for > > > > > regime changes in areas of the world that it > > > knows > > > > > nothing about - and > > > > > as such is reactionary, imperialist, and > > > > > patriarchical (sure... it does not advocate > > > > military > > > > > intervention, but it ends > > > > > up feeding the beast that it supposedly > > opposes > > > ) > > > > > ... because it does not believe in > > > > > self-determination --- or the > > > > > notion that people may decide to live in > ways > > > > other > > > > > than the "new-left" ideology. And if a > people > > do > > > > > chose a form of > > > > > govt other than "new-left", the new-left > will > > > > > attribute that to "theocratic repression" or > > > just > > > > > plain backwardness of > > > > > people (who then need to be "educated" on > the > > > > > virtues of the "new left"). > > > > > > > > > > Altaf > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > From: Richard > > > > > Sent: May 26, 2006 1:13 PM > > > > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] > > Neither > > > > > U.S. Aggression Nor Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The new left opposes Bush (christian > > > > conservative) > > > > > and the aligned Iraqi gov (islamic > > conservative) > > > > and > > > > > they don't > > > > > adhere to the Pres's form of imperial > > democracy > > > > nor > > > > > do they support christian Law (Old > Testament) > > > and, > > > > > finally, they > > > > > don't approve of islamic Sharia. State legal > > > > systems > > > > > and movements based on the Law and Sharia > are > > > > > traditional and > > > > > patriarchal. The new left everywhere and > > > whatever > > > > > its form is anti-patriarchalism and its many > > > > > manifestations. > > > > > > > > > > The new Iraqi Constitution, if I recall > > > > correctly > > > > > via Article 2....as well as elsewhere, > > > establishes > > > > > islamic Law > > > > > (Sharia) as the high FOUNDATION and supreme > > > source > > > > > of national law. > > > > > > > > > > Since the renaissance a secular left has > > > existed > > > > > throughout history having in our age spread > > over > > > > the > > > > > face of the > > > > > earth. Then too, at times, deep calls to > > deep. > > > > > > > > > > So it is in heaven, on earth, and in the > > sea. > > > > /R > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > > > > > Behalf Of L. Mirza > > > > > Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 10:31 AM > > > > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] > > Neither > > > > > U.S. Aggression Nor > > > > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Well then the secular left should stop > being > > > so > > > > > arragent and trying to impose their > > philosophy > > > > on > > > > > others. What is the difference between > them > > > and > > > > > bush's > > > > > regime change policy? They want secular > > then > > > > they > > > > > live > > > > > here and work on the areas needed of > change > > > and > > > > > correction here and not call for "regime" > > > change > > > > > in > > > > > countries they do not live or vote in or > try > > > to > > > > > interfer in those countries. Iran, BTW, IS > a > > > > > DEMOCRACY! They have had elections > > > > > since the Islamic revolution, including > two, > > > not > > > > > just > > > > > one vote, on the type of government they > > > wanted; > > > > a > > > > > secular or religious. They have term > limits > > as > > > > > well > > > > > for the President, who can only serve for > > two > > > > > terms, > > > > > then has to wait it out two terms before > > > running > > > > > again. Even their constitution was put to > a > > > > > referendom > > > > > before being finally adopted. I've been in > > > Iran > > > > > during > > > > > the Iran and Iraq war when people dodged > > > misiles > > > > > being > > > > > dropped on them in order to get to the > poles > > > and > > > > > votes. 83% of qualified voters turned out > > > during > > > > > the > > > > > elections during the Iraq imposed and U.S. > > > > > sponsored > > > > > war. That was more than impressive, but > > > amazing, > > > > > when > > > > > we see here, hardly 25-30% registered > > voters, > > > > not > > > > > just > > > > > qualified voters, turn-out in many > > elections. > > > > > > > > > > It is indeed NOT thercratic oppression > when > > > the > > > > > popular votes decide the form of > government > > is > > > > to > > > > > be > > > > > from a religious perspective. > > > > > > > > > > --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Regrets to those objecting to the LAAMN > > > post's > > > > > > content but there was never > > > > > > any possibility of an American secular > new > > > > left > > > > > > supporting religious > > > > > > governments whether christian, jewish, i > > > > slamic > > > > > or > > > > > > whatnot. The separation > > > > > > of church/temple/mosque and state > > principle > > > > > > forestalls any such support. /R > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > > > > > > Behalf Of Altaf Bhimji > > > > > > Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 1:11 PM > > > > > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > Subject: Re: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] > > > Neither > > > > > U.S. > > > > > > Aggression Nor > > > > > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, I agree totally with Loraine. I got > > the > > > > > same > > > > > > impression --- this is the > > > > > > same as the neo-con... you wish for > > > > "elections" > > > > > but > > > > > > if people elect someone > > > > > > you don't like... well then you go about > > > > wishing > > > > > for > > > > > > "regime change" --- How > > > > > > is that really , when it comes down to > it, > > > any > > > > > > different than the neo-con > > > > > > imperialists? Well the left better start > > get > > > > > used to > > > > > > seeing this happen all > > > > > > over the mid-east... or, remain totally > > > > > irrelevant > > > > > > other than Saturday > > > > > > afternoon marches... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > >From: "L. Mirza" <haq4u@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > > > > >Sent: May 25, 2006 11:31 AM > > > > > > >To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > >Subject: Re: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] > > > > Neither > > > > > U.S. > > > > > > Aggression Nor > > > > > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > > > > > >This is bullshit, big time. How dare > > others > > > > who > > > > > do > > > > > > not > > > > > > >live in Iran tell the Iranis what form > of > > > > > > government > > > > > > >they should have. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >I applaud the majority of the Irani > > working > > > > > class, > > > > > > and > > > > > > >working poor for their good judgement > in > > > > > chosing > > > > > > the > > > > > > >government. I wonder how many on that > > list > > > of > > > > > > >signatories has actually been in Iran, > > has > > > > > actually > > > > > > >met thousands of those "theocrats" > label > > > > them. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Sure like the priviliged classes in > Cuba > > > and > > > > > > >Venueseula, the wealthy Iranians don't > > > > support > > > > > the > > > > > > >Islamic government. But the working > class > > > and > > > > > the > > > > > > poor > > > > > > >know exactly what they want! In the > > > > elections > > > > > > before > > > > > > >this one they tried a so-called > moderate > > > > > (Khatamie) > > > > > > >and after being neglected, burned and > > > > watching > > > > > > their > > > > > > >society turn into greedy western style > > > > > consumerism, > > > > > > >70% of the people of Iran came out and > > > voted, > > > > > and > > > > > > the > > > > > > >majority voted for the most religious > of > > > the > > > > > > >candidates. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >You know the left/progressive > > intelligencia > > > > is > > > > > not > > > > > > so > > > > > > >superior as they claim. They just as > > > ignorant > > > > > and > > > > > > >prejudice and the neo-cons. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >--- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> -----Original Message----- > > > > > > >> From: laamn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > >> [mailto:laamn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > Behalf > > > Of > > > > > > >> Ed Pearl > > > > > > >> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 6:03 AM > > > > > > >> To: Ed Pearl > > > > > > >> Subject: [LAAMN] Neither U.S. > > Aggression > > > > Nor > > > > > > >> Theocratic Repression > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Iran: Neither U.S. Aggression Nor > > > > Theocratic > > > > > > >> Repression > > > > > > >> - A call for a new, democratic U.S. > > > foreign > > > > > > policy > > > > > > >> in > > > > > > >> the Middle East > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Dear Friend, > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> As the Administration escalates its > > > threats > > > > > > against > > > > > > >> Iran, we are writing to invite you to > > > sign > > > > > the > > > > > > >> Campaign > > > > > > >> for Peace and Democracy statement > > "Iran: > > > > > Neither > > > > > > >> U.S. > > > > > > >> Aggression Nor Theocratic Repression > - > > A > > > > call > > > > > for > > > > > > a > > > > > > >> new, democratic U.S. foreign policy > in > > > the > > > > > Middle > > > > > > >> East." The text is below. If you > would > > > like > > > > > to > > > > > > add > > > > > > >> your > > > > > > >> name or donate to publicize the > > > statement, > > > > > please > > > > > > go > > > > > > >> to > > > > > > >> our website www.cpdweb.org (if for > any > > > > reason > > > > > you > > > > > > >> have > > > > > > >> difficulty at the website, just send > us > > > an > > > > > email > > > > > > at > > > > > > >> cpd@xxxxxxx) > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Please join Michael Albert, Tom > > Ammiano, > > > > > Stanley > > > > > > >> Aronowitz, Rosalyn Baxandall, Eileen > > > Boris, > > > > > > Jeremy > > > > > > >> Brecher, Noam Chomsky, Ariel Dorfman, > > > > Martin > > > > > > >> Duberman, > > > > > > >> Rusti Eisenberg, Carlos R. Espinosa, > > > Samuel > > > > > > Farber, > > > > > > >> Mansour Farhang, Barbara Garson, > Larry > > > > Gross, > > > > > > Mina > > > > > > >> Hamilton, Thomas Harrison, Howie > > Hawkins, > > > > > Adam > > > > > > >> Hochschild, Nancy Holmstrom, Doug > > > Ireland, > > > > > Joy > > > > > > >> Kallio, > > > > > > >> Larry Kramer, Joanne Landy, Jesse > > > Lemisch, > > > > > John > > > > > > >> Leonard, Sue Leonard, Rabbi Michael > > > Lerner, > > > > > > Nelson > > > > > > >> Lichtenstein, Norman MacAfee, Marvin > & > > > > Betty > > > > > > >> Mandell, > > > > > > >> David McReynolds, David Oakford, > > Barbara > > > > > Watson > > > > > > >> Pillsbury, Henry Pillsbury, Frances > Fox > > > > > Piven, > > > > > > Nancy > > > > > > >> Romer, Ruth Rosen, Peter Rothberg, > > > Matthew > > > > > > >> Rothschild, > > > > > > >> Jennifer Scarlott, Jay Schaffner, > > Sydney > > > > > > Schanberg, > > > > > > >> Stephen R. Shalom, Wallace Shawn, > > > Meredith > > > > > Tax, > > > > > > >> Cornel > > > > > > >> West, Cora Weiss, Peter Weiss, Edmund > > > > White, > > > > > > >> Reginald > > > > > > >> Wilson, and Howard Zinn in signing > this > > > > > > statement. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Signers names and affiliations (for > > > > > > identification > > > > > > >> only) will be listed on the Campaign > > for > > > > > Peace > > > > > > and > > > > > > >> Democracy website and in other public > > > > venues. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> In peace and solidarity, > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Joanne L andy, Thomas Harrison, and > > > > Jennifer > > > > > > Scarlott > > > > > > >> Co-Directors, Campaign for Peace and > > > > > Democracy > > > > > > >> Please > > > > > > >> go to the CPD website at > www.cpdweb.org > > > to > > > > > sign, > > > > > > >> donate, or see the full list of > > signers. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> IRAN: NEITHER U.S. AGGRESSION NOR > > > > THEOCRATIC > > > > > > >> REPRESSION > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Just as it did before its invasion of > > > Iraq, > > > > > the > > > > > > Bush > > > > > > >> administration is manufacturing a > > climate > > > > of > > > > > fear > > > > > > in > > > > > > >> order to prepare public opinion for > > > another > > > > > act > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> aggression -- this time against Iran. > > > Three > > > > > years > > > > > > >> ago > > > > > > >> it was the specter of Saddam > Hussein's > > > > > alleged > > > > > > >> weapons > > > > > > >> of mass destruction; today it's the > > > threat > > > > of > > > > > a > > > > > > >> possible Iranian nuclear bomb. > > > Washington's > > > > > > >> immediate > > > > > > >> goal is to get the U.N. Security > > Council > > > to > > > > > > impose > > > > > > >> sanctions on Iran and, in all > > > probability, > > > > to > > > > > > >> justify a > > > > > > >> military attack on Tehran's nuclear > > > > > facilities -- > > > > > > a > > > > > > >> job > > > > > > >> that may be outsourced to Israel. The > > > White > > > > > House > > > > > > >> even > > > > > > >> insists on keeping the catastrophic > > > > "nuclear > > > > > > option" > > > > > > >> on > > > > > > >> the table -- that is, using tactical > > > > nuclear > > > > > > weapons > > > > > > >> to > > > > > > >> strike Iranian nuclear facilities, > many > > > of > > > > > which > > > > > > are > > > > > > >> located in or near civilian > population > > > > > centers. > > > > > > >> Although a full-scale invasion of > Iran > > is > > > > > highly > > > > > > >> unlikely at the moment, there can be > > > little > > > > > doubt > > > > > > >> that > > > > > > >> the neoconservatives in the Bush > > > > > administration > > > > > > have > > > > > > >> a > > > > > > >> grand strategy that includes, > > eventually, > > > > > "regime > > > > > > >> change" in Tehran as a way of further > > > > > enlarging > > > > > > U.S. > > > > > > >> imperial power. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> We strongly oppose the U.S. > occupation > > of > > > > > Iraq: > > > > > > it > > > > > > >> has > > > > > > >> brought appalling suffering to the > > Iraqi > > > > > people > > > > > > with > > > > > > >> fatalities in the tens of thousands, > > > > descent > > > > > into > > > > > > >> civil > > > > > > >> war and the strengthening of the most > > > > > > authoritarian > > > > > > >> elements in Iraqi society -- as well > as > > > > more > > > > > than > > > > > > >> 2,400 > > > > > > >> U.S. soldiers dead and thousands more > > > > > wounded. > > > > > > >> Likewise, the U.S. government's > > attempts > > > to > > > > > bully > > > > > > >> Iran > > > > > > >> are succeeding mainly in terrorizing > > the > > > > > Iranian > > > > > > >> people > > > > > > >> and weakening internal opposition to > > the > > > > > mullahs. > > > > > > >> The > > > > > > >> Bush administration's claim that it > is > > > > > promoting > > > > > > >> democracy in these two countries is > the > > > > > grossest > > > > > > >> hypocrisy; its only interest is power > > and > > > > > control > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> oil resources. We, on the other hand, > > > care > > > > > very > > > > > > much > > > > > > >> about the ability of the Iraqi and > > > Iranian > > > > > people > > > > > > to > > > > > > >> control their own societies, about > > civil > > > > > > liberties > > > > > > >> and > > > > > > >> the rights of women, gays, workers, > and > > > > > ethnic > > > > > > >> minorities there. That is why we > raise > > > our > > > > > voices > > > > > > >> against the current threats to Iran > and > > > > call > > > > > for > > > > > > >> immediate withdrawal of all U.S. > forces > > > > from > > > > > > Iraq. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> We too would like to see a regime > > change > > > in > > > > > > Tehran, > > > > > > >> but > > > > > > >> one brought about by the Iranian > people > > > > > > themselves, > > > > > > >> not > > > > > > >> by Washington. For 26 years Iran has > > been > > > > > ruled > > > > > > by a > > > > > > >> repressive theocracy. Behind the > formal > > > > > trappings > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> democracy, real power is held by an > > > > > un-elected > > > > > > >> oligarchy of clerics; all electoral > > > > > candidates > > > > > > must > > > > > > >> receive their approval, and their > > > authority > > > > > is > > > > > > >> enforced > > > > > > >> by gangs of religious thugs. > President > > > > > > Ahmadinejad > > > > > > >> is a > > > > > > >> Holocaust denier who has called for > the > > > > > > elimination > > > > > > >> of > > > > > > >> Israel. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Iranian women lack some of the most > > basic > > > > > human > > > > > > >> rights. > > > > > > >> They cannot dress, work, travel or > > choose > > > > > spouses > > > > > > >> freely. "Honor killing" is legal, and > > by > > > > law > > > > > > women > > > > > > >> can > > > > > > >> be hanged or stoned to death for > > > "unchaste > > > > > > >> behavior." > > > > > > >> Millions of Iranian women find ways > to > > at > > > > > least > > > > > > >> partly > > > > > > >> circumvent these restrictions, and > > > > relatively > > > > > few > > > > > > >> suffer the most extreme penalties. > > Women > > > > vote > > > > > and > > > > > > >> sit > > > > > > >> in parliament, and there are > > significant > > > > > numbers > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> women both in university and at the > > > > > workplace.But > > > > > > >> the > > > > > > >> fact remains that there are few > > countries > > > > in > > > > > the > > > > > > >> world > > > > > > >> where women face legal handicaps as > > > severe > > > > as > > > > > > those > > > > > > >> in > > > > > > >> Iran. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Workers who try to strike or form > > > > independent > > > > > > trade > > > > > > >> unions are often violently put down. > > > Large > > > > > > numbers > > > > > > >> of > > > > > > >> workers have not been paid for months > > and > > > > in > > > > > some > > > > > > >> cases > > > > > > >> for years. Attempts to organize are > > > > > frequently > > > > > > >> attacked > > > > > > >> by club- and knife-wielding > > mercenaries, > > > > > security > > > > > > >> forces and the military. Despite this > > > > > repression, > > > > > > >> workers are continuing to organize, > > > > however, > > > > > and > > > > > > >> independent unions are gaining a > > > foothold. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> As in many countries, homosexuality > is > > > > > outlawed, > > > > > > but > > > > > > >> Tehran has go ne further than most by > > > > making > > > > > > >> homosexual > > > > > > >> conduct by men or women punishable by > > > death > > > > > and > > > > > > >> unleashing a vicious pogrom against > > > Iranian > > > > > gays, > > > > > > >> many > > > > > > >> of whom have been tortured, beaten, > and > > > > > publicly > > > > > > >> executed. The government is carrying > on > > a > > > > > massive > > > > > > >> campaign of entrapment through the > > > > Internet; > > > > > > victims > > > > > > >> are subjected to constant > surveillance, > > > > loss > > > > > of > > > > > > >> employment, arrest, and violent > > blackmail > > > > > that > > > > > > >> forces > > > > > > >> them to reveal the names of other > > > > > homosexuals. > > > > > > >> Torture > > > > > > >> is used to make gay people confess to > > > > crimes > > > > > they > > > > > > >> never > > > > > > >> committed. The basiji and other > > religious > > > > > > parapolice > > > > > > >> forces kidnap gay people, who are > > > > sequestered > > > > > and > > > > > > >> tortured until they name names. Gays > on > > > the > > > > > > >> government's lists are forbidden to > > leave > > > > the > > > > > > >> country. > > > > > > >> And now Iran has exported its violent > > > > > anti-gay > > > > > > >> crusade > > > > > > >> to Iraq. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> In recent years there has been > growing > > > > > resistance > > > > > > >> within Iranian society, particularly > > from > > > > > workers > > > > > > >> fighting privatization and > unemployment > > > and > > > > > young > > > > > > >> people chafing against social and > > > political > > > > > > >> repression. > > > > > > >> This resistance holds the promise of > > > > bringing > > > > > > >> grassroots democratic change to Iran. > > The > > > > > threat > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> military action or broader and > harsher > > > > > sanctions > > > > > > >> from > > > > > > >> outside -- and especially the > > horrifying > > > > > menace > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> nuclear strikes --only serve to rally > > > > people > > > > > > around > > > > > > >> the > > > > > > >> regime and to give it another excuse > to > > > > clamp > > > > > > down > > > > > > >> on > > > > > > >> dissent, inhibiting a potentially > > > > > revolutionary > > > > > > &g t;> process > > > > > > >> and strengthening the right-wing > > clerics. > > > > > U.S. > > > > > > >> threats > > > > > > >> have already served to legitimize > > nuclear > > > > > weapons > > > > > > to > > > > > > >> the Iranian people. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation > > > Treaty, > > > > > Iran > > > > > > has > > > > > > >> the right to develop civilian nuclear > > > > power, > > > > > > though > > > > > > >> the > > > > > > >> Bush administration has tried to > > obscure > > > > this > > > > > > fact. > > > > > > >> Many of us oppose the use of nuclear > > > power > > > > by > > > > > any > > > > > > >> country, both for environmental > reasons > > > and > > > > > > because > > > > > > >> of > > > > > > >> its link to nuclear weapons -- but > that > > > is > > > > > not > > > > > > the > > > > > > >> issue in the present U.S.-Iran > > > > confrontation. > > > > > > While > > > > > > >> there is reason to doubt Tehran's > > > > assurances > > > > > that > > > > > > it > > > > > > >> only wants to develop civilian > nuclear > > > > > energy, > > > > > > Iran > > > > > > >> is > > > > > > >> probably still several years away > from > > > > being > > > > > able > > > > > > to > > > > > > >> produce nuclear weapons. And if > Tehran > > > > > acquires > > > > > > the > > > > > > >> bomb, it is unlikely that the > > ayatollahs, > > > > who > > > > > > hold > > > > > > >> decisive power, would use it since it > > > would > > > > > be > > > > > > >> suicidal > > > > > > >> to do so. Israel alone has between > 200 > > > and > > > > > 300 > > > > > > >> nuclear > > > > > > >> warheads capable of striking Iran, > and > > > this > > > > > is > > > > > > not > > > > > > >> counting the thousands of warheads > the > > > U.S. > > > > > can > > > > > > >> launch > > > > > > >> at Iran. Nevertheless, there is no > > > > guarantee > > > > > that > > > > > > >> Iran, > > > > > > >> or any other state armed with nuclear > > > > > weapons, > > > > > > won't > > > > > > >> use them or make them available to > > > others. > > > > As > > > > > > long > > > > > > >> as > > > > > > >> these barbaric weapons exist, they > can > > be > > > > > used, > > > > > > and > > > > > > >> the > > > > > > >> more countries that possess them the > > more > > > > > likely > > > > > > it > > > > > > >> is > > > > > > >> over time that they will be used. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> We therefore strongly oppose any > effort > > > by > > > > > Tehran > > > > > > to > > > > > > >> acquire nuclear weapons. But as long > as > > a > > > > > handful > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> nations arrogate to themselves the > > > > exclusive > > > > > > right > > > > > > >> to > > > > > > >> possess nuclear weapons, the > have-nots > > > will > > > > > > always > > > > > > >> be > > > > > > >> able to point to the threat posed by > > the > > > > > nuclear > > > > > > >> powers > > > > > > >> and will constantly seek to acquire > > such > > > > > weapons > > > > > > for > > > > > > >> themselves -- as North Korea has > > already > > > > > done, > > > > > > >> withdrawing from the > Non-Proliferation > > > > Treaty > > > > > > >> regime. > > > > > > >> Likewise, Iran, which has been > menaced > > by > > > > the > > > > > > U.S. > > > > > > >> for > > > > > > >> more than two decades and was a > charter > > > > > member of > > > > > > >> Bush's "axis of evil," may opt out of > > the > > > > > NPT. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> An end to Washington's belligerence > is > > a > > > > > crucial > > > > > > >> step > > > > > > >> in preventing Tehran from joining the > > > > nuclear > > > > > > >> "club." > > > > > > >> Beyond that, the only way to stop > > > > > proliferation > > > > > > is > > > > > > >> for > > > > > > >> those countries that have nuclear > > weapons > > > > to > > > > > > begin > > > > > > >> disarming -- something the Bush > > > > > administration > > > > > > and > > > > > > >> previous administrations of both > > parties > > > > have > > > > > > >> refused > > > > > > >> to do, despite the fact that the U.S. > > is > > > a > > > > > > signatory > > > > > > >> to > > > > > > >> the Non-Proliferation Treaty which > > > commits > > > > it > > > > > to > > > > > > >> "pursue negotiations in good faith on > > > > > effective > > > > > > >> measures relating to cessation of the > > > > nuclear > > > > > > arms > > > > > > >> race > > > > > > >> at an early date and to nuclear > > > > disarmament." > > > > > At > > > > > > the > > > > > > >> same time the nuclear powers must > work > > > > toward > > > > > > >> nuclear- > > > > > > >> free zones around the world, but > > > especially > > > > > in > > > > > > the > > > > > > >> ; Middle East, a particularly > volatile > > > and > > > > > > dangerous > > > > > > >> region. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> We call for a new democratic U.S. > > foreign > > > > > policy > > > > > > >> that > > > > > > >> would deal with the threat posed to > all > > > of > > > > us > > > > > by > > > > > > >> terrorist networks, and by weapons of > > > mass > > > > > > >> destruction, > > > > > > >> and promote real democracy in the > > Middle > > > > East > > > > > and > > > > > > >> elsewhere, by: > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Renouncing the use of military > > > intervention > > > > > to > > > > > > >> extend > > > > > > >> and consolidate U.S. imperial power, > > and > > > > > > withdrawing > > > > > > >> U.S. troops and bases from the Middle > > > East. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Ending U.S. support for authoritarian > > and > > > > > corrupt > > > > > > >> regimes, e.g. Saudi Arabia, the Gulf > > > states > > > > > and > > > > > > >> Egypt. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Opposing all forms of terrorism > > worldwide > > > > -- > > > > > by > > > > > > Al > > > > > > >> Qaeda, Iraqi death squads, and > > > Palestinian > > > > > > suicide > > > > > > >> bombers, and by U.S.-backed forces > like > > > the > > > > > > >> Colombian > > > > > > >> paramilitaries and the Israeli > military > > > in > > > > > the > > > > > > >> Occupied > > > > > > >> Territories -- as well as the > brutality > > > and > > > > > > >> humiliation > > > > > > >> inflicted on Iraqis every day by U.S. > > > > > occupation > > > > > > >> forces > > > > > > >> and Washington's ominous threats > > against > > > > > Iran. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Supporting the right of national > > > > > > self-determination > > > > > > >> for > > > > > > >> all peoples in the Middle East, > > including > > > > the > > > > > > Kurds, > > > > > > >> Palestinians and Israeli Jews. Ending > > > > support > > > > > for > > > > > > >> Israeli occupation of the West Bank > and > > > > > > oppression > > > > > > >> of > > > > > > >> the Palestinian people. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Taking unilateral steps toward > > renouncing > > > > > weapons > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> mass destruction, including nuclear > > > > weapons, > > > > > and > > > > > > >> vigorously promoti ng international > > > > > disarmament > > > > > > >> treaties, instead of obstructing even > > > > minimal > > > > > > >> efforts > > > > > > >> to end the arms race. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> Abandoning the effort to impose, > > through > > > > the > > > > > > >> IMF/World > > > > > > >> Bank or unilaterally, neoliberal > > economic > > > > > > policies > > > > > > >> of > > > > > > >> privatization and austerity that > bring > > > mass > > > > > > misery > > > > > > >> to > > > > > > >> people in large parts of the world. > > > > > Initiating a > > > > > > >> major > > > > > > >> foreign aid program directed at > popular > > > > > rather > > > > > > than > > > > > > >> corporate needs. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> The majority of people in this > country > > > now > > > > > > believe > > > > > > >> that > > > > > > >> the invasion of Iraq was disastrously > > > wrong > > > > > and > > > > > > that > > > > > > >> they were systematically lied to by > the > > > > Bush > > > > > > >> Administration about the reasons for > > > going > > > > to > > > > > > war, > > > > > > >> and > > > > > > >> they are wary of new U.S. military > > > > > intervention > > > > > > in > > > > > > >> the > > > > > > >> Middle East. At the same time, the > > > > > > administration's > > > > > > >> scare tactics may succeed in > generating > > > > > popular > > > > > > >> support > > > > > > >> for aerial attacks on Iran. It is > > > therefore > > > > > > >> imperative > > > > > > >> to speak out now against Washington's > > > > > threats, to > > > > > > >> educate public opinion, and to build > > > > > organized > > > > > > >> opposition to aggression against > Iran, > > as > > > > > well as > > > > > > >> support for immediate, complete > > > withdrawal > > > > > from > > > > > > >> Iraq. > > > > > > >> It is time to demand a new democratic > > > U.S. > > > > > > foreign > > > > > > >> policy that genuinely expresses > > > solidarity > > > > > with > > > > > > the > > > > > > >> aspirations of people for liberty > > > > everywhere, > > > > > > >> renounces > > > > > > >> once and for all imperial > intervention, > > > and > > > > > is > > > > > > >> committed to real disarmament. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> [CPD's previo us statements, > including > > > "We > > > > > Oppose > > > > > > >> Both > > > > > > >> Saddam Hussein and The War Against > > Iraq: > > > A > > > > > call > > > > > > for > > > > > > >> a > > > > > > >> new, democratic U.S. foreign policy," > > > have > > > > > > appeared > > > > > > >> in > > > > > > >> The New York Times, The Nation, and > The > > > > > > Progressive, > > > > > > >> as > > > > > > >> well as on many websites and > listserves > > > in > > > > > this > > > > > > >> country > > > > > > >> and abroad. Your tax deductible > > donation > > > > will > > > > > > enable > > > > > > >> us > > > > > > >> to publicize this declaration of > > > opposition > > > > > to > > > > > > war > > > > > > >> and > > > > > > >> repression in these dangerous times.] > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>_______________________________________________________ > > > > > > >> portside (the left side in nautical > > > > parlance) > > > > > is > > > > > > a > > > > > > >> news, > > > > > > >> discussion and debate service of the > > > > > Committees > > > > > > of > > > > > > >> Correspondence for Democracy and > > > Socialism. > > > > > It > > > > > > aims > > > > > > >> to > > > > > > >> provide varied material of interest > to > > > > people > > > > > on > > > > > > the > > > > > > >> left. > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> To subscribe: > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://lists.portside.org/mailman/listinfo/portside > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Read "Internment Camps of Bangladesh," > by > > > > > Loraine > > > > > > Mirza > > > > > > >Published by Crescent International > > > > Newspapers, > > > > > > Inc. > > > > > > >300 Steelcase Road West, Unit 8, > Markham, > > > > > Ontario, > > > > > > Canada L3R 2W2 > > > > > > >"The story of a long-suffering people > > told > > > > with > > > > > > compassion and sensitivity. > > > > > > All who care for justice must read this > > > book. > > > > > > Loraine Mirza, an American > > > > > > Muslim print and broadcast journalist, > has > > > > > written > > > > > > this remarkable account > > > > > > of the 'Stranded Pakistanis,' trapped in > > > > > internment > > > > > > camps in Bangladesh > > > > > > since 1972." (Zafar Bangash, Director of > > > > > Institute > > > > > > of Contem porary Islamic > > > > > > Thought.) > > > > > > >For more information: > > > > > > >e-mail: haq_for_u@xxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > > info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > > crescent@xxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > > crescent.uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > >Visit web sites: > > > > > > www.statelesspeopleinbangladesh.net > > > > > > > > > > www.strandedpakistanis.com > > > > > > > www.OBATHelpers.org > > > > > > > www.muslimedia.com > > > > > > > www.ihrc.org > > > > > > - ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get to your groups with one click. Know instantly when new email arrives http://us.click.yahoo.com/.7bhrC/MGxNAA/yQLSAA/xYTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New Pacifica Working Group http://www.egroups.com/group/NewPacifica 'Save Our Stations!' Yahoo! 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