He's more than that, he's "our" man in Baghdad. /R -----Original Message----- From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of L. Mirza Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 4:47 PM To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither U.S. Aggression Nor Theocratic Repression Chalabi is only pro-himself. --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Chalabi and other govermental pro Americans? Ok, as > always it's a > possibility but I don't see any action in that > direction other than that > indicated in this secular link: > http://www.uuiraq.org/ > > I see the Chalabi folks as a trojan horse withinin > the Shia gov....a horse > with it's own race to run, yet, one the gov allows > room to run. > > To only withdraw the US forces in and of itself will > change nothing. /R > > -----Original Message----- > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > Behalf Of L. Mirza > Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 6:48 AM > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither U.S. > Aggression Nor > Theocratic Repression > > > Chalabi will be out as soon as the Americans are. > > --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > The imperial connection runs from Bush/Cheney to > > Chalabi and his powerful > > ministerial friends. > > > > Loraine, ask yourself why the Pres supports this > > gov. Why would he do that? > > Natural resources, oil? Chalabi and his pals > > control the oil ministry as > > well as defence and finance. As a whole the Iraqi > > people are going to be > > exploited. /R > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > > Behalf Of L. Mirza > > Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 7:56 PM > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither > U.S. > > Aggression Nor > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > Richard, > > And just how are the current coalition party in > Iraq > > an endorsement of imperialism? > > > > 1. They are an indiginous party > > > > 2. They were elected > > > > 3. The US did not want this coalition to rule > > > > --- Richard <rsierra7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > Richard doesn't support imperialism, that's the > > crux > > > of the matter. /R > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > [mailto:NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On > > > Behalf Of L. Mirza > > > Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 6:40 PM > > > To: NewPacifica@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > Subject: RE: [NewPacifica] FW: [LAAMN] Neither > > U.S. > > > Aggression Nor > > > Theocratic Repression > > > > > > > > > Yes, Kevin and while I don't expect everyone to > > > follow > > > my system of belief, it would be more in keeping > > and > > > compatable with the Pacifica Mission to respect > > the > > > rights of others in doing things differently. > > > > > > --- Kevin White <cuitlacoche1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > > > I'm sorry, Richard, but everything cannot be > > > broken > > > > down into Cartesian Dualism. (+/-) > > > > > > > > Lorraine and company are not spinning, they > > are > > > > trying to share with you that political waters > > > > sometimes run deep. > > > > > > > > K > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 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 --------------------~--> Everything you need is one click away. Make Yahoo! your home page now. http://us.click.yahoo.com/AHchtC/4FxNAA/yQLSAA/xYTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New Pacifica Working Group http://www.egroups.com/group/NewPacifica 'Save Our Stations!' Yahoo! 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