Anti-War
We went to the theater tonight and saw, “How to lose a guy in ten days.“
It was not the best movie I have ever seen. You might enjoy it more than
I especially if you like “chick flicks”. I am predisposed by gender to
be a hard sell. When I see an unending array of ulterior transactions,
what Eric Berne would call game like behavior, I start to wince. When I
started seeing it as an analogy to the current political dilemma that we
are facing, I started enjoying it a lot more.
A very tragic aspect of the war against Iraq is that the administration has convinced so many good people to help him do this terrible thing by telling them that it is necessary and good for America, good for Iraq, and good for the world. More and more people are asking themselves if the purpose of this war is to protect our freedoms or to support Bush’s re-election.
A very tragic aspect of the war against Iraq is that the administration has convinced so many good people to help him do this terrible thing by telling them that it is necessary and good for America, good for Iraq, and good for the world. More and more people are asking themselves if the purpose of this war is to protect our freedoms or to support Bush’s re-election.
Last October, the New York Times reported that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ordered the military’s regional commanders to rewrite all of their war plans to capitalize on precision weapons, better intelligence and speedier deployment in the event the United States decided to invade Iraq. That war plan, which Rumsfeld helped shape, has now failed and has led to deep divisions between military commanders and the defense secretary, according to news reports.
Despite Rumsfeld’s recent denials that he did not override requests by military brass to deploy more ground troops in Iraq, he told the Times last year that the cornerstone of the war plan against Iraq was to use fewer ground troops, a move that caused consternation among some in the military who said concern for the troops requires overwhelming numerical superiority to assure victory, the Times reported in its Oct. 13, 2002 edition.
These officers said they view Rumsfeld's approach as injecting too much risk into war planning and have said it could result in U.S. casualties that might be prevented by amassing larger forces.
Despite Rumsfeld’s recent denials that he did not override requests by military brass to deploy more ground troops in Iraq, he told the Times last year that the cornerstone of the war plan against Iraq was to use fewer ground troops, a move that caused consternation among some in the military who said concern for the troops requires overwhelming numerical superiority to assure victory, the Times reported in its Oct. 13, 2002 edition.
These officers said they view Rumsfeld's approach as injecting too much risk into war planning and have said it could result in U.S. casualties that might be prevented by amassing larger forces.
A transgendered female participating in an anti-war protest was singled out, arrested and abused early Friday morning in Portland, Oregon. Local transgenders are upset, and demanding explanations in response to the treatment by the Portland Police and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Dept.
In addition, the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC) has expressed deep concern at the initial reports of this incident. NTAC's chair, Vanessa Edwards Foster, called the news "especially troubling" and worthy of deeper investigation.
In addition, the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC) has expressed deep concern at the initial reports of this incident. NTAC's chair, Vanessa Edwards Foster, called the news "especially troubling" and worthy of deeper investigation.
International women's organizations, including MADRE, Women of Color
Resource Center, Center for Women's Global Leadership, and the International
Women's Human Rights Law Clinic, today joined other women's organizations
worldwide as they called on the member states of the United Nations General
Assembly to enact an emergency application of UN Resolution 377 ("Uniting
for Peace") to stop the US-led bombing of Iraq and protect Iraqi civilians.
Uniting for Peace provides that in the event of a "threat to the peace or act of aggression," which the Security Council does not counter, the General Assembly "shall consider the matter immediately." The Assembly can recommend collective measures, including the use of armed forces, to member states to "maintain or restore international peace and security."
Uniting for Peace provides that in the event of a "threat to the peace or act of aggression," which the Security Council does not counter, the General Assembly "shall consider the matter immediately." The Assembly can recommend collective measures, including the use of armed forces, to member states to "maintain or restore international peace and security."
Leaders of the Central Ohio Muslim community,
representing area Islamic and Arab-American organizations, met Monday with top officials of the FBI. The goal of the meeting, facilitated by the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) was to have an open and informal discussion about topics of concern to the Muslim community.
Issues addressed at the meeting included ways to prevent hate crimes and backlash attacks that may result from the war on Iraq and how the local Muslim community can do its part in the defense against terrorism.
"Like all Americans, the Muslim community in Ohio is concerned about America's national security," said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Jad Humeidan. "The leadership of our community is ready, willing and able to work with law enforcement authorities for the safety and security of this country," said Humeidan.
He added that CAIR-Ohio has received several complaints of harassment by FBI agents, and that agency supervisors need to ensure that agents in the field are not over-stepping their legal authority.
Issues addressed at the meeting included ways to prevent hate crimes and backlash attacks that may result from the war on Iraq and how the local Muslim community can do its part in the defense against terrorism.
"Like all Americans, the Muslim community in Ohio is concerned about America's national security," said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Jad Humeidan. "The leadership of our community is ready, willing and able to work with law enforcement authorities for the safety and security of this country," said Humeidan.
He added that CAIR-Ohio has received several complaints of harassment by FBI agents, and that agency supervisors need to ensure that agents in the field are not over-stepping their legal authority.
I hope the stock market gets hammered. I hope the Iraqis set fire to as many oil fields as possible. I hope oil prices in the United States surge and shortages persist. I hope the antiwar protestors become disobedient. I hope the economy never recovers. I hope Iraq doesn’t have weapons of mass destruction. I hope our troops make it home alive.
This is the only way to drive home the point that war is brutal no matter who the enemy is. After the bombs dropped on Baghdad and hundreds of Iraqi soldiers surrendered to U.S. and British troops, the pundits on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC reported that the war could end within a month.
“Nonsense,” I said.
This war would be an easy victory for the U.S. and its allies, the cable news outlets said. Kind of like watching the Los Angeles Lakers pummel the Los Angeles Clippers. Reaction here to the commentaries and the real-time images was swift. The stock market soared. Oil prices plummeted. It appears that the outcome of the war is measured by how well the Dow Jones Industrial Average performs
This is the only way to drive home the point that war is brutal no matter who the enemy is. After the bombs dropped on Baghdad and hundreds of Iraqi soldiers surrendered to U.S. and British troops, the pundits on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC reported that the war could end within a month.
“Nonsense,” I said.
This war would be an easy victory for the U.S. and its allies, the cable news outlets said. Kind of like watching the Los Angeles Lakers pummel the Los Angeles Clippers. Reaction here to the commentaries and the real-time images was swift. The stock market soared. Oil prices plummeted. It appears that the outcome of the war is measured by how well the Dow Jones Industrial Average performs
We are veterans of the United States armed forces. We stand with the
majority of humanity, including millions in our own country, in
opposition to the United States' all out war on Iraq. We span many
wars and eras, have many political views and we all agree that this
war is wrong. Many of us believed serving in the military was our
duty, and our job was to defend this country. Our experiences in the
military caused us to question much of what we were taught. Now we
see our REAL duty is to encourage you as members of the U.S. armed
forces to find out what you are being sent to fight and die for and
what the consequences of your actions will be for humanity. We call
upon you, the active duty and reservists, to follow your conscience
and do the right thing. In the last Gulf War, as troops, we were
ordered to murder from a safe distance. We destroyed much of Iraq
from the air, killing hundreds of thousands, including civilians. We
remember the road to Basra -- the Highway of Death -- where we were
ordered to kill fleeing Iraqis. We bulldozed trenches, burying people
alive. The use of depleted uranium weapons left the battlefields
radioactive.
A nation that prides itself on its adherence to the "rule of law" has violated that commitment in launching a patently illegal war.[1]
Under fundamental international law, military force is permissible only in self-defense or when authorized by the U.N. Security Council.
The administration does not attempt to argue that self-defense applies. Iraq poses no imminent threat.
The Bush team's new doctrine of "preventive war" simply has no legitimacy under international law. Nazi leaders offered the same defense at the Nuremberg Tribunal.[2]
Rejecting the claim, the Tribunal found the Nazis guilty of the crime of aggression. As the Tribunal said, "To initiate a war of aggression, however, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole."
Has the use of force to unseat Saddam Hussein been authorized by the Security Council?[3]
The answer is unequivocally no.
Under fundamental international law, military force is permissible only in self-defense or when authorized by the U.N. Security Council.
The administration does not attempt to argue that self-defense applies. Iraq poses no imminent threat.
The Bush team's new doctrine of "preventive war" simply has no legitimacy under international law. Nazi leaders offered the same defense at the Nuremberg Tribunal.[2]
Rejecting the claim, the Tribunal found the Nazis guilty of the crime of aggression. As the Tribunal said, "To initiate a war of aggression, however, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole."
Has the use of force to unseat Saddam Hussein been authorized by the Security Council?[3]
The answer is unequivocally no.
Dear friends,
In Baghdad, as I write, things are relatively quiet. Today IPT delegate Wade Hudson had a chance to take a limited drive around Baghdad with a driver and a government minder. After passing by the still smoking Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, he drove to a residential neighborhood where he reports having seen a bomb crater 8 to 12 feet deep "in the middle of a wide, divided street. Traffic in one direction was blocked." He also reported passing by "many small homes in the neighborhood with all of their front windows blown out, presumably from the blast that created the crater."
A few hours ago, we spoke with Kathy Kelly at the Al Fanar hotel in downtown Baghdad. Kathy told us that they will be going around and visiting some hospitals tomorrow where there are apparently quite a lot of children. It is expected that the worst is yet to come.
In Baghdad, as I write, things are relatively quiet. Today IPT delegate Wade Hudson had a chance to take a limited drive around Baghdad with a driver and a government minder. After passing by the still smoking Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, he drove to a residential neighborhood where he reports having seen a bomb crater 8 to 12 feet deep "in the middle of a wide, divided street. Traffic in one direction was blocked." He also reported passing by "many small homes in the neighborhood with all of their front windows blown out, presumably from the blast that created the crater."
A few hours ago, we spoke with Kathy Kelly at the Al Fanar hotel in downtown Baghdad. Kathy told us that they will be going around and visiting some hospitals tomorrow where there are apparently quite a lot of children. It is expected that the worst is yet to come.
Veterans For Peace has sent an open letter to fifteen generals and
admirals in the top ranks of the US Military advising them of their
possible liabilities, under international law, to criminal prosecution
for being part of a pre-emptive war against Iraq. Veterans For
Peace, headquartered in St. Louis, MO, is an organization of men
and women who have served in peacetime and in most of the wars
of the last century, with 92 chapters nationwide.
OPEN LETTER TO THE NATION'S TOP MILITARY COMMANDERS
General Richard B. Myers, Chairman, USAF;
General Peter Pace, Vice Chairman, USMC
Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations
General Michael W. Hagee, Commandant USMC
General John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff, USAF
General Erick Shineski, Chief of Staff, USA
_________________________________________ United States Unified Combatant Commanders:
General James L. Jones, USMC, US European Command,
Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN, US Pacific Command,
Admiral E.P. Giambastiani, USN, US Joint Forces Command,
General James T. Hill. USA, U Southern Command,
General Tommy R. Franks, USA, US Central Command,
OPEN LETTER TO THE NATION'S TOP MILITARY COMMANDERS
General Richard B. Myers, Chairman, USAF;
General Peter Pace, Vice Chairman, USMC
Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations
General Michael W. Hagee, Commandant USMC
General John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff, USAF
General Erick Shineski, Chief of Staff, USA
_________________________________________ United States Unified Combatant Commanders:
General James L. Jones, USMC, US European Command,
Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN, US Pacific Command,
Admiral E.P. Giambastiani, USN, US Joint Forces Command,
General James T. Hill. USA, U Southern Command,
General Tommy R. Franks, USA, US Central Command,