Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 23:20:47 UT From: bstoleelection@fastmail.fm ("Mr.Liberal II") Subject: [azpeace] Fwd: Can you help ask the hard questions? To: azpeace@yahoogroups.com Reply-To: azpeace@yahoogroups.com
> On 8 Aug 2002 20:03:07 -0000, "Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org"
> <moveon-help@list.moveon.org> said:
> > Dear friend,
> >
> > The Bush Administration appears determined to launch a war on Iraq,
> > regardless of the information presented at last week's hearings.
> > According to The Guardian, a British newspaper, "senior US
> > officials have said that a war against Iraq is now inevitable."
> > This news comes despite the evidence raised at last week's
> > hearings -- that a war in Iraq will be very expensive, in lives and
> > in money; that it will take years, thousands of troops, and
> > billions of dollars to reconstruct the country; that a war could
> > spark regional conflict. Although many members of the
> > Administration itself don't support attacking Iraq any more, the
> > hawks at the helm have blinders on.
> >
> > That's why we have to convince Senators to be more vocal. Many of
> > them are concerned that if they speak out on these issues, they'll
> > be labeled 'unpatriotic.' Nothing could be farther from the truth,
> > of course: with our troops, our money, and our nation's reputation
> > on the line, a true patriot would be very reticent to engage in a
> > massive and bloody war based on so little evidence and such
> > half-baked theory. As a constituent, you can hlp to convince them
> > to ask the hard questions.
> >
> > We're setting up meetings between all 100 Senators and constituents
> > who are concerned about the war juggernaut. For you, the meetings
> > will likely take place in Tucson or Phoenix, during the last
> > week of August. They'll only last about half an hour, but such
> > meetings can have a major impact on a Senator's policy outlook.
> >
> > Would you be willing to come?
> >
> > Please let us know at:
> >
> > http://www.moveon.org/iraq_meetings.html?id=674-294533-NHRYJr8YT15kOgTrJg79cg
> >
> > If you indicate that you're up for the meetings, we'll get back to
> > you soon with more details on how they'll be structured and how to
> > prepare.
> >
> > Thanks for your help. These meetings can make a real difference,
> > but they won't happen without people like you.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > --Eli Pariser
> > International Campaigns Director
> > MoveOn.org
> > Thursday, August 8, 2002
> >
> >
> > BACKGROUND ON A POSSIBLE WAR WITH IRAQ:
> >
> > * The Bush Administration is planning a war on Iraq. Troop
> > deployments indicate that it could come in October; a "surprise
> > attack" could come even sooner. Secretary of Defense Donald
> > Rumsfeld and other top officials are honing a war plan that will
> > require up to a quarter million troops.
> >
> > * The Bush Administration contends that a war on Iraq is needed
> > because Saddam Hussein possesses or is intent on acquiring weapons
> > of mass destruction. But no evidence o development of these
> > weapons or the weapons themselves has been made public, or even
> > offered to our allies in NATO.
> >
> > * Bush labeled Iraq a part of the "axis of evil," states which
> > supposedly back terrorism. But there is no evidence at all that
> > Iraq was behind the September 11th attacks or any other recent
> > terrorist activity against the United States.
> >
> > * Even the top U.S. generals are counseling restraint. They're
> > concerned that there will be lots of urban fighting and a
> > probability that if Saddam does have weapons of mass destruction,
> > he'll use them against U.S. troops or Israel. In the State
> > Department, Colin Powell and other senior officials have urged a
> > more diplomatic route -- they don't support a war right now either.
> >
> > * The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings last week
> > to determine whether a military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein is
> > necessary, but they were a whitewash -- none of the people asked to
> > testify were likely to rgue against a war. And even those experts
> > argued that a war would be costly, long, and difficult.
> >
> > * According to military and Middle East experts, a war in Iraq
> > will likely cost hundreds, if not thousands, of American soldiers'
> > lives; kill many more Iraqi civilians, both through direct combat
> > and through the eradication of crucial infrastructure; further
> > destabilize the Middle East; alienate America's closest allies,
> > almost all of whom (except Great Britain) oppose an attack; commit
> > the military to a three-to-five year stay while Iraq rebuilds; and
> > cost in the range of $60-100 billion in taxpayer dollars.
> >
> > * For the amount that a war with Iraq will cost ($60-100 billion),
> > the U.S. could double humanitarian aid to poor countries, double
> > K-12 education funding, increase federal funding for clean energy
> > and energy efficiency, reduce debts of impoverished nations,
> > renovate public schools over 10 years, offer health insurance to
> > all uninsured American kids, fully fund Head Start, provide public
> > financing of federal elections -- and we'd likely have billions
> > left over.
> >
> > * Despite the lack of a strong case for war, Senators are nervous
> > about asking hard questions because they don't want to be branded
> > "weak on terrorism." But if they don't push the Bush
> > Administration for answers soon, the nation could embark on a war
> > that it will deeply regret. A former National Security Advisor,
> > Brent Scrowcroft, noted that there's no quicker way to lose the War
> > on Terrorism than to attack Iraq.
> >
> > _______________________________
> > You can help decide the direction of MoveOn.org by participating
> > in the discussion forum at:
> > http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?forum_id=223
> >
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> >
>
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