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Win Without War. "Keep America Safe" We are patriotic Americans who share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous UN weapons inspections to assure Iraq's effective disarmament. We believe that a preemptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests. Unprovoked war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world. It will make us less, not more, secure. We reject the doctrine – a reversal of long-held American tradition – that our country, alone, has the right to launch first-strike attacks. America is not that kind of country. We can achieve the valid U.S. and UN objective of disarming Saddam Hussein through legal diplomatic means. There is no need for war. Let us instead devote our resources to improving the security and well-being of people here at home and around the world. United for Peace, a new national network of more than 70 peace and justice organizations, has called for nationally coordinated local anti-war actions on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day. Member groups include Peace Action, the National Council of Churches, Black Voices for Peace, and National Network to End the War Against Iraq, among others. United for Peace expects that hundreds of local communities will organize anti-war activities on Dec. 10--from rallies to peace vigils to teach-ins. "We Oppose Both Saddam Hussein and the U.S. War on Iraq" Campaign for Peace and Democracy Anti-War Songs All Things Considered, Monday , February 10, 2003 Music critic Will Hermes tells us about the latest crop of anti-war songs. These aren't your father's anti-war tunes. They have roots in the jazz stylings of Sun Ra, hip hop, punk and pop. Anthony
Barnett, "World
opinion: the new superpower?" Open Democracy
March 20, 2003 The first war of the 21st century has generated in response an enormous, worldwide public opposition – much of it mobilising via the net. It represents a profoundly democratic challenge to the way the US seeks to conduct world affairs. Stephen R. Shalom and Michael Albert, "Reject Defeatism... Organize," Z-Net March 19, 2003 Harold Meyerson "Historical Present," The American Prospect March 19, 2003 the battle lines over America's proper role in the world have been drawn. On one side are the neo-imperialists, who have relearned the lesson of 1914 that to deploy -- for the hegemon in a unipolar world -- is to go to war. On the other side are the fledgling neo-anti-imperialists, who should look back to their forebears of 1898 to learn how to assemble a broad movement -- and must do them one better if we are to curtail an administration determined to turn the world into a sullen American imperium. Paul Starr, "A War for Democracy?" The American Prospect Marc Cooper, "March Madness: I might support this war if..." LA Weekly March 21- 27, 2003 "Iraq and Beyond," The NationTom Hayden, "This Is What History Feels Like," The Nation We must encourage those few precious voices that are emerging and tell the Democratic Party that we want profiles in courage, not compromise. We must encourage those few precious voices that are emerging among the candidates, for their message can reach millions. But building this movement, like building peace, is too important to be left to politicians. This movement has already forced George Bush to go to the United Nations; this movement has delayed the march to war; this movement has made it possible for leaders around the world to stand up against American pressure. This movement has burst onto the stage of history. If we continue building this movement, a politics of peace will follow. Bill Bradley, "Finally, Anti-War Democrats," LA Weekly March 21- 27, 2003 John Nichols, Harkin Stumps for Peace The Nation March 14, 2003 Peter Dreier, "Lobbying for Peace," The Nationunless the antiwar movement can reach out beyond those willing to march in the streets, it will fail to galvanize much of Middle America. Anthony Barnett, "No to war, no to Saddam" Open Democracy Can the peace movement oppose war on Iraq without appearing to support Saddam? It can – and it must, says openDemocracy’s editor. If the United States’ supremacist agenda promises war without limit, the world’s citizens need to combat it with a political strategy that joins cool judgement to impassioned humanity. Mary
Kaldor, "In
place of war, open up Iraq" Open
Democracy Newton Kansas Anti-war March and Rally "Not enough being done to avoid war with Iraq" Wichita Eagle Feb 16, 2003 300-500 attended here are some photos from the protest in Newton. There were also anti-war events in Lawrence (1000 +), Kansas City (100 for teach-in on Feb 15 and 1600 on Sunday, Salina, Manhattan, and Winfield. There was a rally of 200 in Hutchinson on Feb. 8.) The World Says No To War Saturday, February 15th 2003 Noon New York, New York
Salina People for Peace will host a forum on January 21. Sarah Bahari, "A
drive for pacifism," Wichita Eagle, January 12, 2003 Faleh A. Jabar, "Opposing War Is Good, But Not Good Enough," The Progressive January 2003 Joe Stork, "What Solidarity Requires," The Progressive January 2003 A basic component of the movement in opposition to war in Iraq is a sense of solidarity with the beleaguered people of that country. This impulse toward solidarity--and the strong desire to prevent harm to Iraqis--is essential. But solidarity with the people of Iraq ought to be more complicated than simple opposition to war. The movement against the war must also express this solidarity by clearly opposing the rule of the present government in Baghdad, a government that continues to be responsible for systematic and brutal crimes against its citizens.
“Online Campaign Headquarters” Unveiled Win Without War Announces the Virtual March on Washington on February 26th We Oppose Both Saddam Hussein and the U.S. War on Iraq This ad initiated by the Campaign for Peace and Democracy appeared in the New York Times on Feb. 10. Nick Mamatas, "Labor Groups Consider Calling in Sick to Protest War With Iraq" Village Voice March 15-19 David Moberg, "Unions Against the War" In These Times Dec. 6, 2002The labor movement grows more skeptical of Bush's plans for Iraq AFL-CIO Executive Council Resolution Against Unilateral War We call upon the world community to speak with one voice to demand that disarmament take place in Iraq without delay, and that the inspectors be accorded full cooperation. We call upon the administration to pursue a broad global consensus to apply the maximum pressure on Iraq, ensuring that war, if it comes, will truly be a last resort, supported by both our allies and nations united. And we call on Iraq to comply with the demands of the United Nations, the only course to avoiding the war no one desires. Heads of British and American Labor Movements Send Joint Letter on Iraq to President Bush and Prime Minister Blair January 30, 2003 Churches for Middle East Peace implores the governments of the world to embark on acourse of peace and justice– not war –in 2003. Ad placed in Congressional Quarterly (PDF format) addresses US and Iraq, Palestinians and Israel. Statement by US Economists on Iraq Tom
Robbins, "A
New Generation of Leaders Makes a Different Choice" Labor's
'No' to War Bill Onasch ,"It’s Our Issue Most of All," Labor Advocate On-line Talk
presented to an antiwar Teach-In in Kansas City sponsored by KC Labor
Against the War. Kansas City Area Labor Against the War meeting January 18 AlterNet: Labor Against the War This site provides information about why trade unionists in the U.S. and abroad oppose the war on Iraq. It also serves as a hub for a network of unions who work to advance peace through action and expression. List of Unions Making Anti-War Statements AFSCME Issues Resolution Condemning War on Iraq AFSCME=American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees The Executive Board of the American Postal Workers Union passes a resolution opposing the war. Marc Cooper, "Antiwar Labor Pains" The Nation posted Nov. 21, 2002 for issue dated Dec. 9, 2002Unions are edging into the peace movement, but they are still minor players
ANSWER and LERNER CONTROVERSIES David Corn, "The Banning of Rabbi Lerner." The Nation Open Letter Protesting the Banning of Lerner initiated by Michael Berube, signed by Jack Newfield, Katha Pollitt, Maurice Isserman, Ellen Willis, and others. Carol Seligman Bay Area United Against War Defends Banning Lerner Bill Onasch, "Don't Take the Bait" ciriticizes both ANSWER and Lerner. Ted Glick on ANSWER and Washington demo and Leftist Parties Nathan Newman writes, "As I've said in the past and Michael Lerner is saying, please go to Saturday's demos. March in solidarity with the millions of people who will march all over the world that day to oppose the US's unilateral rush to war. But the censorship of dissent within the movement by ANSWER in San Franciso shows why they should not be allowed anywhere in leadership of the movement after this weekend. I'm extremely happy that ANSWER had no role in planning New York's rallies this weekend." Ann Marchand, "Protesters Gather To Oppose War ," Washington Post, January 18, 2003 Peter Carlson, "The Crusader [Ramsey Clark]," Washington Post December 15, 2002That strange story
began in late 1990, when two competing groups of antiwar activists
organized two rival demonstrations against the Gulf War. One group was a
broad-based coalition that denounced Hussein's invasion of Kuwait but
urged the United States to respond with economic sanctions, not war. The
other group, founded and controlled by the Workers World Party, refused to
denounce Hussein and opposed both war and sanctions. Nathan Newman, "What is a Front? WWP & ANSWER" how to identify a coalition that is really a front for a sectarian group.<SNIP>. But a fun test is to look at the steering
committee list. Lots of big name organizations have endorsed the
coalition, but none of them are on the steering commitee, just these
relatively small groups: IFCO/Pastors for Peace And guess what? Almost all of them are either controlled by WWP/IAC members or are long-time allies of the organization. <SNIP>. Whatever you want to call it, ANSWER was a prefab coalition put together by a group, the Workers World Party, that only invited its puppets and closest friends into any real power over the organization. That's kind of the definition of a front group in any political dictionary. Authoritarian Opportunists Who Cozy Up To Genocidal Dictators - for Peace(International A.O.W.C.U.T.G.D.F.P.) Please come to DC on Jan 18 to help stop Bush's unilateral war on Iraq Every person counts --make January 18 a massive gathering for peace BUT FIRST learn a little about the group organizing the protest: International A.N.S.W.E.R. is a post-9/11 creation of the International Action Center, one of many front groups for the Workers World Party. The Workers World Party: » supported the Chinese government's 1989 Tienanmen Square massacre http://www.workers.org/ww/tienanmen.html » supports the "socialist" North Korean dictatorship of Kim Jong Il http://www.workers.org/ww/2002/korea0425.php http://www.workers.org/ww/2002/korea0509.php » and views Iraq's Saddam Hussein as a beacon of anti-imperialist resistance http://www.workers.org/ww/2001/iraq0125.html
Great Britain: What Role for Muslim Fundamentalists in Anti-War Movement? Alliance for Workers Liberty. " Briefing on the Muslim Association of Britain" Why a socialist group think it was wrong to invite the Muslim Association (Muslim Brotherhood) into the leadership of the British anti-war movement Stan Crooke, "The Cairo Declaration - is it really a "great opportunity"? Alliance for Worker's Liberty Eric Krebbers and Jan Tas, "Ten tips against anti-Semitism," Alliance for Worker's Liberty Translation from De Fabel van de illegaal
52/53, summer 2002 (http://www.gebladert.nl) Steve Silver Anti-imperialism of fools Searchlight Feb 2003 Antisemitism is enjoying a renaissance. In Britain, attacks on Jewish people or property have increased by 260% over a two-year period; in France, synagogues have been firebombed. The antisemitic upsurge is closely linked to events in the Middle East and opposition to the policies of Israel and the USA and in the main does not come from the traditional right. It has nothing to do with legitimate criticism of Israel's policies and must be distinguished from this. Sometimes the antisemitism masquerades as "anti-Zionism" and other times it is naked Jew-baiting. Anti-racists and anti-imperialists have to root it out. Stephen Zunes, Iraq, Israel, and the Jews Tikkun Gerard Emmett Esther Kaplan, " A Hundred Peace Movements Bloom,"
The Nation, December 18, 2002 The moral case for intervening in Iraq is very strong, but not strong enough. Dissent Symposium: Drums of War, Calls
for Peace by Michael Walzer We sent the five questions
printed below to a group of editors and friends in November, as the UN
Security Council was debating the restoration of the Iraqi inspection
regime. They responded knowing that they would not be read for a couple of
months-writing for a quarterly sometimes requires a degree of political
courage. We are grateful to all of them. The Questions 1. Do you support an American war against the current Iraqi regime? If so, under what circumstances? And should this be a war for disarmament or for "regime change"? 2. Do you favor a UN-imposed inspection system for Iraq? Would you support the threat or the use of force to impose and sustain such a system? 3. What is your view of the Bush administration's new doctrine of preemptive war? 4. If there is a war, would you join an antiwar movement? Of what sort? 5. What are, what should be,
the long-term goals of the United States in the confrontation with Iraq?
David Corn, "Mainstreaming the Antiwar Movement" The Nation Dec. 10, 2002 Michelle Goldberg, "The
antiwar movement goes mainstream," Salon Dec. 12, 2002 Groups like NOW, the Sierra Club and the National Council of Churches -- plus a raft of celebrities -- reach out to Middle America as they denounce a preemptive, unilateral war with Iraq. Marc Cooper, "Dissonance: Our Peace Movement — Not Theirs," LA Weekly Dec 13-19, 2002 Fundamentalists All Around Us. Certainly to our right. And also to our left. For fundamentalist is the most polite and diplomatic characterization I can attach to a small choir of leftists who as much as declared jihad on me and a couple of other writers when we suggested that at least a tad of critical thought should be applied in building a peace movement. ... Just as I don't want George Bush making war in my name, I don't want apologists for Saddam Hussein like Ramsey Clark going on TV anymore speaking in my name for peace. Lynette Clemetson, "Protests Held Across the Country to Oppose War in Iraq," New York Times December 11, 2002 Michael Berube, "Real Problems On The Real Left," Z-net Dec. 9, 2002 in response to Edward Herman, "Answering The Cruise Missile Left On Iraq," Z-net Brendan O'Neill, "What Kind of Antiwar Movement Is This?" Christian Science Monitor December 13, 2002what is the antiwar movement actually saying? Most of the new antiwar groups express an entirely personal opposition to war, one based more on moral revulsion than effective political opposition. Protesters voice a personal distaste for violent conflict, rather than organizing a collective stand against it. And when opposing war is about making pompous moral statements about me, myself, and I, you can count me out. ANSWER Statement on January 18 March Dec. 13, 2002 [As the mainstream Win With War alliance and the United for Peace coalition are launched, the WWP-dominated ANSWER retreats postponing its so-called People's Peace Congress and raising the slogans denouncing the US as the main enemy of peace.-se] "Exchange: Corn, Cooper and Cockburn," The Nation Dec. 23 posted December 4, 2002 Evelyn Nieves, "Antiwar Effort Gains Momentum" Washington Post December 2, 2002 Todd Gittlin, "The
war movement and the peace movement" Open Democracy Michael Bérubé, "Toward an Ideal Antiwar Movement: Mature, Legitimate, and Popular" Boston Globe Nov. 2002 (my link is to Max Sawicky's web-log) "Resistance is not Futile" San Francisco Bay Guardian A series of articles giving broader advice on how people can mobilize against the war with multiple stories on internal debates on strategy and nuts & bolts. David Corn, "Behind the Placards:The odd and troubling origins of today’s anti-war movement," L.A. Weekly, November 1 - 7, 2002 California Peace Activists Defend Answer, Attack Corn Ian Williams , "The Case Against the Anti-War Movement And against Bush's version of the war" La Weekly Sept 20-26, 2002John Judis, "War Resisters: The numbers are in and the "nays" are growing." The American Prospect October 7, 2002 Alex Gourevith, "A Cautious Opposition: Will Democrats block the road or pave the way to Baghdad?" The American Prospect, October 7, 2002 The broad Democratic support in principle for regime change is starting to sound more like a rhetorical cover than a call to arms. Democrats do not want their criticisms of Bush to sound anti-patriotic or pro-Hussein, but they want to move attention toward other options and subject the administration's various plans to closer scrutiny....while opposition has not crystallized, the outlines of a full critique of preemptive invasion are slowly coming into focus.
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