Audio: The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Oppose Iraq War

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Delegates to the 67th UE Convention on Sept. 19 put the union on record in opposition to a United States invasion of Iraq, and instead called for "a genuinely multilateral diplomatic approach to the Iraq situation, sanctioned and directed by the United Nations."

No delegates took the floor in opposition to the Iraq resolution, which carried on a voice vote.

The resolution "Oppose U.S. Invasion of Iraq" asserts that the Bush war threat is linked to administration plans to boost military spending, enhance Republican electoral fortunes and assist the oil industry. "None of these will help to prevent terrorism, but all of them will hurt workers in the U.S. and abroad," the resolution says.

Arguing that "an invasion of Iraq is not in the interests of workers," the UE statement points out the substantial costs in lives and resources of an invasion and the likely occupation to follow. The resolution also observes that most U.S. allies and even prominent Republicans regard unilateral U.S. action as unwise. "While there is an urgent need for genuine multilateral action to eliminate weapons of mass destruction world wide, this has become less likely as we alienate our necessary allies over the question of Iraq," the UE statement declares.

The resolution was submitted to the convention by the UE General Executive Board (GEB), which consists of officers from each of the union's geographic regions and the three general officers. Two of these district leaders spoke on the resolution.

Peter Knowlton, the president of District Two (New England and eastern New York state), reported to the convention that the resolution generated "a good discussion on the GEB." Knowlton said, "I'm concerned that Bush Administration is still indicating it will go alone." His concern is heightened by the possibility that the draft will be reinstituted; he has two sons, ages 22 and 19.

The history of the Iraq issue is based around oil, and U.S. corporations' need to control that oil, Knowlton said. "Bush is the single biggest threat to me and my family," he declared.

John Lambiase, District Six (western Pennsylvania, western New York and West Virginia), suggested, "this nation is way too quick to wage war and too slow to wage peace." He added, "I don't feel any more secure because of the war in Afghanistan."

Here is the full text of the resolution:

OPPOSE U.S. INVASION OF IRAQ

Despite the lack of any evidence linking the Iraqi regime to the September 11 terrorist attacks, George Bush is pressing for an invasion of Iraq. All U.S. allies except Great Britain, and even many in Bush's own party, are opposed to this. Scott Ritter, former head of the UN Weapons Inspection team in Iraq, has denounced Bush's outlandish claims about the threat posed by Iraq to the rest of the world. Military experts warn than an invasion will inevitably be followed by a costly, years-long occupation, leaving large numbers of U.S. military personnel in a hostile environment.

An invasion of Iraq is not in the interest of workers. As in the Vietnam War, working people will be forced to pay for this war with our lives and our pocketbooks. The government will continue to cut funds for already economically distressed states and vital government programs. The administration is jacking up next year's military budget by $48 billion, bringing it to a staggering $383 billion. Programs that benefit working people and the poor are being threatened by budget cuts, and yet the airline industry receives a bailout of $15 billion and corporate America receives $25 billion in tax cuts.

While there is an urgent need for genuine multilateral action to eliminate weapons of mass destruction world wide, this has become less likely as we alienate our necessary allies over the question of Iraq.

The Bush Administration is cynically using inflated claims of Iraq's threat to vastly increase the military budget, to help his friends in the oil business control oil production in the Middle East, and to boost his own popularity and prop up the electoral fortunes of the pro-corporate Republican Party. None of these will help to prevent terrorism, but all of them will hurt workers in the U.S. and abroad.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS 67TH UE CONVENTION:

1. Opposes a U.S. invasion of Iraq, but supports instead a genuinely multilateral diplomatic approach to the Iraq situation, sanctioned and directed by the United Nations;

2. Encourages UE at all levels to educate our members on the history and issues underlying the disputes in the Middle East.