Santa Cruz Assemblyman Laird Backing Bush Build-Up to War on Iran?

Anti-war activists might consider a protest at Assemblyman's Laird's office as their next target.

Last month Laird voted (along with a unanimous Assembly) for AB 221.

This is a bill that divests the California Public Employees’ Retirement System
(CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) from Iranian investment (with certain exceptions) until (a) Iran has been removed from the United States Department of State’s list of countries which have been determined to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. and (b) The President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Iran has ceased its efforts to design, develop, manufacture, or acquire a nuclear explosive device or related materials and technology.

This seems to me part of the war drive on Iran using the familiar "WMD" excuse that was used in Iraq.

Ominous parallel developments range from a U.S. build-up in the Persian Gulf, to heightened propaganda activity focusing on Iran (rather than say Saudi Arabia or Syria...or the U.S....as a source of insurgent weaponry in Iraq).

I left both e-mail and phone messages with Laird's office over a week ago asking for clarificaition. Today Alley, a staff worker there, confirmed that Laird had voted for the bill. She promised to inform Laird of my interest (both personally, as a member of HUFF ---Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom, and as a Free Radio Santa Cruz broadcaster).

Call him yourself it you wish to check out what our "progressive liberal" Democrat is doing on this issue: Call him at 831-425-1503. And let us know what he says.

The full text of AB 211 can be found at http://www.calpers.ca.gov/eip-docs/about/board-cal-agenda/agendas/invest/200705/item10a-00.pdf


Measures at the state level opposing the war (rather than encouraging its extension to Iraq as AB 221 does) are not necessarily a bad idea.

But vague initiatives or referenda on the U.S. troop presence in Iraq are of little use and too far in the future. A specific move to call back the California National Guard on the grounds that they are engaging in war criminal activity is much more to the point and much more immediate.