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Congresswoman Speier: Full speed for war with Iran.
Last year Jackie Speier was planning to run against long-time incumbent Tom Lantos because of his unpopular strong initial support for the war in Iraq. Now in Congress, she seems to be channeling his ghost. Speier is now the only Bay Area Congressperson to cosponsor H Con Res 362, an AIPAC-supported resolution calling for a naval blockade of Iran, an act of war.
Excerpt from H Con Resolution 362 supported by the pro-war advocacy group AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and Congresswoman Speier:
"...demands that the President initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran..."
The purpose of this resolution, though it officially denies it authorizes military action, seems to be in sending a message to Iran, namely that actual peaceful resolution of this non-existent "crisis" is gone, prepare for war. In so doing, the backers of this resolution seek not to end Iran's enrichment of uranium (which is legal under the NPT) but to encourage Iran to abandon the Nuclear non-Proliferation treaty or some similar action, so as to provide some pretext for a military attack. This has been the purpose of Bush adminstration sanctions from the beginning.
From John Bolton's conversation with AIPAC groupies in January of 2007 speaking of the disappointing response to sanctions thus far from Iran:
"I think the Iranian reaction to the sanctions resolution has been very telling in that respect, although they’ve passed a resolution in parliament to re-evaluate their relation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, they have not rejected the sanctions resolution, they have not done anything more dramatic, such as withdrawing from the nonproliferation treaty, or throwing out inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which I actually hoped they would do – that that kind of reaction would produce a counter-reaction that actually would be more beneficial to us."
War with Iran is the clear goal of this resolution and the whole campaign of provocations implemented by the Bush regime. The goal is not nuclear disarmament. Military action for the purpose of disarmament is an act of madness.
So what can be done of Congresswoman Speier's support for this nonsense? It is believed that Jackie Speier only motivation in cosponsoring this resolution (that her staff doubts will pass congress, and is only a "sense of Congress" resolution, meaning it does not have the force of law) is in appeasing aipac. This is a dangerous game to play, for "advisory" or not, it sends a real message to Iran and makes real diplomacy more difficult.
This Monday, Call Jackie Speier's office in San Mateo. Let her staff know what you think of yet another congressional action lending any support for war.
Speier's office:
San Mateo: (650) 342-0300
Washington DC: (202) 225-3531
"...demands that the President initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran..."
The purpose of this resolution, though it officially denies it authorizes military action, seems to be in sending a message to Iran, namely that actual peaceful resolution of this non-existent "crisis" is gone, prepare for war. In so doing, the backers of this resolution seek not to end Iran's enrichment of uranium (which is legal under the NPT) but to encourage Iran to abandon the Nuclear non-Proliferation treaty or some similar action, so as to provide some pretext for a military attack. This has been the purpose of Bush adminstration sanctions from the beginning.
From John Bolton's conversation with AIPAC groupies in January of 2007 speaking of the disappointing response to sanctions thus far from Iran:
"I think the Iranian reaction to the sanctions resolution has been very telling in that respect, although they’ve passed a resolution in parliament to re-evaluate their relation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, they have not rejected the sanctions resolution, they have not done anything more dramatic, such as withdrawing from the nonproliferation treaty, or throwing out inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which I actually hoped they would do – that that kind of reaction would produce a counter-reaction that actually would be more beneficial to us."
War with Iran is the clear goal of this resolution and the whole campaign of provocations implemented by the Bush regime. The goal is not nuclear disarmament. Military action for the purpose of disarmament is an act of madness.
So what can be done of Congresswoman Speier's support for this nonsense? It is believed that Jackie Speier only motivation in cosponsoring this resolution (that her staff doubts will pass congress, and is only a "sense of Congress" resolution, meaning it does not have the force of law) is in appeasing aipac. This is a dangerous game to play, for "advisory" or not, it sends a real message to Iran and makes real diplomacy more difficult.
This Monday, Call Jackie Speier's office in San Mateo. Let her staff know what you think of yet another congressional action lending any support for war.
Speier's office:
San Mateo: (650) 342-0300
Washington DC: (202) 225-3531
For more information:
http://stopaipac.org/iranresolution.htm
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Jackie Speier was obviously the hand-picked lackey of the capitalist class chosen to fill Lantos' seat, and she is doing exactly what anyone who knows her politics and the politics of the Democrat and Republican Parties would do. If you are surprised, you have not been paying attention. The American military base and settler colony for the rich, commonly known as Israel, for which American taxpayers pay $6 billion a year to protect US oil profits in the Middle East, is supported 100% by the Democratic and Republican Parties, AS ARE ALL THE OTHER AMERICAN MILITARY BASES, numbering over 700 around the world, promoting maximization of profits of the capitalist class, the primary law and goal of this backward, bankrupt society. This includes Berkeley-Oakland's Barbara Lee, who voted for the resolution to support the Butcher of Palestine, Ariel Sharon. YOU MUST BUILD THE ALTERNATIVE SOCIALIST (PEACE & fREEDOM ) AND GREEN PARTIES SO THAT WE CAN TOSS THE GARBAGE OUT OF ALL OFFICES and replace them with pro-Palestinian candidates who will certainly CUT ALL AID TO ISRAEL IMMEDIATELY, as well as CLOSE ALL OTHER US MILITARY BASES AROUND THE WORLD, FOR STARTERS.
A good start is supporting Cindy Sheehan, an indenpendent candidate for Congress from the east side of San Francisco, who would be a good counterweight to the West side's fealty to fascism, namely Jackie Speier.
For more on her campaign, see:
http://www.cindyforcongress.org/
For more on Peace & Freedom Party, see:
http://peaceandfreedom.org/home/index.php/about-us/platform
A good start is supporting Cindy Sheehan, an indenpendent candidate for Congress from the east side of San Francisco, who would be a good counterweight to the West side's fealty to fascism, namely Jackie Speier.
For more on her campaign, see:
http://www.cindyforcongress.org/
For more on Peace & Freedom Party, see:
http://peaceandfreedom.org/home/index.php/about-us/platform
For more information:
http://www.cindyforcongress.org/
We should make sure she hears us on this issue.
For more information:
http://stopaipac.org/iranresolution.htm
This bill does not authorize war or any acts of war on Iran. It only demands inspections of shipments to and from Iran, and not in Persian Gulf waters. The inspections clearly will happen at the ports of entry and departure in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Gulf.
Sanctions on Iran aimed at getting them to stop their nuclear program in line with 3 seperate UNSC resolutions will prevent a war, not provoke one.
It is exacty these sanctions that peace activists were demanding be given time to work in Iraq before invasion back in 2003.
Lets not let history repeat itself.
Sanctions on Iran aimed at getting them to stop their nuclear program in line with 3 seperate UNSC resolutions will prevent a war, not provoke one.
It is exacty these sanctions that peace activists were demanding be given time to work in Iraq before invasion back in 2003.
Lets not let history repeat itself.
No Monger, "peace activists" were not demanding sanctions on Iraq that was responsible the for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children in Iraq. They were demanding the end of these crippling and unfair sanctions.
If we really want nuclear disarmament, we must be fair, not single out particular nations and then use military force. The US is in violation of the NPT. Israel introduced nuclear weapons into the middle east and has not even bothered signing the NPT (which makes it illegal under US law to send Israel military aid)
These people know better than you and the rest of the rabid Right. Retired military leaders say NO to 362!
The full text of the letter – signed by Lt. General Robert G. Gard, Jr., US Army (ret.); former Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Lawrence J. Korb; and Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, US Navy (ret.) – is posted below.
July 10, 2008
To: Members of the House of Representatives
From:
Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, US Navy (ret.)
Dr. Lawrence Korb, Former Asst. Secretary of Defense
Lt. General Robert G. Gard, Jr., US Army (ret.), Chairman, Center for Arms Control and Nuclear Nonproliferation
The concurrent resolution making its way through the House of Representatives pertaining to Iran (H. Con. Res. 362) is poorly conceived, poorly timed, and potentially dangerous in our view. We urge Congress to abandon this resolution for the following reasons.
* The language demanding the President initiate an international effort “prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran,” is of particular concern because despite the protestations of its sponsors, we believe that implementation of inspections of this nature could not be accomplished without a blockade or the use of force.
* Immense military resources would be required to implement such inspections of cargo moving through the seas, on the ground and in the air. The international community has shown no willingness to join in such an activity. Without a Security Council Resolution, implementation of these measures could be construed as an act of war.
* Implementation of measures called for in the resolution could complicate our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and could cause oil prices to soar.
* Senior Pentagon officials, as well as many in the Administration and in Congress, have stated publicly that a diplomatic solution with Iran is the best course. The sanctions demanded in H. Con. Res. 362 go far beyond existing sanctions and previously proposed sanctions for dealing with Iran. The impact of these sanctions would be to undermine any chance for diplomacy to succeed in achieving a negotiated resolution.
The sponsors argue that H. Con. Res. 362 as a concurrent resolution does not have the force of law, which is true, but it clearly risks sending a message to the Iranians, the Bush Administration, and the world that Congress supports a more belligerent policy toward, and, potentially, belligerent actions against, Iran. In our view, H. Con. Res. 362 in no way furthers our diplomatic efforts or those of our European allies and should be abandoned.
If we really want nuclear disarmament, we must be fair, not single out particular nations and then use military force. The US is in violation of the NPT. Israel introduced nuclear weapons into the middle east and has not even bothered signing the NPT (which makes it illegal under US law to send Israel military aid)
These people know better than you and the rest of the rabid Right. Retired military leaders say NO to 362!
The full text of the letter – signed by Lt. General Robert G. Gard, Jr., US Army (ret.); former Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Lawrence J. Korb; and Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, US Navy (ret.) – is posted below.
July 10, 2008
To: Members of the House of Representatives
From:
Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, US Navy (ret.)
Dr. Lawrence Korb, Former Asst. Secretary of Defense
Lt. General Robert G. Gard, Jr., US Army (ret.), Chairman, Center for Arms Control and Nuclear Nonproliferation
The concurrent resolution making its way through the House of Representatives pertaining to Iran (H. Con. Res. 362) is poorly conceived, poorly timed, and potentially dangerous in our view. We urge Congress to abandon this resolution for the following reasons.
* The language demanding the President initiate an international effort “prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran,” is of particular concern because despite the protestations of its sponsors, we believe that implementation of inspections of this nature could not be accomplished without a blockade or the use of force.
* Immense military resources would be required to implement such inspections of cargo moving through the seas, on the ground and in the air. The international community has shown no willingness to join in such an activity. Without a Security Council Resolution, implementation of these measures could be construed as an act of war.
* Implementation of measures called for in the resolution could complicate our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and could cause oil prices to soar.
* Senior Pentagon officials, as well as many in the Administration and in Congress, have stated publicly that a diplomatic solution with Iran is the best course. The sanctions demanded in H. Con. Res. 362 go far beyond existing sanctions and previously proposed sanctions for dealing with Iran. The impact of these sanctions would be to undermine any chance for diplomacy to succeed in achieving a negotiated resolution.
The sponsors argue that H. Con. Res. 362 as a concurrent resolution does not have the force of law, which is true, but it clearly risks sending a message to the Iranians, the Bush Administration, and the world that Congress supports a more belligerent policy toward, and, potentially, belligerent actions against, Iran. In our view, H. Con. Res. 362 in no way furthers our diplomatic efforts or those of our European allies and should be abandoned.
For more information:
http://stopaipac.org/iranresolution.htm
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