IRAN ATTACK AND OCCUPATION
The Time to Act is Now!
By Elizabeth Adams 2-23-07
The United States of America and allied international oil companies plan to make trillions in profits from the natural resources of sovereign nations of the Middle East, the Darfur Region of the Sudan and other parts of Africa. (They already “steal” these naturally occurring fuel sources at unbelievable low prices from Central and South America.) At the same time there are apparently “no resources available” worldwide to feed the hungry, construct housing and systems to deliver potable water, develop meaningful jobs, and eliminate poverty. Green energy is said to be “too expensive”, and even basic education is inaccessible to most people around the world and a growing number in the United States.
The inequitable indebtedness the United States now lives with puts our economy, government and population at risk. The ever increasing “defense” budge utilized largely to fund the immoral military industrial complex, a giant, oppressive war machine, is seen in stark contrast to how it has inadequately funded the re-construction and stabilization of New Orleans, devastated by Hurricane Katrina three years ago! Multitudes of New Orleans citizens, whether individuals or families to this date have not been able to return home. A friend who returned to the city reported that only one tenth of the housing is being renovated. A budget for Katrina reconstruction projects was shamefully eliminated from the President’s State of the Union message last month, yet the Administration wants 100 Billion for its adventures in the Middle East? Shame on Congress if it allows this travesty to continue!
Since October 2006 the Bush Administration has been threatening an attack on Iran, whether through its ally Israel and/or via a U. S. bombing campaign, staged from Aircraft Carriers, three of which are currently poised in strategic locations within striking distance of Iran. All of this was part of strategic planning of the Neo-cons’ Project for a New American Century ,which is duplicated, practically word for word, in the National Security Strategy of the Bush Administration in 2002.
On January 25th negotiations with Iran were formally terminated by the Bush Administration. There is a legitimate fear throughout the world that the United States might stage an attack or “Gulf of Tonkin” incident against the U. S. its troops, or allies such as Israel, supposedly by Iran, in order to initiate an aerial bombing campaign against Iran. The U. S. A. has threatened to use illegal nuclear “bunker buster bombs” to destroy Iran’s nuclear processing sites. (We’ll use our nuclear or Israel will use its nuclear so that Iran cannot have nuclear?!)
Furthermore, the United States of America’s military, presumably with knowledge of the President and Vice President, has already started an illegal ground war campaign by placing Special Forces within Iran’s borders. Such a campaign could easily be expanded with 240,000 troops stationed in bases around the world. Last month, un-provoked, the U. S. military initiated a pre-emptive strike against the Consulate and airport in Irbil in northern Iraq in Kurdish territory and detained six Iranian diplomats. Recently, U. S. A. President Bush gave permission for our soldiers to attack Iranian “operatives” that might be found in Iraq, a clear escalation of policy toward the sovereign country twice the size of Iraq, which is close to the size of Texas.
In addition to an increase in rhetoric since the New Year, the Administration has been using mainstream media conglomerates to promulgate unverifiable verbal accusations against Iran,
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beginning with its perfectly legitimate process of developing the capacity to produce nuclear power. Among other stories one can pick up daily, the Administration claims that: “Iran is firing missiles at
U. S. A. soldiers in Iraq”; transporting arms to insurgents/ ‘the enemy;’ and supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgent groups. Does this Administration think that the Congress will buy these fabricated stories? I can assure you that the American people are not so culpable, and we also see through his bid for more funds for war. (Not just in Iraq but throughout the Middle East.)
History tells us that this Administration has used the military Authorization of 2002 granted by Congress to invade Iraq to legitimize its recent six-month build-up in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere aimed at Iran. Should they be allowed to get away with it? If not, how might they be stopped in an immediate way? (While Congressional Bills are a fine idea, they do not prevent preemptive strike in the immediate future. Once started, such raids will be virtually impossible to stop…)
Worst of all is the concern that either Israel or U. S. will at some stage use nuclear weapons, beginning with these illegal “bunker buster bombs”, supposedly aimed at Iran’s underground nuclear processing facilities, but which, if used, would have catastrophic effects on the Iranian population and environment, U. S. soldiers in neighboring Iraq and nearby Afghanistan, other countries of the Middle East and possibly of Europe.
Heretofore, there is no verifiable evidence for any of any wrongdoing by Iran. Iran has had permission to develop nuclear power since the 1976 multi-national Non-Proliferation Treaty. (Sadly, the United States has not abided by its commitments to that treaty, nor succeeding ones as part of U. S. Government review processes every five years, most recently 2005.)
Scott Ritter, Nuclear Weapons Inspector in Iraq prior to our Invasion of that country, observes that Iran is years away from achieving the means to create nuclear power and “at least ten years away from constructing a nuclear weapon”. It is clear that Ritter’s assessment of “Regional Transformation” is the ultimate goal of the Bush Administration, its allies and the global corporate cartel of banks, contractors, oil conglomerates, etc.)
Fortunately, this policy which still benefits relatively few worldwide and already has had tragic environmental effects, is not supported by retired and active duty military personnel, some global allies, or some members of Congress. However, up until now, commitment to preventing an attack of Iran has had a “hard sell” to an American public rightly concerned about the devastating effects of the War in Iraq, not to mention Afghanistan, where the U. S. military has just taken over control of NATO forces. Many have held back from acting to prevent an attack of Iran due to disbelief that the Administration would follow-through with a plan which would undoubtedly risk our own National Security.
We have to thank Rep. Walter B. Jones, Jr. of North Carolina and current sponsors of HJR 14 for there foresight. House joint Resolution is a binding resolution that would require Congressional support prior to an attack. The neo-cons/Administration could get around several provisions of the Bill, indeed they already have claimed that U. S. troops have been under fire by Iran, one of the key provisions that would prevent the need to come to Congress prior to an attack.
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Although there is non-binding legislation initiated by Ted Kennedy to halt escalation in Iraq, (S. 233) there is no companion Bill in the Senate to halt an attack of Iran.
After reviewing the possibilities and potential danger for the past six months, it is clear to me that a more immediate, positive and creative strategy must be initiated by Congress. I would therefore urge you to consider six possibilities and then formulate your own cohesive strategy, not only in order to halt war making in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also prevent a catastrophic attack of Iran:
Add a provision to any Congressional bill which attempts to prevent an attack of Iran that nuclear weapons including Depleted Uranium will not be used against Iran by the US. or its Allies – suggested by scientist Jorge Hirsh
Initiate regional negotiations in the Middle East with all nuclear and non-nuclear countries, including Israel and Palestine within the next two weeks.
Call for a Cease Fire in Iraq and Afghanistan until regional talks can attempt to resolve disputes over control and sharing of resources.
Pass a resolution that gives penalties to Administration officials who act without Congressional approval for ANY attack on Iran including unsubstantiated rhetoric.
Forestall any vote to fund the war until above numbers two and three have been instituted.
Develop public hearings and Town Hall Meetings on the matter of Iran and the Middle East in every Congressional District. (Senator Ted Kennedy)
Other initiatives developed by Congressional caucus strategy sessions
The alternatives to such preventative actions are incalculable and unimaginable, really unthinkable. However, denial of the reality of a frightening future for our children and grandchildren has prevented some from acting strongly enough to this point. Are there Congresspersons out there, who are ready to risk their lives and even their families’ lives to make courageous moves to protect the world from World War III?
I believe that the criminality of this Administration begs that question. The time to act is now! Or “never” will come all too soon for any and all of us.