now-action-list: Tell Congress No to War on Iraq

[Guest guest]

Please feel free to forward the following to activists:

 

From the National Organization for Women Action Center:

 

Tell Congress No to War on Iraq

 

September 27, 2002

 

Action Needed:

 

Congress is expected to vote soon on a resolution giving the Bush

administration extremely broad authority to use military force

against Iraq. Please contact your senators and representatives and

urge them to stand firm against the Bush administration's

warmongering.

 

Click here to take action: http://www.now.org/congress/issues/alert/?

alertid=583001 & type=CO

 

 

Background:

 

For the past few weeks, the nation and the world have focused on

what appears to be an impending war on Iraq. The Bush administration

now seems poised to turn its saber rattling into action. However,

while Bush & Co. prepare to rush off to war, questioning voices

grow louder and louder: Why war? Why now?

 

Bush's war rhetoric is particularly incomprehensible when we look at

the facts. The White House has failed to show that war is the only

way at this time to deal with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. It has

also failed to demonstrate that Saddam Hussein aided and abetted Al-

Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks. Furthermore, Iraq has offered to readmit

U.N. inspectors. It is widely believed that U.N. inspections would

forestall any Iraqi attempts to develop and produce weapons of mass

destruction, at a fraction of the monetary and human cost of an

invasion. While Saddam Hussein cannot be trusted or respected, the

Bush administration should pursue the U.N. inspections to avoid

further alienation from our allies, as well as the loss of life and

the enormous monetary cost that would result from military action.

 

Moreover, women would be greatly affected if Congress gives a blank

check to the Bush administration to invade Iraq with a unilateral,

preemptive strike. As has happened during previous wars, funds will

be diverted from education, health, welfare and other vitally

needed social programs from an already downsized budget. Women

disproportionately bear the brunt of any decrease in funding in

order to finance war.

 

For Iraqi women, the war carries the danger that their nation will

degenerate into a militarized society, like the " Kalashnikov

culture " that overtook Afghanistan after years of fighting with the

Soviets and amongst themselves. This militarized culture gave rise

to a life of violence and oppression for women in Afghanistan. An

invasion of Iraq will similarly entail grave dangers for the safety

and rights of Iraqi women.

 

Click here to take action: http://www.now.org/congress/issues/alert/?

alertid=583001 & type=CO

 

 

 

 

" Live in peace with the animals. Animals bring love to our hearts,

and warmth to our souls. "

 

Colleen Klaum

 

" He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with

men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. "

Immanuel Kant