<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=iso-8859-1"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">Take action online: <a href="http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8463">http://RootsAction.org </a><br><div><br></div><div>Take action in DC on Saturday: <br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/563464440373777/563787403674814">https://www.facebook.com/events/563464440373777/563787403674814</a><br>
<br></div><div>And everywhere else: <br><a href="http://interoccupy.net/blog/nowarwithsyria-global-rallies-on-august-31-2013">http://interoccupy.net/blog/nowarwithsyria-global-rallies-on-august-31-2013</a><br><br>Flyers you can use to oppose this war: <a href="http://warisacrime.org/sites/afterdowningstreet.org/files/syriacolorflyer.pdf">Color PDF</a>, <a href="http://warisacrime.org/sites/afterdowningstreet.org/files/syriabwflyer.pdf">Black and White PDF</a>.<br>
</div><div><h2><a href="http://warisacrime.org/content/opposition-iraq-war-may-save-syria" target="_blank">Opposition to Iraq War May Save Syria</a> </h2><p>By David Swanson<br><a href="http://warisacrime.org/content/opposition-iraq-war-may-save-syria" target="_blank">http://warisacrime.org/content/opposition-iraq-war-may-save-syria</a><br>
</p><div><p>Evidence of "weapons of mass destruction" is "no slam dunk," U.S.
officials are saying this time around, reversing the claim made about
Iraq by then-CIA director George Tenet.</p><p>Opposition to a U.S.-led attack on Syria is growing rapidly in Europe
and the United States, drawing its strength from public awareness that
the case made for attacking Iraq had holes in it.</p><p>A majority in the United States, still very much aware of Iraq war
deceptions, opposes arming the "rebel" force in Syria, so heavily
dominated by foreign fighters and al Qaeda. And a majority opposes U.S.
military action in Syria. </p><p>But that public opinion is only just beginning to get expressed as
activism. With Republicans more willing to actively oppose a war this
time, and some section of Democrats still opposed, there's actually
potential to build a larger antiwar movement than that of 2003-2006.</p><p>Thus far, however, what's discouraging an attack on Syria is the
public uproar that was created back then over the disastrous attack on
Iraq.</p><p>The nation of Iraq was destroyed. Millions of refugees still can't
safely return. As with every other humanitarian war thus far, humanity
suffered, and the suffering will last for ages. While the damage done
to the United States itself doesn't compare with the damage done to
Iraq, it has been severe enough to make many a near-sighted potential
war supporter cautious.</p><p>The problem with attacking Iraq was not that the vast stockpiles of
weapons were fictional. Had every claim been true, the war would have
remained illegal, immoral, and catastrophic.</p><p>Were it true that the Syrian government really chose the moment of
the U.N. inspectors' arrival to use chemical weapons, launching a U.S.
war on Syria would still hurt the people of Syria -- who are
overwhelmingly opposed to it, regardless of their level of support for
their government. </p><p>A regional or even global war could result. The U.S. military is
planning for such scenarios, as if preparing for the apocalypse while
igniting it makes the action less insane.</p><p>A war of supposed humanitarian philanthropy should consider the value
to humanity of the rule of law. Launching a war in violation of the
Kellogg-Briand Pact, the United Nations Charter, and the U.S.
Constitution hurts the rule of law.</p><p>A war of beneficial generosity should consider other possible
medicines that lack the deadly side-effects of war. For example, the
United States could easily stop supporting and arming abusive
dictatorships in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Yemen, and Egypt, not to
mention the horrors inflicted on Palestine by Israel. </p><p>A so-called good and noble war against the evil of chemical weapons
should probably be launched by a nation that doesn't itself use chemical
weapons. Yet, the United States used white phosphorous and napalm as
weapons in Iraq, not to mention such internationally sanctioned weapons
as depleted uranium and cluster bombs -- weapons the United States also
sells to other governments regardless of their human rights records
(including a big shipment of cluster bombs now headed to Saudi Arabia).</p><p>A humanitarian and just war should perhaps show equal concern for
those humans killed with any kind of weapon. Bombing Syria would
inevitably kill significant numbers of people. Isn't that a problem
even if they're killed with the "right" kind of weapons?</p><p>Both sides in the war in Syria have killed large numbers of people.
We have heard as many serious accounts of the rebels using chemical
weapons as the government. Should indisputable facts establish that
both sides have used those forbidden weapons, surely the proper response
will not be to bomb both sides.</p><p>By joining in this war, on the side of an armed opposition dominated
by people with no concern for democracy or human rights, the United
States will make itself more hated in the region than its previous
military actions already have. While this war has nothing to do with
defending the United States, it will in fact endanger it.</p><p>Here's what should be done instead: Pressure Saudi Arabia and the
Gulf states and Turkey to stop arming one side, while pressuring Russia
and Iran to stop arming the other. Insist on a cease-fire. Support
U.N. inspections of the evidence of crimes by both sides. Provide
humanitarian aid to Syria, Syrian refugees (now fleeing in greater
numbers as the U.S. threatens to attack), and others suffering in the
region. Support nonviolent democracy movements.</p><p>And why stop there? End the occupation of Afghanistan, which we think
of as "ending" but which is still twice as large as when President
Obama was elected. Stop arming brutal dictatorships and calling the
weapons "aid." Close Guantanamo and other lawless prison sites. Halt
U.S. drone and other missile strikes worldwide. Bring U.S. troops home
from 175 nations. Spend 10% of the U.S. military budget providing the
world with clean drinking water, food, and assistance in sustainable
agriculture and energy. </p><p>Our options are not to do nothing or to bomb Syria into the sort of
disaster created in Iraq. There is an alternative that benefits
Syrians, makes us safer, and costs less in money, lives, and morality.</p></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><p>David Swanson's books include "<a href="http://warisalie.org/" target="_blank">War Is A Lie</a>." He blogs at <a href="http://davidswanson.org/" title="http://davidswanson.org" target="_blank">http://davidswanson.org</a> and <a href="http://warisacrime.org/" title="http://warisacrime.org" target="_blank">http://warisacrime.org</a> and works for <a href="http://rootsaction.org/" title="http://rootsaction.org" target="_blank">http://rootsaction.org</a>. He hosts <a href="http://davidswanson.org/taxonomy/term/41" target="_blank">Talk Nation Radio</a>. Follow him on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcnswanson" target="_blank">@davidcnswanson</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Swanson/297768373319#" target="_blank">FaceBook</a>. <br>
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