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<P class=photo-caption>Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor is one of 15 Senate Democrats
breaking from the Obama administration to support increasing Iranian sanctions.
</P></DIV>
<H5 class=article-dateline>Web Only / Features » January 21, 2014 </H5>
<H1 class=article-headline>The ‘Dirty Fifteen’</H1>
<P class=article-deck>We must name and shame the Democratic warmongers in the
Senate.</P><SPAN class=author>BY <A
href="http://inthesetimes.com/community/profile/5722">James Thindwa</A></SPAN>
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<P class=pullquote>Their reckless stance sets off an inexorable and unnecessary
march towards war. If Congress approves sanctions, Iran has vowed to withdraw
from an interim accord that not only opens its nuclear program to international
inspectors, but also seriously restricts its nuclear activities. </P></DIV>
<P>Naming and shaming is a highly effective tactic used by environmentalists.
Take the <A
href="http://toxicsactionorg.live.pubintnet-dev.org/sites/default/files/Sooty%20Six%20Retrospective%20Brochure%20web.pdf">“Sooty
Six”</A> campaign targeting Connecticut’s dirty power plants, which led to
passage of a 2002 law—the first of its kind in the nation—that ultimately
reduced dangerous soot (sulfur dioxide) emissions by 86 percent. But it’s not
just corporate polluters who have been called out; it’s also high-profile
politicians. Famously, during the 1970 elections, Earth Day organizers targeted
a <A
href="http://e360.yale.edu/feature/beyond_the_limits_of_earth_day_turning_up_the_heat_on_climate/2262/">“Dirty
Dozen”</A> of incumbent congressmen with atrocious environmental records. The
campaign was credited with ousting seven of them, including George Fallon, the
powerful chair of the House Public Works Committee and a staunch foe of mass
transit. Fallon’s defeat sent such a chilling message to Congress that only
weeks after the election—despite vigorous opposition from major polluting
industries—the U.S. Senate approved the <A
href="http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act">1970 Clean Air
Act</A>.</P>
<P>The recent emergence of pro-war Democrats pushing for new sanctions against
Iran provides the perfect moment for peace activists to borrow from the
environmental playbook. We need an anti-war version of “naming and shaming”
directed at these Democrats—call them the “Dirty Fifteen”: Bob Menendez (N.J.),
Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Bob Casey (Pa.), Kay Hagan (N.C.),
Dick Blumenthal (Conn.), Mark Begich (Ala.), Chris Coons (Dela.), Mark Pryor
(Ark.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Mark Warner (Va.), Joe
Donnelly (Ind.), Cory Booker (N.J.) and Ben Cardin (Md.). Their reckless stance
sets off an inexorable and unnecessary march towards war. If Congress approves
sanctions, Iran has vowed to withdraw from an interim accord that not only opens
its nuclear program to international inspectors, but also seriously restricts
its nuclear activities. Without inspectors, doubt and uncertainty surrounding
Iran’s nuclear activities and intentions—whatever the merit—makes future Israeli
or American air strikes inevitable.</P>
<P>Strangely, it is against a backdrop of war fatigue that the “Dirty Fifteen”
want more of it. <A
href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/30/cnn-poll-afghanistan-war-most-unpopular-in-u-s-history/">Eighty-two
percent</A> of the American public now oppose the Afghanistan war (from 46
percent five years ago), <A
href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-most-americans-say-iraq-war-was-a-mistake/">6
in 10 say the Iraq War</A> was a mistake and majorities opposed President
Obama’s plan to bomb Syria. But the political tone-deafness doesn’t stop there.
Apparently the “Dirty Sixteen” learned nothing from Hillary Clinton’s disastrous
vote to authorize the Iraq War. That vote gave candidate Obama the decisive edge
over Clinton in the 2008 presidential race.</P>
<P>Actions are underway to disrupt the march to war. An assortment of <A
href="http://www.niacouncil.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=10225">71
peace, veterans, religious and other social justice groups</A> are pressing the
U.S. Senate to reject new sanctions. Antiwar rallies are planned across the
country. In Chicago, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) has called for a <A
href="https://www.facebook.com/events/445789062214635/">“No War on Iran”
protest</A> on February 1.</P>
<P>In addition to mass mobilizations, a clear message must be sent to the “Dirty
Sixteen”—many of whom seek re-election—in the form of primary or independent
challenges. The full spectrum of progressive forces—those whose work is
undermined by reckless military spending—must find and recruit capable
candidates to challenge these out-of-touch Democrats. Beyond its deadly tolls,
war is implicated in the misery of millions here and abroad. Poverty,
underfunded schools, a disappearing social safety net, failing infrastructure,
unmet health needs—all are consequences of disproportionate military spending.
Politicians who want to tackle these problems must first repudiate war and any
actions that make war possible. Are you listening, “Dirty FIfteen”
Dems? </P>
<P><EM>CORRECTION: This piece originally listed Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill.)</EM>
<EM>erroneously as a Democrat.</EM></P></DIV>
<DIV class=moreby><A href="http://inthesetimes.com/community/profile/5722/"><IMG
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<H2 class=sechead-article-author>James Thindwa</H2></A>
<P><B>James Thindwa</B> is a member of <I>In These Times</I>' Board of Directors
and a labor and community
activist.</P></DIV></DIV></ARTICLE></SECTION></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>