[Peace-discuss] Iraq resolution

[Alfred Kagan]

FYI

The following resolution was passed by the Board of the African 
Studies Association on Sunday morning in Washington, DC.


ACAS Resolution Against the War with Iraq

Whereas we envision that national security is best achieved by 
building economic and social justice in the United States, Africa and 
throughout the world;

Whereas the large increase in the current military budget of $334 
billion is necessitating cuts in the education budget and will 
increasingly drain resources from essential human services and social 
programs at home;

Whereas a war against Iraq would likely cost between $100 and $200 
billion and would further erode budgets necessary to maintain the 
quality of life;

Whereas a war against Iraq would undermine higher education 
initiatives, likely necessitate larger tuition increases, and would 
decrease access to need-based fellowships and student assistance;

Whereas a war against Iraq would likely result in the call-up and 
interruption of academic programs of students currently in the 
National Guard;

Whereas the war against terrorism has already eroded civil liberties 
without any evidence of increased security through the passage of the 
USA Patriot Act the Homeland Security Act and the implementation of 
various Executive orders;

Whereas the climate of free and vigorous debate necessary to the 
academic mission is under attack and has already been chilled in many 
institutions throughout the country;

Whereas the current climate has relegitimized ethnic profiling, 
racism and discrimination based on national origin and physical 
appearance;

Whereas there is no evidence of ties between he Government of Iraq 
and Al Qaeda;

Whereas there is no evidence of an imminent threat to the United 
States from Iraq;

Whereas the United States military has increased its presence in 
Africa and set up a Joint Task Force for the Horn of Africa based in 
Djibouti, already numbering at least 3,200 Special Force soldiers;

Whereas Africans are likely to become both victims of increased 
violence and major economic casualties of a war with Iraq (as with 
the 1991 Gulf War when 13 African countries lost 1% of their GNP);

Whereas President Bush's new preemptive strike doctrine is a threat 
to independent-minded countries everywhere, including in Africa;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Association of Concerned Africa 
Scholars (ACAS):

Opposes a military attack on Iraq and calls on the Bush 
Administration to cooperate fully in a multilateral, long-term 
approach to solving the problems in the Middle East under the 
auspices of the United Nations;

Urges all members of the academic community to increase vigilance and 
act against all attacks on civil liberties an academic freedom;

Encourages all members of the academic community to educate 
themselves on the history and issues behind the conflict with Iraq 
and its likely impact on African countries and peoples;

Encourages all members of the academic community to educate 
themselves on the history, causes and issues behind terrorism 
throughout the world;

And requests ASA to adopt this resolution and distribute it widely to 
President Bush, members of Congress and the media.

6 December 2002   

-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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