[Peace-discuss] UFPJ Proposal

[C. G. Estabrook]

	*Proposal for Strategic Framework for United for Peace and Justice*
	http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/38092
	By David Swanson

The largest peace coalition in the United States, United for Peace *and
Justice*, will meet in Chicago
<http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3952> on December 12
through 14th to set its agenda for the coming year. A draft Strategic
Framework
<http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/DRAFT%20Strategic%20Framework%20_2.pdf>
is already available. It includes four area for the peace movement to
work on:

     1) We remain committed to the urgent goal that has always been the
     centerpiece of our work: immediately ending the U.S. war and
     occupation in Iraq and bringing all the troops home! We call for an
     end to the ongoing U.S. war and occupation in Afghanistan.

     2) Our work for peace and justice will include an action response to
     the economic, social and environmental crisis at home and worldwide.

     3) We will work to prevent new wars in Pakistan, Iran and elsewhere.

     4) It is time to challenge the Global War on Terror and the Empire
     Building Agenda of the U.S.

These four points are elaborated upon in the document. Point number 2
includes the all-important project of shifting resources from wars to
diplomacy, foreign aid, and human needs (although this is complicated
now by the fact that "bailouts" have dwarfed wars as a way to waste
money). A few other points are included as well, but as non-priorities.

Through December 6th, UFP*J* is accepting feedback through its website
<http://www.unitedforpeace.org/modinput4.php?modin=135>. And there will
be opportunities to make proposals at the meeting in Chicago.

I've heard a lot of proposals not on the list that I approve of. Some
are modifications of one of the existing projects, such as a particular
focus on single-payer health care or a stronger position against
sanctions and other hostile actions toward Iran. Some are specific
tactics, such as an effort to work together with ANSWER on a
sixth-anniversary protest, or a proposal for Iraq Moratorium days each
month. I think these are all excellent ideas and plan to support them.

But I think we are also missing a key element that should be included as
a separate fifth point or combined with an existing but re-worked
project. If point #2 were re-framed as an effort to prevent future wars,
then the project of shifting resources to human needs would still belong
there, but something else would as well.

I think it is imperative that we deter future wars, as well as defunding
them, that we reestablish the rule of law in addition to simply
requesting that certain laws be voluntarily obeyed for the moment. We
can do this by prosecuting high officials who are guilty of war crimes,
including the supreme crime of aggressive war. We can also shift power
away from the Pentagon and the White House, and back to Congress and to
the United Nations.

If we do not take these steps, we will be permiting a lawless world in
which crimes are lamented but the criminals not punished. We will be
handing every future president absolute power and asking him or her not
to be corrupted by it. And when a president launches a new war of
aggression next year or next decade, our response will be constrained to
"Stop that this instant or, or, or... we'll march in the streets!" And
our lobbying will either be directed at the president or at a powerless
Congress.

I don't want to underestimate the power of marching in streets. I'm in
favor of doing a lot more of it. But it cannot be our only power. And it
isn't. Many UFPJ member groups, including the Center for Constitutional
Rights and AfterDowningStreet are working to prevent pardons, advance
prosecutions, and restore checks and balances in our government. The
Congress has significantly lost the powers to legislate, raise and spend
money, declare and end wars, approve and reject treaties, approve and
reject officials, oversee the government, and impeach those who abuse
power. We cannot proceed as a movement within a democracy unless we
restore and expand that democracy. We will not be able to persuade
future officials to listen to us if past officials have suffered no
penalty for ignoring us.

Alternatively, we could just shorten the name to United for Peace and.

-- 

David Swanson is the author of the introduction to "The 35 Articles of
Impeachment and the Case for Prosecuting George W. Bush" published by
Feral House and available at Amazon.com.  Swanson holds a master's
degree in philosophy from the University of Virginia. He has worked as a
newspaper reporter and as a communications director, with jobs including
press secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign, media
coordinator for the International Labor Communications Association, and
three years as communications coordinator for ACORN, the Association of
Community Organizations for Reform Now. Swanson is Co-Founder of
AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ConvictBushCheney.org and Washington
Director of Democrats.com, a board member of Progressive Democrats of
America, the Backbone Campaign, and Voters for Peace, and a member of
the legislative working group of United for Peace and Justice.

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http://davidswanson.org/node/921

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