[Peace-discuss] some things AWARE might call on the Obama adminstration to do (for Main Event, and maybe Farmer's Market)

[C. G. Estabrook]

Why can't we take seriously what Obama says?  He announces murder and mayhem. 
Why shouldn't we believe him?


Morton K. Brussel wrote:
> Thanks Stuart for your efforts. Trying to say everything that needs 
> saying in a necessarily succinct and compelling way is a very tough task.
> 
> The remarks by Neil and Carl are generally apt and useful, although we 
> cannot logically condemn the actions of the Obama administration before 
> it acts. We ought, however, warn that the current Obama appointments do 
> not bode well for necessary change.
> 
> I have another suggestion; there is a need to bring to justice those who 
> have initiated our wars, undermined our civil rights, trampled the 
> constitution, ruined our economy, and brought worldwide opprobrium upon 
> the country.
> 
> I have not found the satisfactory list from UFPJ that I thought I 
> received some time ago. However, they have program statements which list 
> various items which may be useful. See
> 
>     http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/DRAFT%20program%20_2.pdf
> 
> I fear that with so many suggestions, so many issues, the task of 
> creating the desired pamphlet may become overwhelming. But something 
> even imperfect or incomplete is better than nothing.
> 
> --mkb
> 
> 
> On Nov 28, 2008, at 4:12 PM, Stuart Levy wrote:
> 
>> At recent AWARE meetings we'd talked about what we might call
>> on the new Adminstration to do and not do.  This will go into a flyer
>> for the Dec. Main Event protest, and onto the web site, at least,
>> and I hope also as a Farmer's Market handout.
>>
>>
>> Here are some points, many adapted from Just Foreign Policy's call,
>> but I've at least edited them, so please direct objections to me.
>>
>> [Mort, you'd mentioned a call like this from UFPJ, but I'm not
>> seeing it, unless you mean the "Statement from UFPJ on the Election
>> of Barack Obama", which is hope-full but not very specific.]
>>
>> Absent here is *anything* about the bailout or about the economy.
>> I think we should speak to that! but invite others here to submit
>> suggestions.   (Ricky's Social Monetary Fund?  Sheila Bair's call for
>> widespread gov't support for homeowners facing foreclosure, or Dean 
>> Baker's
>> to offer a fair market rent?  Follow through on the campaign promise to
>> roll back the tax cuts for high-income people?   Enact Bernie
>> Sanders' income surtax on high-income people?  What?)
>>
>> Please comment!  If you see something important that's missing,
>> if you have better words, if some issue doesn't seem high priority, or
>> if you see something that's just wrong, please speak up.
>>
>> If nobody objects too strongly, I may print a few of these (with edits
>> as they come in through Sat AM) to hand out tomorrow at the Farmer's 
>> Market,
>> but wouldn't consider that a final draft if so.  Hoping we might have
>> a more settled version by Main Event (Dec 6th).
>>
>> I'd like to keep it to one page -- it's about 3/4 page now.
>> =========================================================================== 
>>
>>
>> - Follow through on withdrawal of *all* US troops from Iraq,
>> by the end of 2011 if not sooner, as recently agreed to by the Iraqi
>> parliament.  Military contractors, who have replaced many troops,
>> must likewise leave Iraq.  Make it plain to Iraq and the world that
>> the US will maintain no military bases there.
>>
>> - State clearly that the US supports the Afghan government's efforts to
>> reconcile with the Taliban, including all who are willing to talk.
>>
>> - Cease incursions into Pakistan.  Even if attacks might stop some
>> insurgents, the inevitable civilian casualties can only motivate more
>> enmity and destabilize the Pakistani government.
>>
>> - Start afresh on US efforts to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  
>> Take
>> seriously US policy which opposes Israeli West Bank settlements as an
>> obstacle to peace.  Deal with Hamas - whatever else one may think of 
>> them,
>> they won free and fair democratic elections, and have been providing
>> services to their people as well as they can.
>>
>> - Reaffirm your pledge to talk to Iran without preconditions.
>> Establish real diplomacy, beginning with the establishment of US 
>> diplomatic
>> representation in Iran, as the Bush Administration has proposed.
>> Make clear that the United States has no dispute with a peaceful
>> Iranian nuclear program that is transparent and complies with 
>> international
>> agreements.  Make clear that the United States has no dispute with 
>> peaceful
>> cooperation between the governments of Iran and Iraq. Make clear that the
>> United States welcomes the cooperation of Iran in helping to resolve the
>> conflicts of the Middle East, including the conflict in Afghanistan, the
>> Israel/Palestine conflict, and conflicts in Lebanon.
>>
>> - Put our vast military spending on the table for cuts.  Consider Rep.
>> Frank's proposal for 25% cuts.
>>
>> - End our long-running, counterproductive embargo against Cuba, and 
>> open a
>> dialog with the Cuban government.
>>
>> - Repair relations with Venezuela and Bolivia, including restoring 
>> Bolivia's
>> preferential access to US markets.  The Bush Administration's proposed
>> suspension could cost tens of thousands of Bolivians their jobs.
>>
>> - Obama's call for closure of Guantanamo Bay detention camp, and 
>> saying that
>> the US will not commit torture, are laudable but insufficient.  Prominent
>> figures in the Bush Administration made arguments, including legal 
>> opinions,
>> that torture, indefinite detention, and extraordinary rendition were
>> acceptable and necessary, and have faced no consequences.  The temptation
>> to return to such practices will remain unless it's made clear that
>> expediency does not trump Constitutional protections and international 
>> law.
>>
>> - Repudiate the Bush Administration's signing statements, and the
>> whole notion that a President can override laws by fiat.  Honor
>> our democracy and stop this terrible precedent now.
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