[Peace] Fwd: [uslawaffiliates] UFPJ and Win Without War Call for June 26-27 Actions

Sat Jun 5 15:00:48 CDT 2004

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>Subject: [uslawaffiliates] UFPJ and Win Without War Call for June 26-27 
>Actions
>
>U.S. Labor Against the War is an affiliate of United for Peace & Justice, 
>which has called for actions to coincide with the June 30 "transfer" of 
>power in Iraq.  Here is the UFPJ call.  Send in reports of activities 
>planned in your community.
>
>
>From: <mailto:lesliecagan at igc.org>Leslie Cagan
>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 12:14 PM
>Subject: [UFPJ] UFPJ joins Win Without War call for June 26-27 actions
>
>TO: Member Groups of United for Peace and Justice
>
>The UFPJ steering committee agreed to join forces with Win Without War in 
>a call for a weekend of actions around the United States just before the 
>June 30th "transfer" of power in Iraq. We know that many of your groups 
>are involved in anti-occupation activities, and some of you may have 
>already made plans for the June 26th - 27th weekend...which is great. Now, 
>as the war and occupation in Iraq continue with new deaths every day, it 
>is important that we re-double our efforts to end this nightmare. Now, as 
>the people of this country are increasingly expressing their opposition to 
>the Bush administration's Iraq policy, we have a new opening to mobilize 
>our communities.
>
>United for Peace and Justice is pleased to be working cooperatively with 
>Win Without War, one of the national anti-war coalitions that formed in 
>the run-up to the Iraq war. The fact that Win Without War is calling for 
>an end of the U.S. occupation of Iraq is an extremely positive step, one 
>we whole-heartedly support.
>
>You will notice in the press release issued by Win Without War (see below) 
>that they call for the setting of a date for the withdrawal of
>U.S. troops from Iraq. United for Peace and Justice maintains our 
>position: we call for the immediate withdrawal of troops. Nonetheless,
>our national steering committee agreed that given the situation in Iraq 
>and the growing anti-occupation sentiment in this country that this is the 
>time for a unified call from UFPJ and WWW. We continue to encourage our 
>member groups to call for the immediate withdrawal of troops, and we hope 
>you will do so in your local activities over the June 26 - 27 weekend.
>
>As always, we urge you to post your activities on the United for Peace and 
>Justice calendar on our web site: 
><http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar_gxinput.php>http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar_gxinput.php 
>. Each time a group posts their activities it inspires another group to 
>plan something, and taken as a whole, the calendar makes it possible for 
>us all to see the breadth of activism of this movement.
>
>Please call our office if you have any questions or need more information.
>
>Let's make June 26 - 27 a truly nationwide weekend of public action to end 
>the occupation of Iraq!!
>
>****************************************************************
>Win Without War Calls for End of U.S. Occupation,
>
>Setting of Date for Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq
>Fire Rumsfeld and Others, Let People of Iraq Govern Selves,
>Says Nation’s Largest Anti-War Coalition
>Announces Plans for Nationwide Protest of Bush Iraq Policy
>
>A coalition of 42 national organizations making up the country’s largest 
>anti-war organization called today for a date certain for withdrawing all 
>American troops from Iraq.
>
>“U.S. actions in Iraq are squandering precious lives, national treasure 
>and international support,” said former Congressman Tom Andrews (D-ME), 
>National Director of Win Without War.  “The prisoner abuse scandal has 
>shamed America and increased the danger to U.S. troops.  The occupation is 
>shattering hopes for genuine Iraqi freedom and undermining U.S. and 
>international security.”
>
>The group announced a weekend of nationwide protests of the Bush Iraq 
>policy on June 26 and 27, just days before the U.S. says it will hand 
>sovereignty of Iraq to a UN chosen administration. The weekend action will 
>be organized with Win Without War members MoveOn.org and the Internet 
>based organization True Majority as well as the coalition United for Peace 
>and Justice.
>
>In a statement released today, Win Without War said any rationale that 
>once existed for the U.S. action in Iraq no longer works.
>
>“There is no military solution in Iraq.  We, therefore, call upon our 
>government to commit to ending the military and economic occupation of 
>Iraq and to withdrawing our troops by a date certain.  There is no 
>justification for letting any young American be the last to die for a mistake.
>
>“Some see U.S. withdrawal as an admission of defeat, but the far greater 
>failure would be to remain on the present course.  The invasion of Iraq 
>was flawed from the beginning, and the mistakes of the occupation have 
>compounded that error.  The war has overburdened the armed forces, drained 
>the national treasury and sparked worldwide animosity toward U.S. policy,” 
>the group’s statement said.
>
>Andrews called for the firing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his 
>complicit involvement in decisions that led to the abuse of Iraqi 
>prisoners at Abu Ghraib and for his consistent misreading of the situation 
>in Iraq.  Others responsible for the criminal treatment of Iraqis also 
>must go, he said.
>
>The statement of Win Without War, which represents a wide range of civil 
>rights, human rights, peace, religious and political organizations, follows.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>End the U.S. Military Occupation of Iraq
>
>
>Set a Date for the Withdrawal of our Soldiers
>
>
>
>
>Let the People of Iraq Govern Their Own Country – Support
>
>
>Humanitarian Relief and Economic Reconstruction
>
>
>
>Fire Rumsfeld and Those Responsible for the Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners
>
>There is no military solution in Iraq. We therefore call upon our 
>government to end the military and economic occupation of Iraq and to 
>withdraw our troops by a date certain. There is no justification for 
>letting any young American be the last to die for a mistake.
>
>The U.S. has a moral and legal responsibility to help finance humanitarian 
>relief and economic reconstruction. We must work with the UN and other 
>international partners to enhance the security and economic development of 
>a post-Saddam, post-American Iraq.
>
>U.S. actions in Iraq are squandering precious lives, national treasure and 
>international support. The prisoner abuse scandal has shamed America 
>before world opinion and increased the danger to U.S. troops. The 
>occupation is shattering hopes for genuine Iraqi freedom and undermining 
>U.S. and international security.
>
>A majority of Iraqis wants American forces to leave Iraq now.  The mere 
>presence of an unwelcome occupation force, exacerbated by the criminal 
>treatment of Iraqi detainees, is fostering insurgency. Our soldiers have 
>become vulnerable targets and are unable to restore order or get on with 
>the business of rebuilding the country. More troops will not change the 
>reality that Iraqis and most of the world view the American presence as 
>illegitimate and unwelcome.
>
>We demand full accountability for all those responsible for the abuse of 
>Iraqi prisoners, including senior-level military and civilian officials. 
>Lower-ranking troops must not be made scapegoats. The cavalier disregard 
>for international law reflected in this scandal has characterized the 
>entire U.S. mission in Iraq.
>
>The plans for creating an interim government on June 30th should foster 
>genuine Iraqi self-rule, not perpetuate U.S. control. Iraqis must have 
>command over their own security forces, and the right to negotiate an 
>agreement setting terms for the operation of foreign troops on their soil. 
>The interim government should have authority over the Iraqi economy and 
>oil revenues and the right to reverse or modify decisions made by the U.S. 
>appointed governing authority.  Absent these conditions, Iraqi 
>“sovereignty” will be a sham.
>
>We reject the argument that America cannot withdraw from a costly, bloody 
>occupation that was mistaken from the beginning. Such a course will only 
>doom more Americans and Iraqis to die for a dubious cause at costs we 
>cannot afford. To those who claim that American credibility is at stake, 
>we say that the best way to restore America’s credibility, respect and 
>honor in the world is through the success of a vigorous citizen’s movement 
>in ending the occupation and holding those responsible fully 
>accountable.  The Win Without War coalition is fully committed to this end.
>
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>U.S. Labor Against War (USLAW)
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