[Peace] NEED ONE MORE PERSON: National Assembly to End the Iraq
War and Occupation
Morton K. Brussel
brussel at uiuc.edu
Thu Jun 26 10:01:20 CDT 2008
I've decided to go to Cleveland. This means I won't be able to be at
the Farmer's Market on Saturday, 9:20- - 10:40. Can someone replace
me there?
Mort
On Jun 25, 2008, at 9:40 PM, Randall Cotton wrote:
> At last Sunday's AWARE meeting, funds were approved to send up to 4
> AWARE
> folks to this weekend's gathering of the "National Assembly to End the
> Iraq War and Occupation". Details of my proposal on this are in this
> week's minutes (near the bottom of the post) at:
>
> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/archive/peace/2008-June/021403.html
>
> And we have 4 folks who are interested in going - myself included
> (on my
> own dime). The other three folks are:
>
> 1. David Harley
> 2. Mort Brussel
> 3. Roger Epperson
>
> HOWEVER, Mort may not be able to go because of a physical injury.
> FURTHERMORE, if Mort can't go, we may only be able to send ONE person
> (David). Since I would only go at my own cost (on principle, since I'm
> proposing all this), I won't be able to go unless at least TWO
> other folks
> go (I just couldn't afford it otherwise). In addition, Roger said he'd
> only go as the 4th person. Yes, it's a little convoluted, but the
> upshot
> is:
>
> *** WE NEED A SECOND PERSON ***
>
> so that the third person (me) and fourth person (Roger) can go.
> Mort would
> really like to go as the second person, but just may not be able to
> because of his injury (and it will definitely be a physical
> hardship for
> him if he does go). He plans to make a call on this tomorrow night.
>
> So we're in serious need of an AWAREista to commit to joining us
> (or at
> least be an alternate for Mort in case he can't make it), pulling
> everything together so we can send a full contingent of 4 folks
> (the max
> we can put in one hotel room).
>
> Can *YOU* help us out on this? Give me a call anytime if you can or
> for
> more information (351-8644 (home)/722-8470 (cell) ).
>
> Quick review of logistics: We would leave morning or mid-day on
> Friday and
> arrive back Sunday evening. Registration, gas money and hotel room is
> already covered by AWARE. One meal is covered (Saturday lunch). Hotel
> reservations are already made. Again, feel free to call me for more
> details.
>
> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO SEND 4 FOLKS VERSUS 1?
>
> I've included my previous "Call to Action" post from a few days ago
> below
> for full details, but in a nutshell:
>
> The conference objective is: "to place on the agenda of the entire
> U.S.
> antiwar movement a proposal for the largest possible united mass
> mobilization(s) in the future to stop the war and end the occupation."
> This is a new approach - fundamentally grassroots-based, not centrally
> organized. All anti-war groups across the country, small and large,
> need
> to network together to make this effort work - focusing primarily on
> mobilizing the most massive national demonstrations possible (initial
> proposal is for bi-coastal demonstrations next Spring).
>
> In order for this idea to get the best running start, it's
> incumbent on
> *precisely* groups like AWARE to jump in with full participation.
> The more
> folks we send to this conference, the greater legitimacy and
> momentum this
> movement will gain. In addition, the more folks we have at the
> conference,
> the better we'll be able to network with other groups in the
> Midwest (at
> least seven Chicago groups plan to attend, according to
> www.ilcpj.org).
> Networking among anti-war groups nationwide (and especially among
> neighboring geographical groups) is a fundamental tenet of this
> project.
> Also, the more folks that attend, the more workshops we can benefit
> from
> (they're all held at the same time). Finally, and what may proove
> to be
> most importantly, EACH ATTENDEE HAS A VOTE, regardless of what
> group they
> came with. Those of us that see the power and the promise of this new
> grassroots-approach to massive national demonstrations need to attend,
> speak and VOTE in favor of it, doing our best to PREVENT the idea from
> being diluted, corrupted or otherwise compromised (I've already
> seen at
> least one effort along these lines).
>
> AWARE's raison-d'etre these days, more than anything else, is to
> oppose
> and reverse the war and occupation in Iraq. If this project falters or
> falls flat on its face, it would truly be regrettable if that came
> about
> because, in part, AWARE didn't fully participate.
>
> PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER JOINING US. More information follows:
>
> Basic tenets (from "Structure Proposal" document at
> www.natassembly.org):
>
> The National Assembly to End the Iraq War and Occupation shall be
> maintained as a network.
>
> The Assembly's purpose and mission is to promote unity of the U.S.
> antiwar
> movement and to propose dates for unified actions so that national and
> nationally coordinated demonstrations are sponsored and called by the
> movement as a whole. To achieve this objective, the Assembly, together
> with other unity minded forces in the antiwar movement, will
> attempt to
> create a culture and environment in the movement that can and will
> remove
> barriers that separate us and permit us to march together to end
> the Iraq
> war and occupation.
>
> The Assembly seeks to bring together groups and individuals who
> subscribe
> to the following five propositions: (1) immediate withdrawal of all
> U.S.
> military forces and contractors from Iraq; (2) mass demonstrations
> as the
> central strategy; (3) unity of the movement in the streets; (4)
> democratic
> decision making; and (5) independence of the movement from all
> political
> parties.
>
> Unique importance of the conference:
>
> 1. A simple, uncompromising agenda calling for all troops (and
> contractors) out now.
> 2. A new nationwide grassroots approach toward building truly
> massive
> demonstrations (versus centrally coordinated approaches that were
> already
> tried).
> 3. No attachments to politicians or political parties (which have
> essentially failed us in the past and cannot be relied upon in the
> future
> to get us out of Iraq).
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Randall Cotton" <recotton at earthlink.net>
> To: <Peace at lists.chambana.net>
> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 8:59 PM
> Subject: CALL TO ACTION: National Assembly to End the Iraq War and
> Occupation
>
>
> There is an idea brewing in the U.S. anti-war movement that has the
> potential to finally force our government's hand to end the
> occupation of
> Iraq. And there is an upcoming conference scheduled for June 28-29 in
> Cleveland, OH to launch this idea nationwide. But for this idea to
> take
> root, groups like AWARE need to attend and participate in this
> conference
> (and work toward the idea's fruition going forward). Full details are
> below. But first, a quick description of what action is needed:
>
> We need folks to attend this conference as representatives of
> AWARE. We
> have one person (and his minivan for bringing others) committed to
> attending (David Harley). But it is important to get as many folks
> there
> in support of this idea as possible (everyone attending the conference
> will have equal vote). We need 3 more folks (or as close to that as
> we can
> get) to attend along with David (each person attending can provide
> input,
> and most importantly, their VOTE).
>
> The idea:
> ---------
> We have seen how we cannot depend on politicians to end the
> occupation,
> despite the fact that some 2/3 of the nation is opposed to the war.
> We've
> seen how even though we gave the Democrats control of both houses of
> Congress (allowing them to block funding for the war at any time),
> they
> not only didn't stop the occupation, they allowed it to "surge". Both
> presidential contenders promise to continue the occupation of Iraq
> indefinitely.
>
> We have seen how relying on centralized meta-groups such as "United
> for
> Peace and Justice" and ANSWER to mobilize large demonstrations has
> resulted in disappointing turnouts and bickering that ultimately
> resulted
> in UFPJ deciding "not to coordinate work with ANSWER again on a
> national
> level". We have seen how such demonstrations have also been diluted by
> advocacy for a wide spectrum of issues outside the narrow focus of the
> calamitous occupation of Iraq, likewise diluting their impact toward
> ending that occupation.
>
> Many in the anti-war movement have come to realize that we must
> turn away
> from relying on leaders in government and leading national anti-war
> meta-organizations and instead look to ourselves, the myriad
> individual
> anti-war groups nationwide, small and large, to build a new
> movement from
> the grassroots up, networking across the country to create the same
> conditions that forced the end of the Vietnam War and forced the
> passage
> of the Civil Rights Act: ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE NATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS,
> larger than anything ever seen.
>
> Specifically, the idea is "to place on the agenda of the entire US
> antiwar
> movement a proposal for the largest possible united mass
> mobilization to
> stop the war and end the occupation" and to effect this by having all
> anti-war groups across the country network together (easier to do
> these
> days than ever with e-mail/cell phones/instant message, etc) to
> collectively get as many people as possible to national
> demonstrations on
> each coast (probably DC and SF) on a specific date next Spring. And to
> continue in that fashion, growing the movement, perhaps having
> ever-growing massive demonstrations each year, until it becomes so
> overwhelming that our government simply has no alternative but to
> end the
> occupation. A million or more angry demonstrators surrounding the
> White
> House, with the promise of more next time around is the kind of
> dynamic
> this movement aims for.
>
> I've included the full "action proposal" below. This proposal will be
> modified and voted on at the conference. Fundamental tenets underlying
> this proposal are:
>
> 1) An understanding that this is about nothing less than the
> "immediate,
> total and unconditional withdrawal" of all military, contractors, and
> bases from Iraq.
> 2) Mass demonstrations as the central strategy.
> 3) Everyone starts NOW to promote and organize the Spring mass
> demonstration as part of events that anti-war groups are already
> doing.
> 4) Independence of the movement from all political parties.
>
> My role here is to advocate for this idea and encourage AWARE's full
> participation. I'm not planning on going to the conference myself,
> but I'm
> spearheading the logistics and funding proposal for the trip and
> asking
> others to attend who are excited about this idea and are willing to
> help
> out at least a little in AWARE's future participation as part of this
> movement. I am committing to spearheading AWARE's ongoing support and
> participation in this effort (which I view as a long-term project),
> but I
> think other AWARE folks should attend the conference itself.
>
> To me this is a truly inspirational development that holds great
> promise,
> but it could also fall flat on its face. If not enough supporting
> votes
> attend the conference to reinforce and refine this idea, I can
> foresee how
> it could be diluted, deflected and even corrupted by folks who want
> to use
> the conference to advance more narrow (maybe even self-serving)
> interests
> or add in tangentially related issues, watering down the power of this
> idea so much that it just peters out. Thus the importance of
> sending as
> many folks as we can (within practical limits). Every individual
> attending
> has a vote. For logistical reasons, 4 is a good number, and I hope
> that's
> what we wind up with. I know it's very short notice for essentially
> giving
> up one's whole weekend (including Friday as a travel day), but I
> just got
> wind of the conference not too long ago myself.
>
> Please take the time to read the core document of this idea - the
> "action
> proposal" below, it's not very long. It is tightly focused, admirably
> uncompromising, even inspirational. And if you're inspired to help
> bring
> this idea to life, please let me know as soon as possible. I'm
> arranging
> the logistics - funding, hotel room(s), etc. I'll also provide you
> with a
> packet of information on the conference before the trip to get you
> up to
> speed in preparation.
>
> Reach me anytime by phone if you like - 351-8644 (home)/722-8470
> (cell)
>
> Thanks
> R
>
>
> ********************************************
> Action Proposal Submitted to the June 28-29, 2008 "Open National
> Conference to Stop the War in Iraq and Bring the Troops Home Now"
> by the
> Coordinating Committee of the National Assembly to End the Iraq War
> and
> Occupation
>
> Proposed Actions
>
> 1) The National Assembly to End the War and Occupation of Iraq urges
> attendees at this conference to build support for and participate in
> demonstrations at the Republican and Democratic Party conventions
> previously called by many groups with the goal being to organize
> massive,
> independent and united contingents demanding "Bring the Troops Home
> Now!"
> Put the bi-partisan warmakers on notice that our movement will accept
> nothing less than the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all
> U.S.
> troops from Iraq and closing all military bases.
>
> 2) The National Assembly welcomes initiatives taken by local and
> regional
> antiwar groups to organize antiwar demonstrations in the months ahead,
> leading up to the November 4 election, calling for the immediate
> withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from Iraq. The Assembly will
> encourage participation in such actions.
>
> 3) The National Assembly will propose a date to be set by the
> conference
> for organizing united local protests in cities across the nation to
> demand
> of whichever administration comes to power nothing less than the
> immediate
> and unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. troops and bases from Iraq.
>
> 4) That all of the above mobilizations be viewed as springboards for
> building massive, united, independent and bi-coastal Spring 2009
> demonstrations against the war, organized, called and sponsored by the
> movement's major forces as well as new forces that can be brought
> into the
> movement; that every effort be made to make these demonstrations
> international in scope; and that we aim at a new level of unity and
> commitment capable of closing the gap between the present antiwar
> forces
> engaged in our common movement and those who also oppose the war
> but have
> not yet understood the necessity of directly and actively dedicating
> themselves to the fight to end it.
>
> 5) In the event of a U.S. government attack on Iran or another major
> international crisis triggered by U.S. military action, the
> Assembly will
> urge an emergency convening of all the major antiwar forces to plan
> the
> most massive, united, protest action possible.
>
> 6) The National Assembly welcomes and will help publicize other
> forms of
> activity calling for an end to the war and occupation of Iraq,
> including
> work with veterans and active duty members of the service, teach-ins,
> forums, antiwar referenda, antiwar strikes, mass meetings, civil
> disobedience/non-violent direst action, petitioning, moratorium
> activity,
> lobbying, Iraqi trade unionists tours, solidarity work,
> counter-recruitment actions, electoral work, letter writing or any
> of the
> other multiple ways opponents of the war and occupation protest. We
> value
> all activities that involve people and broaden the movement in
> protesting
> the Iraq war and occupation, and, upon request, we will post notice of
> such activities on the Assembly's website.
>
> MOTIVATION
>
>
> 1. The U.S. continued occupation of Iraq as part of its war against
> the
> people of that nation is today among the central issues in world
> politics.
> Initiated with an internationally discredited lie, the war and
> occupation
> violate the right of the Iraqi people to determine their own
> destiny and
> constitute crimes under international law.
>
> 2. The war is motivated by the drive to control Iraq's gigantic oil
> wealth
> and access to the energy resources of the entire Middle East. It is
> a war
> in which working class youth are victims of the "economic draft"
> and pay
> the ultimate price. It is a war costing trillions of dollars
> needed to
> solve pressing social problems at home, rebuild the destruction in
> Iraq,
> and relieve hunger and poverty around the globe.
>
> 3. Building support for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq helps bring to the
> fore the question of the legitimacy and cost in human lives and
> treasure
> of U.S. interventions, military actions and wars in other parts of the
> world, especially Afghanistan. In fact, Washington's pursuit of
> 'victory'
> in Iraq carries with it the threat of expanding the war to Iran and
> enmeshing the entire region and beyond in even more conflicts and
> occupations.
>
> The Iraq war has resulted in incalculable numbers of deaths and
> casualties
> of Iraqis, as well as their massive displacement. It is a war that
> promotes the transparently false and racist idea that Muslim and/or
> Arab
> people are not capable of organizing their own affairs.
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL
>
> 4. We call for the immediate, total and unconditional withdrawal of
> all
> U.S. military forces and contractors from Iraq, their return to the
> U.S.,
> and closing of all U.S. military bases.
>
> FOR UNITED MASS ACTION IN THE
> STREETS
>
> 5. We advocate and will help bring into being a massive, united,
> independent and democratic antiwar movement demanding "Bring the
> Troops
> Home Now!" and "End the Occupation Now!" Only a united antiwar
> movement
> that reaches deep into the fabric of American society and mobilizes
> the
> majority millions who oppose this war, from citizens to soldiers, from
> immigrants to the youth, to women and LGBT people, to people of all
> races
> and creeds, can force the U.S. government to bend to its will.
>
> 6. We place our confidence in the people of the U.S. to challenge
> this war
> and reject the idea that promises by politicians will lead to an
> end to
> the slaughter in the absence of popular mass struggle. The history
> of all
> successful social struggles, from the fight against the Vietnam War
> to the
> fight for civil rights and the right of workers to organize
> collectively,
> is the history of the construction of independent mass movements that
> challenge the powers that be until their just cause is won.
>
> 7. All polls show that a majority of the people in the U.S. oppose
> continuation of the war and occupation. Yet we must acknowledge
> that there
> exists a huge gap between those who oppose the war and those who are
> willing to take to the streets to express their opposition to it. We
> believe that a united movement can play a key role in closing this
> gap.
>
> 8. It is self-evident that a united movement is a stronger
> movement. There
> is every reason for the movement to unite and no good reason for it
> to be
> divided. We believe that coalitions, organizations and groups with
> widely
> divergent views on a host of matters can and must come together to
> boldly
> challenge the warmakers and render the pursuit of this unjust war
> morally
> and socially indefensible and unsustainable.
>
> 9. We reject presidential and congressional calls to "stay the
> course" in
> Iraq or proposals for timetables for withdrawal coupled with
> belligerent,
> saber-rattling threats against Iran. What a far cry that is from
> the clear
> clarion "Out Now!" demand of the antiwar movement!
>
> 10. The brochure announcing this conference declares: "Everyone is
> welcome. The objective is to place on the agenda of the entire U.S.
> antiwar movement a proposal for the largest possible united mass
> mobilization(s) in the future to stop the war and end the
> occupation." It
> is in that spirit that we urge adoption of the actions proposed above.
>
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