-Caveat Lector-
ANSWERing Bush's big myths about Iraq
Prepared by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Myth # 1
The United States has the right to wage preemptive war against Iraq
Preemptive war is war of aggression. Under international law, a
preemptive war may be justified as an act of self-defense only where
there exists a genuine and imminent threat of physical attack. Bush's
preemptive war against Iraq doesn't even purport to preempt a physical
attack. It purports to preempt a threat that is neither issued nor posed.
Iraq is not issuing threats of attack against the United States. It is
only the United States that threatens war. There has been no evidence
that Iraq is capable of an attack on the U.S., let alone possessing the
intention of carrying out such an attack.
Myth # 2
The U.N. Security Council can lawfully authorize preemptive war
The United Nations Security Council cannot authorize a potential nuclear
U.S. first strike and war of aggression that violates the U.N. Charter,
international law and the law prohibiting war crimes, crimes against the
peace and crimes against humanity. The U.N. Charter - which creates the
Security Council and which grants the Council its authority - requires
the "Security Council to act in accordance with the Purposes and
Principles of the United Nations." (Article 24)
The U.N. Charter requires international disputes or situations that might
lead to a breach of peace to be resolved by peaceful means. (Article 1
and Chapter VI) In other words, a nation may not wage war based on the
claim that it seeks to prevent war. A nation may use force unilaterally
in self-defense only "if an armed attack occurs" against it. (Article 51)
Myth # 3
The United States Congress can lawfully authorize preemptive war against
Iraq
Article VI of the U.S. Constitution establishes that ratified treaties,
such as the U.N. Charter, are the "supreme law of the land." The U.N.
Charter has been ratified by the United States, and the Congress may not
take actions - including wars of aggression - in violation of the
Charter. Wars of aggression, and even the making of the threat of a war
of aggression, violates the international humanitarian law to which all
nations are bound. Neither Congress nor the President has the right to
engage the U.S. in a war of aggression and any vote of endorsement, far
from legalizing or legitimizing global war plans, serves only as
ratification of war crimes.
Myth # 4
The U.S. government intends to "liberate" the Iraqi people
The October 11, 2002, New York Times revealed the true plans of the
United States: "The White House is developing a detailed plan, modeled on
the postwar occupation of Japan, to install an American-led military
government in Iraq if the United States topples Saddam Hussein, senior
administration officials said today.` In the initial phase, Iraq would be
governed by an American military commander - perhaps Gen. Tommy R.
Franks, commander of the United States forces in the Persian Gulf, or one
of his subordinates - who would assume the role that Gen. Douglas
MacArthur served in Japan after its surrender in 1945." ("U.S. has a plan
to occupy Iraq, officials report")
The true intention of the U.S. government is to recolonize Iraq. Prior to
the 1960s, U.S. corporations made 50 percent of their foreign profits
from investments in oil from this region. The Bush administration wants
Iraq to denationalize its oil wealth - 10% of the world's supply. This
war is an attempt to reconquer Iraq and all of its natural resources. The
Bush administration wants to reshuffle the deck in the Middle East and
undo all of the achievements of the national liberation movements from
the last sixty years. They want to eliminate independence for all
countries in the region and assert their domination and control - not in
the interest of the vast majority of people - but for access to oil.
Myth # 5
Iraq is a military threat to the world
There is no record to support this claim. During the Gulf War of 1991,
while the United States bombed Iraq with a barrage that included 110,000
sorties, Iraq did not destroy even one U.S. tank or plane. Desert Storm
destroyed, according to U.N. weapons inspectors, 80% of Iraq's weaponry.
As part of the inspections that followed, 90% of Iraq's remaining
military capability was destroyed. Iraq has been paying indemnities to
Kuwait and U.S. oil corporations since 1991 and has not had the financial
capacity to build another arsenal. In addition, there has not been a
threat by Iraq of any kind against any other country.
Myth # 6
Iraq threw out the weapons inspectors
Iraq did not tell the inspectors to leave. The weapons inspectors
withdrew in December 1998 because the United States told them to pull out
so that the U.S. could launch a bombing campaign on Baghdad. The next
day, on December 16, the U.S. unleashed Operation Desert Fox, which
included dropping 1,100 bombs and Cruise missiles on Iraq. After the
bombing campaign, a Washington Post report confirmed the assertions of
Iraq that the inspections were intelligence-gathering exercises conducted
on the orders of the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Pentagon used the
information collected from the so-called inspections to set up
coordinates for its bombing operations. After this revelation, the Iraqi
government quite understandably did not let the inspectors back in.
Myth # 7
Sanctions are a kinder, gentler way to deal with Iraq
The plan for sanctions on Iraq came from the Pentagon, not the Department
of Health and Human Services. It was a central part of the Pentagon's war
strategy against the Iraqi people. Sanctions have been more devastating
than the Gulf War itself. "UNICEF confirms that five to six thousand
Iraqi children are dying unnecessarily every month due to the impact of
the sanctions, and that figure is probably modest," Denis Halliday told a
Congressional hearing in October 1998. Halliday, who had just resigned
his post as U.N. Assistant Secretary General and head of the U.N.
humanitarian mission in Iraq, spoke of the "tragic incompatibility of
sanctions with the U.N. Charter and the Convention on Human Rights."
Myth # 8
The UN allows U.S. and U.K. planes to bomb the "No Fly Zones"
The United States agreed to a ceasefire with Iraq in February 1991. The
no-flight zones over two-thirds of Iraq were imposed by the U.S., Britain
and France 18 months after the Gulf War. The United Nations has never
sanctioned the no-flight zones. France has since condemned them. The
so-called no-flight zones are in violation of international law. Iraq has
every right under international law and all known laws in the world to
defend itself in these U.S.-declared no-flight zones. According to
Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, Iraq has the right of self-defense in all
of its country, including these "no-flight zones."
Myth # 9
The people support a war on Iraq
Not even opinion polls support this phony assertion. The polls confirm
that there is wide opposition to a war. Normally there is wide support
for a president who is about to launch a war. Instead, Congressional
offices report overwhelming constituent opposition to a unilateral war on
Iraq. Worldwide, the opposition is even bigger. While British Prime
Minister Tony Blair is a vocal acolyte of Bush, few in Britain support a
war on Iraq. Already, a march against war of 400,000 was held in London.
Similar demonstrations have been held in Rome and Madrid. The general
sentiment in Europe was summed up by the Greek Development Minister who
said, "We are totally opposed to any military conflict ... even if there
is a UN Resolution." Around the world, the sentiment is no different. New
Zealand's government opposes the war. No country in the Middle East
supports a war on Iraq. Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all oppose a war. As do France,
Russia and China.
Myth # 10
War will be good for the economy
It already costs U.S. taxpayers $50 billion per year to keep U.S. armed
forces in the Persian Gulf. The estimated $200 billion for a war on Iraq
will come straight out of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education
and welfare. The average working-class taxpayer will foot the bill. The
upper classes have already had their taxes greatly reduced so that they
pay only a small part of the bill.
Myth # 11
This war will be quick and painless
War is rarely quick, never painless. A new war will be neither. The 4.8
million people in Baghdad face an invasion by the most modern and
lethally equipped military in the world. Iraq is a nation of 22 million
people. They will bear the brunt of the pain and the deaths of the war.
Myth # 12
Gulf War Syndrome is a myth
The Veterans Benefits Administration Office noted that 36% of Desert
Storm vets have filed claims for service-related disabilities. A primary
reason is because the U.S. used Depleted Uranium. In July 1990, "The U.S.
Army Armaments Munitions and Chemical Command admitted DU posed longterm
risks to natives and combat veterans... . Low doses have been linked to
cancer." Gulf War vets have a 500% greater incidence of Lou Gehrig's
disease than the general population. Desert Storm female vets have a 300%
greater incidence of bearing children with birth defects. For male vets
the figure is 200%.
---
Prepared by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
NYC: 39 West 14 Street #206, New York, NY 10011 212.633.6646
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.actionsf.org
http://www.internationalANSWER.org
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