Friends--
Big news came this past week as Richard Butler, the controversial former
head of the United Nations arms inspection team in Iraq, UNSCOM,
publicly criticised the sanctions imposed on Baghdad after the Gulf War.
Speaking on the BBC's Talking Point on Air, Mr Butler said sanctions
harmed the Iraqi people and had not realised their declared aim of
stripping Iraq of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). He becomes the
biggest name on a growing list of former UN employees involved with Iraq
who have pointed to fundamental flaws in the organisation's Iraqi
policies. "I deeply believe that sanctions as now applied to Iraq have
been utterly counterproductive for this disarmament purpose," Mr Butler
said. He was responding to a question from an Iraqi caller from
Germany who had accused him of being instrumental in the imposition of
"murderous" sanctions against Iraq. "I'm not trying to shirk
responsibility. "I'm not just splitting hairs by saying sanctions were
not my responsibility, I'm stating a fact," he said.
Mr Butler stressed that Unicom's job was solely to report to the UN
Security Council on progress towards Iraqi disarmament. As the body's
chief, Mr Butler was well known for confrontations with Iraqi officials
over access to weapons sites. He was accused by Iraq of being a tool of
the US, which Baghdad said had no intention of lifting sanctions
regardless of progress on disarmament.
Mr Butler put forward his theory, expounded in a recently published
book, that sanctions need to target the Iraqi leadership rather than the
ordinary people of Iraq. He also suggested that unity and collective
action by the Security Council was vital, while divisions had stopped
progress in disarmament which benefited Baghdad. Mr Butler also
answered critics of "western double standards" towards Arab states and
Israel, which like Iraq has invaded its neighbours and maintains a WMD
arsenal. He agreed there was a double standard, and Israel's nuclear
weapons had been a "source of very great difficulty" when it came to
Unscom's work. "In the last chapter of my book I make very clear that as
we move towards nuclear disarmament as we must that Israel's weapons
have to be put on the table," he said.
NPR's Morning Edition also produced great coverage via a 7 minute report
from Quil Lawrence live from Baghdad. Kudos to the folks at Voices for
getting him over ther, to all those activists who have consistently been
working on NPR, and to the folks at NPR for running it. I have a
transcript of the broadcast available for those interested.
Also available is the transcript for Hans von Sponeck's speech at "A Day
and Night for the People of Iraq" - Kensington Town Hall, London - 6 May
00.
The FOR has just received another shipment of 1000 Seattle Post
Intelligencers. This is a great 8 page insert from a mainstream
newspaper, good for introducing people to the situation in Iraq. They
are available in BULK copies from me for $.25/paper. If anyone needs
just a few, spread the word and encourage people to contact the paper
directly for copies. On the P-I's website
www.seattle-pi.com/iraq/, at the bottom it says: "For reprints of this
section, contact Katherine White at 206-448-8066 or
[EMAIL PROTECTED]" Requesting from the paper lets them
know folks from all over are interested in their report and in Iraq.
Then they'll be more likely to keep it online and do reprints.
A quick reminder about the organizing packets available and also
Campaign of Conscience brochures. If you're thinking of coming to dc to
commemorate the 10th anniversary of sanctions, or are just interested in
what's going on, we now have a website up at www.saveageneration.org/a6
which will be updated frequently. Keep up the good work in these
increasingly warmer getting to be HOT summer days!
in peace--kate reuer
June 9--Newburgh, NY
Sanctions Forum: Ibrahim Ramey, Sr. Eileen Gannon, and Bruce Martin
June 9--Madison, WI
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Kathy Kelly
June 9--Washington, DC
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Phyllis Benis, Barbara Nimri Aziz
June 10--Washington, DC
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Naseer Aruri, Kathy Kelly
June 11--Chicago, IL
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Anthony Arnove, Naseer Aruri, Phyllis Benis,
Denis Halliday, Kathy Kelly, and Sharon Smith
June 11--Stanford University
CORRECTION Kofi Annan Commencement Speech VIGIL
June 13--Providence, RI
Speakers--David Barsamian, Anthony Arnove
June 24-28--Washington, D.C.
EPIC's Lobby Days
June 28--Long Beach, CA
Iraq Under Siege Tour, Kathy Kelly
July 8--Dublin, Ireland
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Denis Halliday
July 30--New York, NY
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Anthony Arnove, Barbara Nimri Aziz, and
other contributors
August 6--Washington DC
Tenth Anniversary of Imposition of Economic Sanctions
August 6--St. Louis, MO
March Against Sanctions
October 17--St. Louis, MO
Final Presidential Debate Disruption
WEEKLY VIGILS
Dublin, Ireland--Saginaw, MI--Oakland, CA--Concord, NH--Tampa,
FL--Tuscon, AZ--Cape Cod, MA--Chapel Hill, NC--Minneapolis/St. Paul,
MN--Bellingham, WA--Hartford,CT--Northhampton, MA--Denver, CO--Chicago,
IL--Morganton and Hickory, NC--Washington, DC--Worcester, MA--New
Orleans, LA--Oakland, CA--New Haven, CT--Boston, MA
(for more information on these, contact me)
******************************************************
June 9--Newburgh, NY
Sanctions Forum: Ibrahim Ramey, Sr. Eileen Gannon, and Bruce Martin
The forum will take place Friday, June 9th at 6:30pm. The evening will
begin with a rice and beans dinner. This will be followed by a video,
"Genocide by Sanctions." The panelists will then make their
presentation, which will be followed by a question and answer period.
June 9--Madison, WI
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Kathy Kelly
Kathy Kelly will be speaking at the Annual Methodist Conference,
Madison, WI. Info: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
June 9--Washington, DC
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Phyllis Benis, Barbara Nimri Aziz
At 3:45 Phyllis Benis and at 5:15 Barbara Nimri Aziz will be speaking at
the ADC Convention, Washington, DC. Info: (202) 244-2990, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.adc.org/convention/register2.htm
June 10--Washington, DC
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Naseer Aruri, Kathy Kelly
At 9:30 am Naseer Aruri and at 12:30 pm Kathy Kelly will be speaking at
the ADC Convention, Washington, DC. Info: (202) 244-2990, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.adc.org/convention/register2.htm
June 11--Chicago, IL
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Anthony Arnove, Naseer Aruri, Phyllis Benis,
Denis Halliday, Kathy Kelly, and Sharon Smith
Anthony Arnove, Naseer Aruri, Phyllis Benis, Denis Halliday, Kathy
Kelly, and Sharon Smith will speak at the Socialist Summer School 2000
at 11:45 am, Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois. Info: (773)
665-9651, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
June 11--Stanford University
Kofi Annan Commencement Speech Vigil
CORRECTION: KOFI ANNAN, UN Secretary General, will be delivering the
Commencement Address at Stanford University Sunday, June 11th, 2000.
Join us to protest and VIGIL (not disrupt) against the sanctions that
have killed over a million Iraqi civilians. While it is clear that the
deadly sanctions remain in
place because of U.S. and British insistence, the policy is officially a
United Nations policy. Kofi Annan should and can refuse to be a pawn in
this illegal war. Lift the sanctions of mass destruction and end the Oil
for No Food Program!
Meet at 8:30pm outside Gate 2, Stanford Stadium Foster Field, Galvez,
Palo Alto. (Embarcadero becomes Galvez after the junction with El Camino
Real) Parking at Town & County mall (El Camino & Embarcadero, NE corner)
Entry to the Commencement is free and open - no ticket needed. Bring
signs. Please try to make it at 8:30am - a large turn-out is more
impressive
and newsworthy. But if you really can't get there that early, it's ok to
come later. The commencement commences at 9:30am. Sponsored by
American Muslims for Global Peace & Justice, Peninsula Peace & Justice
Center, San Jose Peace Center, Interfaith Peace Coalition. Info:
408-297-2299 / 650-326-8837/ 408-988-1011. To endorse/cosponsor this
action or to obtain fliers, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
June 13--Providence, RI
Speakers--David Barisman, Anthony Arnove
At 7 pm, come talk with David Barsamian of Alternative Radio and Anthony
Arnove-just back from Iraq-about how the media has buried and distorted
the story of this human tragedy, and how we can build a movement to end
the sanctions. This event will be held at the Friends Meeting House, 99
Morris Avenue at Olney, Providence RI, Near Hope High School. For more
information, call 401-274-7925 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
June 24-28--Washington, D.C.
EPIC's Lobby Days
In two days of training you will be well versed in the "art of
influence" and briefed by experts regarding everything you ever wanted
to know about Iraq. You will then join a team of fellow activists from
around the country and spend two days on the hill meeting with
congressional offices. During Spring Lobby Days Epic activists met with
128 Congressional Offices in two days. Our goal for Summer Lobby Days
is 200 offices. Only you can make it happen! If you are interested in
more information, visit www.saveageneration.org and click "Lobby Days
2000".
June 28--Long Beach, CA
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Kathy Kelly
Wednesday, June 28, 2000, 7 a.m., Kathy Kelly Presbyrterian Church
General Assembly breakfast speaker, conversation at exhibit booth to
follow, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 200 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA. For
$15 tickets, write to: Peggy Holland, 245 Rumsey Road, Apartment 3J,
Yonkers, NY 10701. Info: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
July 8--Dublin, Ireland
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Denis Halliday
Denis Halliday will be speaking at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Info: Ogrady Walsh, 353-1-288-2107.
July 10--Cardiff, Wales, UK
Iraq Under Siege Tour, Denis Halliday
Denis Halliday, will speak at the Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Civic
Centre, on behalf of both the Welsh Centre for International Affairs &
Cardiff United Nations Association. Info: Fax:+ 44 29 20640333, Tel:+ 44
29 20228549, E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web site:
www.angelfire.com/journal/kuwaiti605.
July 30--New York, NY
Iraq Under Siege Tour: Anthony Arnove, Barbara Nimri Aziz, and other
contributors
Speical panel with Anthony Arnove, Barbara Nimri Aziz, and other
contributors, Brecht Fourm, 122 West 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York,
NY. Info: (212)
242-4201.
August 6--Washington, D.C.
National Mobilization to end the Economic Sanctions on Iraq
Come one, Come all to call attention to this atrocity! Visit
www.saveageneration.org/a6 for more information.
August 6--St. Louis, MO
March Against Sanctions
On August 6th in St. Louis, we will march from the World Community
Center (438 North Skinker Blvd) down Delmar to Lewis Park in University
City (all along the Delmar Loop), leafleting pedestrians and protesting
the
sanctions. At Lewis Park, we will join in the annual Hiroshima Day
commemorations. For more info, call 314-862-5773 x12 or e-mail
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
October 17--St. Louis, MO
Final Presidential Debate Disruption
On October 17, the final presidential debate will be held in St. Louis.
Following in the footsteps of recent protests in Seattle, Washington, DC
and the 1998 Columbus Town Hall Meeting, we aim to make this a
presidential debate worth remembering! Planning meetings will begin in
May. For more info, call 314-862-5773 x12 or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
WEEKLY VIGILS
email me for more information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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