APOLOGIES FOR CROSS-POSTINGS
Dear All
US President George Bush has promised to address the United Nations on
September 12 to outline his case for "dealing with the threat" posed by
Iraq.
As you are aware, there is growing opposition to the idea of an attack
by the United States on Iraq, and to the Australian Government's
overenthusiastic support for this position.
In order to focus opposition and send a clear message to the Government,
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has drafted the attached statement.
Drafting has taken into account input by the ACTU, the Catholic Church,
the Uniting Church and a former ALP Parliamentarian.
We are seeking the broadest possible support for this position.
Signatures by all organisations and individuals are welcome. Please
send this email on to anyone you know who may be interested.
If you would like to put your name to this statement please reply to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or call Senator Kerry Nettle's office on 92 9241
6663 with the following information:
* Your name, title and organisation
* your postal address
* your telephone and fax contacts
An initial list of signatories will be released on September 12, however
signatures will continue to be collected after that date.
Thank you in advance.
Alison Gibbins
Campaigner
Office of Senator Kerry Nettle
Australian Greens
NO TO WAR ON IRAQ
War on Iraq
Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001 our Government has been
part of an alliance with the United States pursuing the so-called War on
Terrorism.
In recent months US President George W Bush has been talking about an
alarming extension of this war to new fronts. In particular, public
comments by the US and Australian Government have focused on Iraq as a
military target.
No evidence
This planned attack on Iraq is despite the fact that there is no
evidence linking the Iraqi Government or people to the attacks of
September 11.
President Bush has said that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. But
little evidence that Iraq has these weapons has been released to the
Australian Government or the public.
On the contrary, many commentators, including a former UN weapons
inspector, say that Iraq does not have weapons of mass destruction
capability.
The US push for regime change through war is undermining international
pressure to send in UN weapons inspectors to find out what weapons, if
any, Iraq actually holds.
No law
A US attack on Iraq would not be an act of self-defence. It would be a
'pre-emptive strike' - an unprovoked attack by a strong country against
a weak one.
Pre-emptive strikes are against all international law and conventions.
They breach the UN Charter, as well as international human rights
agreements. Yet our Government has made Australia one of very few
countries in the world offering enthusiastic support for an attack.
If the US supports a policy of pre-emptive strike, the door will be
opened for other countries to launch unprovoked attacks against other
states. This has a destabilising effect on an already fragile
international community.
This would greatly undermine Australia's security. In a world where an
unknown number of countries have nuclear weapons, the consequences could
be too terrible to imagine.
No peace
We are extremely concerned that any attack on Iraq would have a range of
unpredictable and dangerous consequences in the Middle East and worldwide.
Already, the first casualty of these escalating threats is immediate
efforts for peace in Iraq and the region. Neither President Bush nor
the Australian Government have a plan for how an attack on Iraq will
lead to peace.
Iraq has already suffered under inhumane sanctions for nearly a decade.
Further military attacks would make a recovery to prosperity and
democracy even more difficult.
An illegal military attack, leading to the deaths of hundreds of
thousands of innocent people, is an unacceptable response to
dictatorship. Two wrongs do not make a right.
We support democracy and peace in Iraq and the region. We call for the
countries of the United Nations to show commitment to defending and
supporting the Iraqi people.
Say no to war on Iraq
As concerned Australians, we say to the Australian Government:
* No to war on Iraq
* No to pre-emptive strikes by any country
* Yes to democracy in Iraq
* Yes to the United Nations as the means of preventing war
.
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