Activists respond to Bush’s UN speech: Anti-War Call to Action: End the Colonial Occupation of Iraq

Activists respond to Bush’s UN speech: Anti-War Call to Action: End the Colonial Occupation of Iraq

September 23, 2003--With his popularity sinking daily and the occupation of Iraq under increasing scrutiny, President Bush addressed the United Nations this morning for the first time since the war on Iraq.

“Bush painted a picture of Iraq where the Iraqi people are celebrating democracy side by side with their American liberators. Nothing could be further from the truth. The troops in Iraq are under extreme pressure, under an average of 12 attacks every day, because the Iraqis see them as a foreign occupier and want the U.S. out,” said Bill Hackwell, a Vietnam veteran. “Similarly, Bush called for the Palestinians to change their leadership before they can have a state. Apparently Bush’s idea of self-determination and democracy must equal following U.S. dictates.”

“If anyone thinks the U.S. occupation has liberated Iraqis, just look at what the U.S.’s hand-picked finance minister Kamal Al Kilani did yesterday: he ok’d a resolution to make it legal for all of Iraqi assets to be owned by foreign banks. He just rubber-stamped complete foreign control of the Iraq economy,” said Tahnee Stair. “This is what liberation means to the Bush administration: the freedom to exploit Iraq.”

“Bush is now asking the countries of the UN, most of whom opposed the war in the first place, to take responsibility for funding and supplying troops for an illegal occupation. Not only that, but he is asking them to make this contribution while the U.S. retains sole control of the operation,” said Richard Becker. “Involving the UN, if it is successful, may provide the Bush administration with a multi-lateral cover, but it will not change the fact that this is a colonial occupation.”

“When Bush talked about a regime that spent money on armies and weapons rather than infrastructure, schools and hospitals, was he talking about Iraq or the U.S.? He wants to spend $87 billion more of tax-payers’ dollars on this colonial occupation while our schools are desperate for funding, our power grids need fixing, and millions have no health coverage,” said LeiLani Dowell, SF State student organizer.

Anti-war activists will be available for response to Bush’s speech all day on Tuesday, and will be gathering for an organizing meeting and discussion about Bush’s speech on Tuesday evening at 7 pm at 2489 Mission Street, Room 30 (near 21st) in San Francisco.

Activists are preparing for this Sunday’s mass march against the occupation and to bring the troops home. Bus-loads of people from all over Northern California will attend.

Sunday, Sept. 28: Mass Anti-War March in San Francisco 40 Countries & 8 U.S. Cities to Hold Anti-Occupation Actions That Weekend SF: Assembles at Dolores Park, 12 noon, March to Civic Center for 2 pm Rally.

For more information, call A.N.S.W.E.R. at 415-821-6545.