WHY OCT. 25 IS SO IMPORTANT
Oct. 24, 2003--The Middle East is a deepening crisis for the Bush administration. Although officials continue to assure the media that the situation in Iraq is coming under control, that the Americans are welcomed by most Iraqis, that the attacks are just a few recalcitrant terrorists who continue to fight; the reality is very very different than that.
An article in the LA Times recently quoted Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez (the general in charge of the ground forces in Iraq) saying that the military operations by the resistance are becoming much more sophisticated, more coordinated, that they are able to carry out not only hits, but to fight battles with US forces. These battles have grown in number, averaging 35 attacks per day, and have turned into significant military confrontations, sometimes lasting for many hours. In a memo this week, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld expressed doubts that the occupation in Iraq is able to repress the resistance as fast as the resistance is growing in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Congress approved $87 billion more for the occupation, which is in addition to $379 billion already being spent. $87 billion, we should be clear, is $238,356,000 per day. $500 billion is approximately $1.3 billion (or $1,300 million) per day. That is the level of military expenditure by our government right now. Imagine how we could transform, not just the problems in the United States, but the problems in the entire world, with those resources. That amount of money could transform the planet if it was being used to provide clean water, electrification, basic health care, schools, etc. to those who don't have it. That process, of course would create millions of jobs for people. This is what we mean when we demand money for jobs, health care and education, not war and occupation.
Today, three more U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq, and more than twenty wounded. To this date, the media has been blocked from covering the funerals of U.S. G.I.'s, or reporting on the wounded inside military hospitals. Tomorrow, thousands of people, including military families and veterans, will join marches in San Francisco and Washington, DC to demand: "Bring the Troops Home Now! End the Occupation! Repeal the Patriot Act!" Only the people - here and around the world - can end war, occupation and racism.
In San Francisco, protesters will gather at 11 am at Civic Center and march to Jefferson Square Park for a 1 pm rally. Keynote speakers will include: actor Danny Glover, Ron Kovic (author of "Born on the Fourth of July"), and local rock band Los Mocosos, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. (Cynthia McKinney will also be speaking at the "Confronting Empire" conference in Berkeley Saturday evening. For more info go to www.bfuu.org/rscongress )
For more information or to get involved in the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Coalition, please call 415-821-6545 or email answer@actionsf.org .
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