WORLD OPPOSITION TO U.S. THREATS ON IRAQ: RAMSEY CLARK LETTER GALVANIZES ANTI-WAR SENTIMENT
By Greg Butterfield
August 22, 2002--A letter from former U.S. Attorney General and International Action Center founder Ramsey Clark to the members of the United Nations Security Council has been reprinted, e-mailed and posted on Web sites worldwide. The letter is helping to galvanize opponents of a new U.S. war against Iraq to take action, according to the IAC.
The July 29 letter has been translated into at least nine languages and is being used as an organizing tool by anti- war forces in many countries. It has also elicited an outpouring of heartfelt e-mails from individuals and groups thanking Clark for his strong stand and the IAC for its leadership in the global anti-war movement.
Echoing the themes of his letter on the Pacifica Radio program "Flashpoints" Aug. 15, Clark told journalist Robert Knight: "I don't know of a time in history where a government has so taunted a people with destruction ... The U.S. is telling Iraqis, 'We're going to bomb the hell out of you and install our Shah.' We have to mobilize."
IAC's John Catalinotto coordinated the effort to have Clark's letter translated and distributed internationally. "We asked people about two weeks ago to translate Ramsey Clark's letter into as many languages as possible. The response was much stronger than we expected," he reported.
"Right now we have the letter in nine languages that we know of--Arabic, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish--and it's currently being translated into Chinese," Catalinotto said.
"On the one hand it is a sign of the respect that people in the anti-war movement around the world have for Clark. But it was also an even stronger sign that the international working-class and anti-imperialist movement is extremely concerned about the threats against Iraq and is mobilizing to fight against the war," he concluded.
The complete text of the letter is available on the Web at www.iacenter.org in several languages. It has also been posted on Web sites from Canada to New Zealand.
The IAC is part of ANSWER--the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism coalition. ANSWER has called for a day of internationally coordinated demonstrations Oct. 26 to launch a massive mobilization in opposition to a new war against Iraq.
ANSWER is urging local organizers to hold picket lines, rallies, vigils, teach-ins and more in their areas. Log onto www.internationalanswer.org for more information.
A CALL TO ACTION
Although Clark's letter is addressed to the UN Security Council, with copies sent to the UN General Assembly and Senator Joseph Biden of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, its real intended audience is the broad global opposition to a new U.S. war against the Iraqi people. It's a call to action for the people of the world to stand up to Washington and stop the war before it starts.
"Threats to attack, invade and overthrow the government of Iraq by President George Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, various cabinet officers and Pentagon officials have been routine for a year. The psychological warfare is itself a crime against peace and violates the UN Charter," Clark wrote.
Clark warned that the U.S.-dominated Security Council has stretched the UN's credibility to the limit. "If the UN is unable to restrain the U.S., a permanent member of the Security Council, from committing crimes against peace and humanity as well as war crimes against a nation that has already been violated by the U.S. beyond endurance, then what is the UN worth?
"At the very least, opposition to any attack or attempt to overthrow the government of Iraq by force must be publicly expressed by the UN."
Clark reminded the Security Council that "The U.S. led and glorified the massive assault on Iraq in January and February 1991. The Pentagon announced it conducted 110,000 aerial sorties against the defenseless 'cradle of civilization,' dropping 88,500 tons of bombs. The widespread bombing destroyed the economic viability of civilian society throughout the nation. It killed tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens and others. A major part of the bombing was directed at civilians and civilian facilities. ...
"The U.S. crafted economic sanctions against Iraq which the Security Council approved on Aug. 6, 1990... Those sanctions are the direct cause of the very cruel deaths of more than a million people.
"The sanctions continue to this time to cause hundreds of deaths each day. Every UN agency dealing with food, health and children--including FAO, WFP, WHO, UNICEF--has proclaimed the horror, magnitude and responsibility for this human catastrophe," Clark charged.
U.S. IS BIGGEST THREAT TO PEACE
Refuting Bush's claim that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction, Clark noted, "Two of the highest UN officials responsible for weapons inspection within Iraq and a principle U.S. citizen participating in the inspections have resigned, denounced the sanctions and denied that there is a threat that Iraq will develop weapons of mass destruction."
The real danger comes from Washington, Clark said.
"The U.S. has more nuclear weapons than all other nations combined as well as the most sophisticated and numerous systems for the delivery of nuclear weapons... It possesses the greatest stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and the most advanced and extensive research in mass destruction weaponry in the world. Military spending by the U.S. exceeds that of the nine next largest budgets for war combined. President Bush has repeatedly declared the right to strike first.
"The U.S. has renounced treaties controlling nuclear weapons and their proliferation; voted against the protocol enabling enforcement of the Biological Weapons Conventions; and rejected the treaty banning land mines, the International Criminal Court and virtually every other international effort to control and limit war. The U.S. War Against Terrorism is a declaration of right by the U.S. to attack first--anyone, anywhere, on mere suspicion, or without excuse, unilaterally.
"If, as promised so many times, the U.S. does attack Iraq to overthrow its government, it will be the most notorious, arrogant and contemptuous violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the Nuremberg Charter and international law yet experienced, or likely hereafter," Clark wrote.
"An attack on Iraq by the U.S. would also violate the Constitution and laws of the U.S. and expose President Bush to impeachment by the House of Representatives under the Constitution for the highest of crimes, those against peace and humanity, to judgment by the Senate and trial in federal court for crimes charged," he added.
'THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH'
The IAC has released some of the dozens of responses prompted by Clark's letter. Many people who wrote wanted to know how they could get involved in anti-war organizing, while groups said they want to work more closely with the IAC and ANSWER to mobilize resistance.
Some reported that they had sent copies of Clark's letter to local legislators or parliament members. Some, like Lawyers Against the War in Iceland, want to send their own letters to the UN supporting Clark's.
Others are from people outraged by the complete lockdown on alternative views by the mainstream, corporate media. One correspondent, Sally, wrote simply, "Thank you for speaking the truth." Margery from New Orleans said, "I believe you speak for thousands of us who feel the same anguish and outrage you feel about the out-of-control U.S. war machine and its current target, Iraq."
"As an Arab woman and as a human being, I am so grateful that you exist," wrote Dunia. And Ala said, "I am an Iraqi living in Northern Ireland ... I love my country. I will do whatever I can to stop the USA from bombing Iraq."
"Many here in Canada look on in disbelief and pain as the U.S. rattles its sabers and threatens monumental attacks on Iraq," wrote Jack of the Alberni Social Justice Group. "We wonder why the U.S. government appears to be so completely out of touch with the majority of world opinion."
Jo Anne wrote: "In this time of despair and shame because of the terror acted on the people of Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq and other U.S. targets, it is so good to see a powerful and respected figure speak out against the madness. Every Friday we vigil for one hour in our little city, praying and raising our spirits for peace. We cannot have peace while the president bullies and terrorizes the world."
Peter from Berlin added: "It's horrible to read and to listen to all the news from your country every day. It makes me and all my friends sick in our mind that a country which pretends to represent freedom and democracy behaves like an imperialistic and fascistic regime! However, it is not only Bush, it's our [Social Democratic-Green Party coalition] government too, which so many progressive people had a lot of expectations in. And now they have disappointed so many peace-loving people.
"I'm so glad to see that an opposition exists in the U.S. against this nightmare."
Some responses to Ramsey Clarks letter to the UN Security Council on Iraq, August 2002:
Dear Ramsey Clark;
Can you send us the address list for members of the Security Council? Lawyers against the War and an orgainzation in Iceland are sending a letter also. Thank you. Gail Davidson
Lawyers Against the War
Website: www.lawyersagainstthewar.org----------------------------------
Mr. Ramsey Clark,
I just read your letter addressed to the UN Security Council which my husband forwarded to me. I am crying right now and I can't think straight but I know that as an Arab woman and as a human being, I am so grateful that you exist. I thank you for caring about Irak and for manifesting loving energy on this earth. You are one of the few Americans, including my husband, that feels human, alive and conscious to me; it may be a generalization but this is how I feel...
I was going to apply for an internship at Al-Jazeera TV when I come back to New York ( I am in Yemen right now) but now I think I will try to see if my skills can be of some use to your organization.
Thank you for being you,
Dunia M.----------------------------------
Dear Ramsey Clark.
Many thanks for this piece of work. I have forwarded it to our PM and
other MPs, plus various news outlets.
I visited Iraq in April with the European Delegation, and have sent copies
of my report to members of the European Parliament. I enclose it below for
your information.
Sincerely,
Tony M.
----------------------------------Dear Ramsey Clark and the International Action Center:
Thank you so very much for putting into words (to the United Nations) what so many thousands of us feel about the US threats toward Iraq.
Many here in Canada look on in disbelief and pain as the US rattles its sabres and threatens monumental attacks on Iraq. We wonder why the US government appears to be so completely out of touch with the majority of world opinion.
With gratitude for your letter, and please know you have inspired us to redouble our efforts for peace and justice.
Yours truly,
Jack Thornburgh, Chair
Alberni Social Justice Group
4217-8th Avenue
Port Alberni BC V9Y 4S5----------------------------------
Thank you Ramsey Clark. In this time of despair and shame because of the terror acted on on the people of Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq and other US targets, it is so good to see a powerful and respected figure speak out against the madness. Every Friday we vigil for one hour in our little city, praying and raising our spirits for peace. Bush appears to us to be insane and out of touch with the wishes of the American people and out of touch with his own soul. We cannot have peace while the President bullies and terrorizes the world.
Jo Anne B.
----------------------------------
DEAR MR CLARK,
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR EVERY THING, I AM IRAQI LIVING IN
NORTHERN IRELAND NOW AND ENGLAND SINCE 1976. I LOVE MY COUNTRY. I WILL DO ANY THING TO STOP USA TO BOMB IRAQ.
ALA
----------------------------------Dear Sir or Madam
I cannot express my support for Ramsey Clark's message strongly enough.
He has touched on most of the issues that most commentators - and most of
the British media shy away from.
The sheer cynicism of the Bush administration choice of time - probably
before the mid-terms - for a devastating attack on a country already
poverty-stricken as a result of sanctions and constant aerial bombardment,
is matched only - as an example - by the operations of as infamous an
institution as the School of the Americas, Fort Bennington, Georgia, where
Latin American police and armed forces officials are trained in
'interrogation' and 'anti-subversion' techniques. They have then gone on to
practice their lessons under Pinochet and various others military regimes
over the past fifty years.
If the Iraqi Government is so heinous in the treatment of its own
people, then this is an occasion for the rest of the world through the U.N.
to act, not for one superpower in all its power and arrogance to engage in
unilateral war.
In the meantime is it not possible to assemble a coalition of those who
think like Ramsey Clark to begin to swing American (and British and...)
opinion against this threatened destruction? I would gladly add my own
voice to such a grouping.
Sincerely
Warwick A.
----------------------------------Dear friends:
On August 6 you forwarded this stunning document and as a Canadian
anxious to push our government to oppose President Bush's war plan for
Iraq, I very much want to forward it across Canada and to all our
Canadian Members of Parliament and our Senate. But it does, I believe,
contain an error in the very first paragraph. namely "...U.S. Exploring
Baghdad strike as Iraq Option is typical of the in terrorem intention of
the threats."
I checked the web site and the copy to the UN contained the same
statement with the phrase 'in terrorem' which nobody I've asked can
explain. Am I wrong? If not, could you forward the document again,
with the correction? I am anxious to send this out as soon as possible.
I GREATLY admire your work.
Sincerely,
Joanna M.
Peace Activist
Saskatoon, SK Canada
----------------------------------Thank you for your humane stand against the war
Fadel S.
----------------------------------
THANK YOU for opposing this idiotic idea. Not only would it cost many American lives, an invasion will most likely cause Saddam to fire missiles at Israel with the intent to bring them into the war, causing governments from Pakistan to Saudi to fall to pro-Taliban extremists...
Keep up the valuable work...
Michael Fjetland.
International Legal Group
www.INTLEGALGROUP.com----------------------------------
I support the mailling of this letter to every voter in the US.
Is it a fact the former UN Rep. claimed the current admin has the most dangerous man to world peace in the US speaking for us as a nation ..Mr. Rumsfield?
I feel that we have ignored the War crimes of Sharon and are now about to overlook his acts of genocide!
As a member of the human race I believe it is time to drop the Party separations and form a united Front against those who choose war and bombs over peace and talking.
PEACEIN THE WORLD is not a fairy tale and only people can make it happen.
IT IS TIME the people of the world act to Silence the Warmongers by any means necessary.
Keep up the positive energy,
Rev. SuJAHim
----------------------------------Well done on your letter to the UN etc. re: the US's foreign policy against Iraq. The US must have a policy of peace. Thank you for your efforts!
Jill R.
----------------------------------
Dear Mr. Clark,
Thank you for the poignant letter to the UN et al regarding our malevolent threats against Iraq in which you so accurately delineate the magnitude of the violence this nation is historically capable of, in defiance of our commitments to international laws and treaties to further international peace, and our arrogant history in Iraq.
It's not difficult to fathom why our populous is not out on the streets in protest of the egregious, irrational behavior of this administration: the people are saturated by a daily diet of violence from so many sources. Most unfortunately many members of our Congress won't become alarmed until they experience body bags of America's men and women at Andrews Airforce base. Televised wars like Shwarzkof's and Powell's in the Gulf were "virtual", ethereal, not like Viet Nam or Korea. If the deaths and destruction are the "enemies" it has no reality to human suffering onscreen or the front page.
Will the public demand and Congress insist on invoking its Constitutional final word in matters of war and peace? Is our Constitution going to survive another crisis and do we force the Iraqis to make the ultimate sacrifice to pay the price this time?
Ours is certainly an out-of-control, very dangerous administration that we must rein in now.
Thank you for your conscience and fine work. Be well.
Claire C.
----------------------------------
Dear Mr. Ramsey,
Your powerful and thorough letter about Iraq needs to reach as many US citizens as possible. Is there any prospect of its being published in area newspapers or that any television station would be willing to at least reference it on the news?
I believe you speak for thousands of us who feel the same anguish and outrage you feel about the out-of-control US war machine and its current target, Iraq.
Thank you for speaking out!
Margery Freeman
New Orleans, LA
----------------------------------
Dear Mr. Clark:
Since the U.S. refuses to join the community of nations in supporting the International War Crimes Tribunal, it cannot be called to account for any of its War Crimes in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Do not look to Kofi Annan, a creature of the powerful globalization elites, for anything but lip service to human concerns. Perhaps a movement can be brought within the General Assembly of the United Nations under its charter to expel the U.S.A. from membership in the world body. I am sure that many Americans would cheer but all those who can think beyond the baseball world series, might see such a move as ominous. One has only to read Gibbon to realize that America is repeating the history of Rome as it teetered on the brink of history before it fell.
Sincerely,
Alfred N. Muss, poet, historian, American
----------------------------------Dear Ramsey,
I was most heartened by your letter to the members of the Security Council
about the ghastly foreign policy which the US has pursued, and in which,
perhaps without malice aforethought, the UN has been complicit.
I am a representative to the UN for the Fellowship of Reconciliation (the
oldest nonviolent peace group in the world after the mainline religious ones,
such as the Quakers, Brethren, and Mennonites), and would love to discuss
with you some day the flawed structure of the UN. The veto power invested in
the five major victors of WWII is not just an anachronism. It is positively
contrary to any kind of possibility of justice in the world. I have been
appalled particularly by the Iraq Sanctions, as have been two of the UN
Humanitarian Coordinators for Iraq, Hans von Sponeck and Dennis Halliday, and
most particularly by the role which the UN has been forced to play by the
US-UK veto power at the SC.
I have thought long about how the UN needs reformation (I think we must have,
if not the "UN," at least some supranational organization in which the
planetary problems need to be discussed and worked out). The Binding Triad
is one solution, but that needs a great deal of thought yet and refining. In
the end, it is the problem of that most sacred of cows, national sovereignty,
which stands in the way of any real change. But--and I think we might take
at least a small glimmer of hope from this--the EU is functioning after
literally centuries of duchies and kingdoms warring with each other. Maybe
it really could be possible on a global scale...
Yours,
Frank O.
Atlanta, GA 30306
----------------------------------Can anyone tell me if there is a way for individual US
citizens to send letters to the UN supporting the
e-mail referenced below?
Jen C.----------------------------------
To the Honorable Ramsey Clark and staff,
Thank you for writing a clear and sharp letter to the U.N. condemning the behavior and intention of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld junta in their aggression against Iraq. Your stature and forthright articulation do honor to the true spirit of America. May we be spared the puerile, malicious and authoritarian ways of the current administration. We stand ready to work together toward preventing an illegal U.S. invasion of Iraq. As a grassroots organization with 50 or so chapters in 21 states, the Alliance for Democracy is in a letter writing campaign, and is organizing actions on or around Sept. 11, 2002 to stop the war. Please let us know if your organization is planning events at which we may contribute our participation.
Sincerely,
Nick Biddle
Executive Coordinator
Alliance for Democracy
681 Main St
Waltham, MA 02451
----------------------------------
I want to express complete support for former Attorney General Clark's letter to the UN regarding sanctions and projected war plans against Iraq, which I believe to be unconscienable and highly dangerous. Please keep me informed about the Internaitonal Action Center's efforts.
Warm Wishes,
Joyce C.
Beaver, Oregon 97108
----------------------------------
Bravo! my old friend in the Peace Movement! May your voice be heard, not only by the United Nations, but by a deaf American public. Thank you for standing up and speaking out for all of us.
In peace, Didi K.
Westhampton Beach, NY
----------------------------------
hello,
this is fantastic. Maybe there is a way to prevent this war.
Now, what can I do? Letters/emails/calls. To whom, how? If nothing else
put my name & actions against an imminent war.
thank you,
ellen b.
---------------------------------dear fellows,
please stop this criminal, neo-fashistic regime in your country. For me, an inhabitant of Berlin, itīs horrible to read and to listen to all these news from your country every day. It makes me and all my friends sick in our mind, that a country, which pretends to represent freedom and democracy, behaves like an imperialistic and fashistic regime! When Mr. Bush was in Berlin on May, all demonstrations took place far away from the visit and the german police opressed the opposition by 11.000 troops, gathered from all Germany. Itīs the number of some official armies of small countries in the world. I couldnīt believe, that this fucking Bush could also opress german opposition by these number of police. However, it is not only Bush, itīs our red/green government too, which so many progressive people had a lot of expectations in. And now they have disappointed so many peace loving people.
You call for opposition against the war, but what can we do? The power of the US seems so overwhwelming, that so many people in my surrounding think, that we can do nothing. But I donīt believe.
Iīm so glad to see, that an opposition exists in the US against this nightmare, which your gouvernment is going to realize.
I think, Europe is divided in brainwashing. During the war in Yugoslawia I visited my girlfriend in Athens, and I was very astonished about the reactions of the greek people: In Germany many people believed in the Nato-Propaganda, justifying the aggression against Yugoslawia, in Athens almost nobody trust this propaganda, they laughed about these theories, which I carried from Germany to Greece.
In hope to prevent this war and many regards
Peter from Berlin
International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@action-mail.org
En Espanol: el_iac@yahoo.com
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