Peace Movement Vows to Resist Bush Escalation of Iraq War

Interview with Gordon Clark, communications director with Peace Action, conducted by Scott Harris

After months of listening to recommendations on how to overhaul his Iraq War policy, President Bush unveiled a new strategy in a prime time address on Jan. 10th that is expected to include: an increase in troop levels of up to 20,000 more U.S. soldiers; setting benchmarks for Iraq's government on political and military goals and funding a new jobs program to stimulate Iraq's failing economy.

Even before specifics of the President's plan were announced, Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate majority leader Harry Reid advised Mr. Bush against a troop surge and said Democrats would not write a blank check to wage war in Iraq. Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy introduced legislation on January 9th requiring congressional approval of White House plans for an escalation of the Iraq war.

Peace organizations, already gearing up for a major protest in Washington on Jan. 27th, launched a wave of local demonstrations in response to the President's new Iraq policy. A public opinion poll conducted in the days immediately before the president's speech found that only 36 percent of Americans support an increase in U.S. troops while 61 percent oppose the idea. The survey also shows that 54 percent back a complete withdrawal within the next year. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Gordon Clark, communications director with the group Peace Action. He assesses the role of Congress and the peace movement in responding to the President's escalation of the war.

Contact Peace Action by calling (301) 565-4050 or visit their website at www.peace-action.org. Get details on the Jan. 27th national protest in Washington, D.C. at www.unitedforpeace.org

Related links:

"Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq," by Frederick W. Kagan

"Iraq Study Group Report"

Bring Them Home Now at www.bringthemhomenow.org

Military Families Speak Out at www.mfso.org

International Answer at www.Internationalanswer.org

United for Peace and Justice at www.unitedforpeace.org

War Resisters League at warresisters.org

Iraq Veterans Against the War at www.ivaw.org

American Friends Service Committee at www.afsc.org

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