War without End? Not in Our Name

On Sunday Oct 6 there will be nationwide antiwar protests., organized by Not In Our Name (NION). www.notinourname.net

Locations include Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, and Atlanta and more.

Locations include Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, and Atlanta and more.

L.A. demonstration

Sunday Oct 6, 1-6 PM

Federal Building in Westwood.

11000 Wilshire.

1 block east of the 405 fwy, between Sepulveda and Veteran

1 PM: Rally - speakers, spoken word, music

2 PM: March to U.S. Army Reserve/California National Guard (Wilshire and Federal)

3 PM: Return to Federal Bldg. More music, poetry, speakers.

Direction/parking:

Exit the San Diego (405) on Wilshire East. If Wilshire off ramps have been closed by police, get off at the next exit, follow Sepulveda to Wilshire. Parking could be problematic. Arrive early! Pay parking available in Westwood. There is also some street parking. Parking not allowed in Federal Building lots.

A quick explanation

http://www.polizeros.com/2002/09/26.html#a393

I've already written my congress people urging a stance of no action by the U.S. WITHOUT total United Nations buy-in (via new resolution, multiiple resolutions, or whatever). Even with UN concurrence (if that happens) any military action can make things worse across the middle east, may worsen terrorist activity, and will likely involve a long-term military presence in Iraq. Obviously, none of these are good, but the whole situation is a LOT more complicated than you may think.

Some things to think about, and things that make me nervous. And which make this a little more cloudy than "Don't Attack Iraq."

1. Sadam Hussain has blown off all the current UN resolutions, and can't be trusted.

2. He used chemical weapons on his own people. If attacked, I'd hate to see what he'd do. (Good reason to lay off him.)

3. He's had four years to generate "God knows what, or how much." I'm all for total access UN-backed Weapons Inspections prior to any military action. But will he give total access??? I doubt it. (So, how do you force compliance?)

4. It's not about oil. That statement by people sickens me to no end. The oil will be there no matter who's in charge and will find it's way into international commerce no matter what. If you want to work on reducing US dependence on oil (a good thing to strive for), be sure to drive a gas efficient vehicle, use public trans, and write your congress people to increase alternative fuels / energy research & development.

5. CNN and the rest of the press are not given classified intelligence; so what the US really knows about the threat posed by Sadam is NOT in the public eye. I have to laugh when I see Time quoting what intelligence the CIA says they have... like they're going to tell TIME?! When I see Colin Powell (a lifelong soldier) willing to risk military lives by considering military action for a threat, I'm very, very concerned.

6. If we could have taken pre-emptive action to stop the 11 September attacks, would you have been really pissed off if the U.S. could have but didn't? Of course you'd be. If not, I don't understand you. What's unkown (to the public at least) is the level of the threat from Iraq. The press doesn't know.

7. While I don't want us to attack IRAQ, and certainly not without meeting the conditions of a fully-backed UN resolution, I do wonder what will happen without any action. First, it will prove the UN impotent. But it's the future of Sadam that really scares me. What will Sadam do with weapons of mass destruction that he how has, is developing, or seeking (nucs)? It's obvious he can't be trusted. So, do we wait till something really bad happens??? Do you trust him???

8. In any event, action will be bad, inaction may be bad, maybe worse. While most of you probably do not trust the government, I do, at least to a fair extent. The planned protest is a good thing; it's a good way to voice the fact that many aren't convinced attacking Iraq is smart, and at face value, I agree; it's what I don't know that scares me. I am hopeful that the UN will develop an appropriate resolution that all agree upon. Mostly, I trust that the UN and US decision-makers (including Congress) won't put military members in harms way (and believe me, they will be) without the strong intelligence that supports a very real threat (the stuff TIME doesn't report). And as a military reservist who's likley to be recalled, I'd say I have a pretty strong vested interest. Write your congress people and vote in November. Please keep the protests civil, and never abuse military folks, without them, you might not be living somewhere where you can peacefully protest. The last ones who want war are those that have to fight in them; protestors in Golden Gate park have a low potential for getting killed during a war. Maybe the slogan should be "Don't Attack Iraq, unless...." The whole thing generally sucks, doesn't it?