Events for 04/29/2006

Forum: "Executive Power: Worse Than Watergate?" with John Dean adn Stanely Kutler

Picket at Senator Kohl's office to demand he takes a stand against attacking Iran

The Bush administration is now seeking to force a “regime change” in Iran. Like it did before it invaded Iraq, it claims that Teheran, by pursuing a nuclear capability, has become a threat to the rest of the region and the world that must be stopped. Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld & Co. are even threatening the use of US “weapons of mass destruction,” including tactical NUCLEAR WEAPONS, if Iran goes ahead. The fundamentalists on either side are reluctant to back down. This madness must be stopped before it’s too late.

The dangers in the current situation cannot be overlooked:

• “Atomic diplomacy” and the threat to use nuclear weapons has long been part of US “statecraft”. The “Bush Doctrine” ups the stakes: the doctrine proclaims the US “right” to carry out “preemptive strikes” against “rogue states,” “failed states,” or those that “harbor terrorists.”
  
• Determined to dominate the Middle East, the administration thinks it can intimidate Iran’s clerics.
  
• The use of nuclear “bunker buster” bombs is being sold as an acceptable option.
• Bogged down in Iraq, the Bush people are now claiming that Iran is somehow responsible for the quagmire. Faced with plummeting public support, the administration wants to shift blame away from its failures in Iraq.
• With Congressional elections in November, the administration now must face the prospect of serious losses in both the House and Senate. In order to maintain control of the government, the White House could resort to anything, including a trumped-up widening of the Middle East war. To make matters worse, a number of Democrats are currently going along with the war program.

The regime in Iran is nowhere near as irrational as many think. It will not, however, come to an agreement regarding its nuclear program as long as Bush’s finger remains tensed on the atomic trigger.

Those opposed to another Mid East escalation must act now. Yes, the thought of a nuclear armed Iran may be frightening. But the US use of nuclear weapons to prevent further nuclear proliferation in the region will certainly be catastrophic.

Take Action!

Community discussion concerning war profits. Panelists will include: Carol Weidel of US Labor Against the War (USLAW) and Labor Radio and Ron Kaminkow of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The moderator is WORT’s Norm Stockwell. Music will be provide by labor troubadour, Anne Feeney. And Happy May Day weekend, everyone!