answering bush's big myths about iraq

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    ANSWERing Bush´s Big Myths About Iraq

    Myth # 1

    The United States has the right to wage preemptive war against Iraq

    Preemptive war is war of aggression. Under international law, a preemptive
    war may be justified as an act of self-defense only where there exists a
    genuine and imminent threat of physical attack. Bush´s preemptive war
    against Iraq doesn´t even purport to preempt a physical attack. It purports
    to preempt a threat that is neither issued nor posed. Iraq is not issuing
    threats of attack against the United States. It is only the United States
    that threatens war. There has been no evidence that Iraq is capable of an
    attack on the U.S., let alone possessing the intention of carrying out such
    an attack.

    Myth # 2

    The U.N. Security Council can lawfully authorize preemptive war

    The United Nations Security Council cannot authorize a potential nuclear
    U.S. first strike and war of aggression that violates the U.N. Charter,
    international law and the law prohibiting war crimes, crimes against the
    peace and crimes against humanity. The U.N. Charter - which creates the
    Security Council and which grants the Council its authority - requires the
    "Security Council to act in accordance with the Purposes and Principles of
    the United Nations." (Article 24)

    The U.N. Charter requires international disputes or situations that might
    lead to a breach of peace to be resolved by peaceful means. (Article 1 and
    Chapter VI) In other words, a nation may not wage war based on the claim
    that it seeks to prevent war. A nation may use force unilaterally in
    self-defense only "if an armed attack occurs" against it. (Article 51)

    Myth # 3

    The United States Congress can lawfully authorize preemptive war against Iraq

    Article VI of the U.S. Constitution establishes that ratified treaties,
    such as the U.N. Charter, are the "supreme law of the land." The U.N.
    Charter has been ratified by the United States, and the Congress may not
    take actions - including wars of aggression - in violation of the Charter.
    Wars of aggression, and even the making of the threat of a war of
    aggression, violates the international humanitarian law to which all
    nations are bound. Neither Congress nor the President has the right to
    engage the U.S. in a war of aggression and any vote of endorsement, far
    from legalizing or legitimizing global war plans, serves only as
    ratification of war crimes.

    Myth # 4

    The U.S. government intends to "liberate" the Iraqi people

    The October 11, 2002, New York Times revealed the true plans of the United
    States: "The White House is developing a detailed plan, modeled on the
    postwar occupation of Japan, to install an American-led military government
    in Iraq if the United States topples Saddam Hussein, senior administration
    officials said today.Š In the initial phase, Iraq would be governed by an
    American military commander - perhaps Gen. Tommy R. Franks, commander of
    the United States forces in the Persian Gulf, or one of his subordinates -
    who would assume the role that Gen. Douglas MacArthur served in Japan after
    its surrender in 1945." ("U.S. has a plan to occupy Iraq, officials
    report")

    The true intention of the U.S. government is to recolonize Iraq. Prior to
    the 1960s, U.S. corporations made 50 percent of their foreign profits from
    investments in oil from this region. The Bush administration wants Iraq to
    denationalize its oil wealth - 10% of the world´s supply. This war is an
    attempt to reconquer Iraq and all of its natural resources. The Bush
    administration wants to reshuffle the deck in the Middle East and undo all
    of the achievements of the national liberation movements from the last
    sixty years. They want to eliminate independence for all countries in the
    region and assert their domination and control - not in the interest of the
    vast majority of people - but for access to oil.

    Myth # 5

    Iraq is a military threat to the world

    There is no record to support this claim. During the Gulf War of 1991,
    while the United States bombed Iraq with a barrage that included 110,000
    sorties, Iraq did not destroy even one U.S. tank or plane. Desert Storm
    destroyed, according to U.N. weapons inspectors, 80% of Iraq´s weaponry. As
    part of the inspections that followed, 90% of Iraq´s remaining military
    capability was destroyed. Iraq has been paying indemnities to Kuwait and
    U.S. oil corporations since 1991 and has not had the financial capacity to
    build another arsenal. In addition, there has not been a threat by Iraq of
    any kind against any other country.

    Myth # 6

    Iraq threw out the weapons inspectors

    Iraq did not tell the inspectors to leave. The weapons inspectors withdrew
    in December 1998 because the United States told them to pull out so that
    the U.S. could launch a bombing campaign on Baghdad. The next day, on
    December 16, the U.S. unleashed Operation Desert Fox, which included
    dropping 1,100 bombs and Cruise missiles on Iraq. After the bombing
    campaign, a Washington Post report confirmed the assertions of Iraq that
    the inspections were intelligence-gathering exercises conducted on the
    orders of the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Pentagon used the
    information collected from the so-called inspections to set up coordinates
    for its bombing operations. After this revelation, the Iraqi government
    quite understandably did not let the inspectors back in.

    Myth # 7

    Sanctions are a kinder, gentler way to deal with Iraq

    The plan for sanctions on Iraq came from the Pentagon, not the Department
    of Health and Human Services. It was a central part of the Pentagon´s war
    strategy against the Iraqi people. Sanctions have been more devastating
    than the Gulf War itself. "UNICEF confirms that five to six thousand Iraqi
    children are dying unnecessarily every month due to the impact of the
    sanctions, and that figure is probably modest," Denis Halliday told a
    Congressional hearing in October 1998. Halliday, who had just resigned his
    post as U.N. Assistant Secretary General and head of the U.N. humanitarian
    mission in Iraq, spoke of the "tragic incompatibility of sanctions with the
    U.N. Charter and the Convention on Human Rights."

    Myth # 8

    The UN allows U.S. and U.K. planes to bomb the "No Fly Zones"

    The United States agreed to a ceasefire with Iraq in February 1991. The
    no-flight zones over two-thirds of Iraq were imposed by the U.S., Britain
    and France 18 months after the Gulf War. The United Nations has never
    sanctioned the no-flight zones. France has since condemned them. The
    so-called no-flight zones are in violation of international law. Iraq has
    every right under international law and all known laws in the world to
    defend itself in these U.S.-declared no-flight zones. According to Article
    51 of the U.N. Charter, Iraq has the right of self-defense in all of its
    country, including these "no-flight zones."

    Myth # 9

    The people support a war on Iraq

    Not even opinion polls support this phony assertion. The polls confirm that
    there is wide opposition to a war. Normally there is wide support for a
    president who is about to launch a war. Instead, Congressional offices
    report overwhelming constituent opposition to a unilateral war on Iraq.
    Worldwide, the opposition is even bigger. While British Prime Minister Tony
    Blair is a vocal acolyte of Bush, few in Britain support a war on Iraq.
    Already, a march against war of 400,000 was held in London. Similar
    demonstrations have been held in Rome and Madrid. The general sentiment in
    Europe was summed up by the Greek Development Minister who said, "We are
    totally opposed to any military conflict ... even if there is a UN
    Resolution." Around the world, the sentiment is no different. New Zealand´s
    government opposes the war. No country in the Middle East supports a war on
    Iraq. Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the
    United Arab Emirates all oppose a war. As do France, Russia and China.

    Myth # 10

    War will be good for the economy

    It already costs U.S. taxpayers $50 billion per year to keep U.S. armed
    forces in the Persian Gulf. The estimated $200 billion for a war on Iraq
    will come straight out of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education
    and welfare. The average working-class taxpayer will foot the bill. The
    upper classes have already had their taxes greatly reduced so that they pay
    only a small part of the bill.

    Myth # 11

    This war will be quick and painless

    War is rarely quick, never painless. A new war will be neither. The 4.8
    million people in Baghdad face an invasion by the most modern and lethally
    equipped military in the world. Iraq is a nation of 22 million people. They
    will bear the brunt of the pain and the deaths of the war.

    Myth # 12

    Gulf War Syndrome is a myth

    The Veterans Benefits Administration Office noted that 36% of Desert Storm
    vets have filed claims for service-related disabilities. A primary reason
    is because the U.S. used Depleted Uranium. In July 1990, "The U.S. Army
    Armaments Munitions and Chemical Command admitted DU posed longterm risks
    to natives and combat veterans... . Low doses have been linked to cancer."
    Gulf War vets have a 500% greater incidence of Lou Gehrig´s disease than
    the general population. Desert Storm female vets have a 300% greater
    incidence of bearing children with birth defects. For male vets the figure
    is 200%.

    ---

    Prepared by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition

    NYC: 39 West 14 Street #206, New York, NY 10011
    212.633.6646
    [email protected]


    www.actionsf.org
    www.internationalANSWER.org
 
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