[GPSCC-chat] Fw: How To Stop a War on SyriaL Green Shadow Cabinet Member

[Caroline Yacoub]

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Subject: How To Stop a War on SyriaL Green Shadow Cabinet Member
  


Date: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 00:37:05
-0700
>Subject: How To Stop a War on Syria
>From: Thomas Scott Tucker <scott at tstucker.com>
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>How To Stop A War On Syria
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>Opposition to Iraq War May Save Syria
>
>By David Swanson: Author of: "War Is A Crime" - http://www.warisacrime.org/
>
>www.warisacrime.org/content/opposition-iraq-war-may-save-syria 
>
>Evidence of "weapons of mass destruction" is "no slam
dunk," U.S. officials are saying this time around, reversing the
claim made about Iraq by then-CIA director George Tenet.
>
>Opposition to a U.S.-led attack on Syria is growing rapidly in Europe
and the United States, drawing its strength from public awareness that
the case made for attacking Iraq had holes in it.
>
>A majority in the United States, still very much aware of Iraq war
deceptions, opposes arming the "rebel" force in Syria, so
heavily dominated by foreign fighters and al Qaeda. And a majority
opposes U.S. military action in Syria. 
>But that public opinion is only just beginning to get expressed as
activism. With Republicans more willing to actively oppose a war this
time, and some section of Democrats still opposed, there's actually
potential to build a larger antiwar movement than that of 2003-2006.
>Thus far, however, what's discouraging an attack on Syria is the public
uproar that was created back then over the disastrous attack on
Iraq.
>
>The nation of Iraq was destroyed. Millions of refugees still can't
safely return. As with every other humanitarian war thus far, humanity
suffered, and the suffering will last for ages. While the damage done to
the United States itself doesn't compare with the damage done to Iraq, it
has been severe en ough to make many a near-sighted potential war
supporter cautious.
>
>The problem with attacking Iraq was not that the vast stockpiles of
weapons were fictional. Had every claim been true, the war would have
remained illegal, immoral, and catastrophic.
>
>Were it true that the Syrian government really chose the moment of the
U.N. inspectors' arrival to use chemical weapons, launching a U.S. war on
Syria would still hurt the people of Syria -- who are overwhelmingly
opposed to it, regardless of their level of support for their government. 
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>A regional or even global war could result. The U.S. military is
planning for such scenarios, as if preparing for the apocalypse while
igniting it makes the action less insane.
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>A war of supposed humanitarian philanthropy should consider the value
to humanity of the rule of law. Launching a war in violation of the
Kellogg-Briand Pact, the United Nations Charter, and the U.S.
Constitution hurts the rule of law.
>
>A war of beneficial generosity should consider other possible
medicines that lack the deadly side-effects of war. For example, the
United States could easily stop supporting and arming abusive
dictatorships in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Yemen, and Egypt, not to
mention the horrors inflicted on Palestine by Israel. 
>
>A so-called good and noble war against the evil of chemical weapons
should probably be launched by a nation that doesn't itself use chemical
weapons. Yet, the United States used white phosphorous and napalm as
weapons in Iraq, not to mention such internationally sanctioned weapons
as depleted uranium and cluster bombs -- weapons the United States also
sells to other governments regardless of their human rights records
(including a big shipment of cluster bombs now headed to Saudi
Arabia).
>
>A humanitarian and just war should perhaps show equal concern for
those humans killed with any kind of weapon. Bombing Syria would
inevitably kill significant numbers of people. Isn't that a problem even
if they're killed with the "right" kind of weapons?
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>Both sides in the war in Syria have killed large numbers of people. We
have heard as many serious accounts of the rebels using chemical weapons
as the government. Should indisputable facts establish that both sides
have used those forbidden weapons, surely the proper response will not be
to bomb both sides.
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>By joining in this war, on the side of an armed opposition dominated
by people with no concern for democracy or human rights, the United
States will make itself more hated in the region than its previous
military actions already have. While this war has nothing to do with
defending the United States, it will in fact endanger it.
>
>Here's what should be done instead: Pressure Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
states and Turkey to stop arming one side, while pressuring Russia and
Iran to stop arming the other. Insist on a cease-fire. Support U.N.
inspections of the evidence of crimes by both sides. Provide humanitarian
aid to Syria, Syrian refugees (now fleeing in greater numbers as the U.S.
threatens to attack), and others suffering in the region. Support
nonviolent democracy movements.
>
>And why stop there? End the occupation of Afghanistan, which we think
of as "ending" but which is still twice as large as when
President Obama was elected. Stop arming brutal dictatorships and calling
the weapons "aid." Close Guantanamo and other lawless prison
sites. Halt U.S. drone and other missile strikes worldwide. Bring U.S.
troops home from 175 nations. Spend 10% of the U.S. military budget
providing the world with clean drinking water, food, and assistance in
sustainable agriculture and energy. 
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>Our options are not to do nothing or to bomb Syria into the sort of
disaster created in Iraq. There is an alternative that benefits Syrians,
makes us safer, and costs less in money, lives, and morality.
>
>David Swanson: david at davidswanson.org - www.warisacrime.org 
>##
>
>Please forward this to everyone who might be interested!
>Join us on Facebook and Twitter:
>   
>http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Swanson/297768373319#
>http://twitter.com/davidcnswanson
>
>Take action online: www.RootsAction.org 
>
>Take action in DC on Saturday:
>www.facebook.com/events/563464440373777/563787403674814
>
>And everywhere else:
>http://interoccupy.net/blog/nowarwithsyria-global-rallies-on-august-31-2013 
>
>Flyers you can use to oppose this war: Color PDF, Black and White PDF.
> 
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