[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens to Dems: Honor antiwar votes, get US out of Iraq now

[Green Party of California Updates]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, November 13, 2006



Greens to Democrats: Honor antiwar voters who put you
in office -- get U.S. forces out of Iraq now

• Agenda for global security and stability must
include withdrawal from Iraq, renegotiation of Kyoto,
reaffirmation of Geneva Conventions, and reversal of
Iran and Israel-Palestine policy -- or antiwar votes
for Democrats in Congress will prove wasted


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders challenged
Democrats, whose victory in regaining Congress on
Tuesday was largely a result of voters who wish for a
quick end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq, and who seek
a reversal of current foreign policy.

"Poll after poll showed that a clear majority of
voters made their choice to vote Democrat because they
oppose the war on Iraq," said Jody Grage, Treasurer of
the Green Party of the United States.  "Poll after
poll in Iraq revealed the same thing -- that the Iraqi
people want the destruction and mass killing to stop,
and want U.S. forces out of their country.  If
Democrats have any sense of democracy, responsibility,
or humanity, they will send President Bush a demand
for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops."

Greens called on Democrats to adopt the following
agenda:

• Bring the troops home now: immediate withdrawal of
U.S. military forces from Iraq; cancel further
military spending for the occupation.

• Launch a probe into the White House's fraudulent
justifications for the invasion of Iraq; violations of
the U.S. Constitution; no-bid contracts and giveaways
to corporate war profiteers like Halliburton and
Bechtel; violations of Geneva Conventions, especially
the use of torture; suppression of scientific research
about global warming.

"Democrats should initiate impeachment proceedings and
press for criminal charges, to deter the Bush
Administration's massive abuses of power from ever
happening again," said Jeff Kravitz, California Green
candidate for Congress (5th District) in the 2006
election and a professor of constitutional law.

• Reaffirm the U.S.'s commitment to the Geneva
Conventions and international law.

• Demand that the U.S. sign on to the Kyoto protocols
and begin renegotiation to address new scientific
information about the threat of global warming and its
growing role in international security.

• Demand that the Bush White House cease threatening
Iran and pursue negotiation; maintain pressure on
Israel not to launch an attack on Iran.

• Demand that the Bush White House press Israel to
observe full human rights for Arab Israelis and end
the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and
attacks on Palestinian people; and cut off arms
shipments and military aid for Israel.

"The Middle East crisis is headed towards further
conflict and mass murder, as evidenced by the
appointment of extremist Avigdor Lieberman, who
advocates expelling Arab citizens, as Israel's
Strategic Affairs Minister, and Israel's massacre on
Wednesday of 18 Palestinian civilians, including eight
children.  The attack topped off a week long siege and
killing spree that claimed the lives of more than 80
Palestinians in Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip," said
Aimee Smith, 2006 Green candidate for the U.S. House
in Michigan's 15th District.  "Unfortunately,
Democratic leaders in Congress like Hillary Clinton
[N.Y.] and Nancy Pelosi [Calif.] are as much under the
spell of AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs
Committee] as Republicans are."

Greens emphasized that all of the above agenda are
necessary for global peace, security, and stability,
and urged antiwar voters and organizations like
MoveOn.org and United For Peace and Justice to keep
pressure on Democrats in Congress.

"If Democrats in Congress don't act within the coming
months to end the occupation of Iraq and reverse U.S.
policy on Iran and Israel, it'll prove that all the
antiwar votes they received on November 7 will have
been wasted on America's second war party," said Nan
Garrett, Co-Chair of the Georgia Green Party and
Spokesperson for the National Women's Caucus of the
Green Party.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193