[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Responding to Obama, Greens demand real peace, not partial withdrawal, & urge protest against 'mercenary occupation' of Iraq

[Green Party of California Updates]

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

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, September 1, 2010



Responding to President Obama's address to the nation, Greens demand real
peace, not just partial troop draw-down, and urge protest against 'mercenary
occupation' of Iraq

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on foreign policy
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States responded to President
Obama's Oval Office address to the nation on Tuesday, August 31, with a call
for Americans who oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to press for a
complete withdrawal of US forces from both countries and a halt to attacks
inside Pakistan's borders.

"When President Obama says we're turning the page, we're really moving to the
next page of war without end.  It would be a mistake for Americans who desire
peace to let the President off the hook after Tuesday's speech," said Anthony
Gronowicz, New York Green candidate for the US House, 7th Congressional
District (Bronx/Queens, New York) and a member of the Green Party's
International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).

Green Party leaders listed reasons for renewed protest against the Obama
Administration's military policies:

• 50,000 military personnel, rechristened non-combat 'advisors,' will remain
in Iraq, along with a large number of private contractors (over 200,000 as of
last month).  The Iraq War has entered a new phase: occupation by largely
mercenary forces to protect US interests, especially control over Iraqi oil
resources.  Skepticism remains that US combat in Iraq will cease, given the
destabilization caused by the war.  Past US 'advisors' in southeast Asia,
Latin America, and other regions have been used for belligerent purposes
(e.g., Vietnam, El Salvador) and regime change (Iran, Guatemala) rather than
for peace.

• The Democratic White House and Congress have continued to pump up the
military budget, while seeking cuts in human services.  Until military
spending is cut drastically and the money is redirected to human needs and
action against global warming, President Obama's stated goal of refocusing on
domestic issues remains a hollow promise.  (See "Greens call for a new kind of
national defense: defense against catastrophic climate change," Green Party
press release, August 6, 2010, http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=336)

• The US owes the people of Iraq a sincere apology and recompense after an
invasion launched in 2003 for false reasons: nonexistent WMDs, lies about
nuclear materials and Iraqi involvement in the 9/11 attacks.  The aim was to
topple a murderous tyrant, but the US has not acknowledged its own role in
propping up Saddam Hussein during the 1980s.  The Iraq War resulted in
hundreds of thousands of dead civilians, many more maimed, millions displaced,
shattered infrastructure, and lingering effects from extremely toxic depleted
uranium and white phosphorous weapons used by US forces.

• US troops who fought in the war and the families of those who gave their
lives also deserve an apology and restitution including full health care for
service members, especially for those who have suffered physical and mental
trauma.

• President Obama has escalated the war in Afghanistan, expanding it into
Pakistan, with thousands of civilian casualties.  The US wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, threats against Iran (and support for Israel's threats), and
military aid for Israel's assaults on Palestinians have been interpreted by
many nations as a greater war against Islam.  (See "Greens urge Congress to
pass the Kucinich-Paul bill for withdrawal of US troops from Pakistan, citing
Wikileaks revelations," Green Party release, July 27, 2010,
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=335)

• The threats against Iran demonstrate that President Obama has embraced the
Bush-Cheney neocon doctrine of preemptive aggression against countries at
peace with the US.

• The Obama Administration has refused to investigate and prosecute
Bush-Cheney officials for abuses of power and war crimes: massive deception;
manipulating intelligence; authorizing extraordinary rendition and torture.
President Obama has maintained warrantless surveillance of US citizens,
surpassed President Bush in his pursuit of whistleblowers, and added
extra-judicial killing of targeted US citizens to the list of assaults on the
US Constitution.  Congress has not repealed or amended the USA Patriot Act.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

"Another False Ending: Contracting out the Iraq Occupation" by Bill Quigley
and Laura Raymond, Common Dreams, September 1, 2010
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/09/01-0

Video clips from the Green Party's 2010 Annual National Meeting, Detroit,
Michigan, June 24-27 http://www.gp.org http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the
United States http://gp.org/greenpages-blog


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