Bush gives OK for attack on Iran: Take Action Today -

Recent news makes it clear why it is more important than ever that we take to the streets on August 2.  According to press reports, President Bush has given the Israeli military the go-ahead to prepare for an imminent attack on Iran. Israel is also using U.S. bases in Iraq to prepare for the attack.

The British Sunday Times of July 13, 2008  reported:

 "Despite the opposition of his own generals and widespread skepticism that America is ready to risk the military, political and economic consequences of an airborne strike on Iran, the president has given an "amber light" to an Israeli plan to attack Iran's main nuclear sites with long-range bombing sorties, the official told The Sunday Times.

"Amber means get on with your preparations, stand by for immediate attack and tell us when you're ready," the official said.

The Jerusalem Post of July 13, 2008 reported:

"On Friday, sources in the Iraqi Defense Ministry told a local news network that IAF war planes were practicing in Iraqi airspace were landing on US airbases in the country as a preparation for a potential strike on Iran."

Once again the most powerful forces of US corporate power - the military-industrial-petroleum complex -are using Israel as their proxy to threaten war on surrounding countries in the region.  Israel is armed, financed, and politically and diplomatically supported by Washington. It can not act on its own or without explicit permission from Washington.  U.S. tax dollars finance Israel wars against surrounding nations, and Israeli repression of the Palestinians, to keep the area "safe" for U.S. oil companies. 

This is why it is vital to link the struggle against the war in Iraq and a potential war against Iran with the struggle of the Palestinian people for the right to return.

At the same time Washington is giving the Israeli military a go-ahead to bomb Iran, the U.S. Congress is moving ahead to escalate tensions in the region and possibly provoke an incident that would justify U.S. military action.  House Resolution 362 and Senate Resolution 580 both require that the President begin blockade of Iran. 

The House Resolution "demands" that the President impose "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran."  Enforcing this would require a U.S. Naval blockade of the Straits of Hormuz, which is an act of war according to international law.  Approximately one-fourth of the world's oil, including that from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, pass through the Straits of Hormuz, which is 21 miles across at its narrowest point (the shipping channel is less than 2 miles wide).

These two resolutions have received widespread bipartisan support from members of both Houses, and are expected to pass without debate or vote.  A staffer in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office said that once the Resolution hits the floor, it will "pass like a hot knife through butter."   Some have speculated that the bill will be put on the floor under suspension - meaning that it will pass without even a vote.

Both resolutions accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons, despite the fact that Washington's National Intelligence Estimate report last December that made it clear that every major U.S. intelligence agency believes that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program. 

Nor do the resolutions refer to the real nuclear threat in the region - the U.S., which is the only country that has used nuclear weapons and currently has a massive nuclear-armed naval armada in the region.  It also does not mention the apartheid settler state of Israel, which is thought to have more than 200 nuclear weapons.

At the same time, two leading Senators announced on Tuesday, July 15, that they had reached a bipartisan agreement to expand economic sanctions targeting Iran.  Sens. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., called Iran "a threat to U.S. interests."  Dodd, a former candidate for the Democratic nomination for President, said, "This bipartisan bill strengthens economic sanctions against Iran, and authorizes divestment from companies that do business with Iran's key oil sector." 

Meanwhile, the U.S. is involved in "covert operations" - acts of terrorism - inside Iran.  In the July 7 New Yorker, Seymour Hersh revealed that Congress has approved $400 million to fund covert operations in Iran.  These operations include: providing support to armed groups opposed to the Iranian government, kidnapping members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and taking them across the border to Iraq for interrogation, the manipulation of Iran's currency, and other acts intended to destabilize the regime.  Hersh reports that these types of operations have been ongoing at least since last year, but the recent Congressional appropriation signals a significant expansion of these actions.

It is clear that the Bush Administration is determined to push forward with its agenda of endless war to control the oil reserves of the Middle East. It is equally clear that members of Congress - both Democrats and Republicans - are collaborating with the Administration, just as they collaborated in authorizing and funding the invasion and occupation of Iraq. 

It is imperative that progressive activists and organizations, particularly in the U.S., mobilize to stop another brutal war, and to demand an end to the illegal sanctions and covert operations targeting Iran. 

Stop War on Iran, an international grassroots campaign, issued an Emergency Call to for protests, marches, and other actions on the weekend of August 2.  Response to the call has been enthusiastic, and local organizers are planning events in more than 50 cities, including Los Angeles, Tucson , San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Jersey City, Albuquerque, Buffalo, New York City, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Houston, Salt Lake City, Virginia Beach, Washington DC, and more - an updated list is available at www.StopWarOnIran.org.

Now is the time to take to the streets, because only a massive grassroots mobilization can stop another bloody and illegal war.  In the next few days and weeks, we need to do everything we can to take to the streets to Stop a War on Iran.  We have a real opportunity to help build a massive grassroots movement to oppose the warmongers in Washington.

If you haven't done so, please consider organizing a local action on August 2 - or if there is already one in your area, contact local organizers to find out how you can help.

Also, please sign the online petition at http://stopwaroniran.org/petition.shtml and help us spread the word.  Signing the petition will send messages to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, the Board of Directors of Halliburton, and the media. 

Would you please take action on the following to prevent another unnecessary war that would kill thousands more?  (To save time, you could fill out one, then copy your information into the other four.) 
 
1]  Tell Bush and Congress:  No War against Iran! http://www.stopwaroniran.org/petition.shtml 
 
2]  No War with Iran!http://democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/Peaceact/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=358 
 
3]  War with Iran? No!http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2747/t/3489/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=405 
 
4]  Say “NO” to Iran War Resolution!http://capwiz.com/niacouncil/issues/alert/?alertid=11523111
  
5] Congress needs to hear a resolute NO to H. Con. Res. 362 in the House and S. Res. 580 in the Senate.  These resolutions essentially call for an act of war - a naval blockade of Iran.  If passed by the Congress and Bush does what is asked, it creates a green light for war with Iran.  http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/703/t/6396/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=158
    

Please re-post in your groups, forward this message, & tell everyone you know!!  Let's STOP another war!! 
  
 
The following posted by Ross J. here:  http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=1515&pst=695403  

 
The war on Iran is getting closer.  And unfortunately, Congress is pushing forward with House Resolution 362.  This resolution calls for, among other things, "imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran."  While they do not call it a blockade, which is an act of war, that is exactly what they are pushing!  Unfortunately, this resolution has over 230 co-sponsors [See if your Representative is listed as a co-sponsor]. 
 
While most in Congress is pushing towards a devastating war against Iran, Representatives Lee, Woolsey, and Waters are proposing Resolution 5056 that brings a special envoy to Iran for the "purpose of easing tensions and normalizing relations between the United States and Iran."  In order to protect our military, as well as the people of Iran, it is important to TAKE ACTION NOW! 
 
1.  Call your representative [learn who your Representative is] - If your Representative is listed as a co-sponsor, request that he or she remove their name.  One Missouri Representative has already been persuaded to remove his name!  Tell them that voting for this resolution will equate to military escalation against Iran - something that the people of American will not tolerate.  Vote NO ON RESOLUTION 362.2.   
 
2.  Ask your representative to INSTEAD support House Resolution 5056 that calls for a U.S. envoy to Iran.  Diplomatic measures must precede any form of military maneuvering. 
 
3.  United for Peace and Justice is calling for a day of action to prevent a war on Iran.  Join United For Peace and Justice action day on July 21 with a visit to your local Congressional office.
Contact your local office, make an appointment, and go with a clear set of talking points (we will have this for you later). http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=1515&pst=695403