Inspect Iraq, Don't Attack
By Mike Hersh, Sep 9, 2002
The top question today is Iraq. Are we going to attack? Or when are we going to attack? And why? We are a single-issue group working to stop the coming invasion of Iraq. War will kill many Americans in uniform, and many innocent Iraqis already suffering under Saddam's rule - including infants and children.
Top Republican military and national security experts, including General Brent Scowcroft who served as National Security Advisor for Presidents Gerald Ford and George HW Bush warn George W. Bush not to attack Iraq unless and until we exhaust all other options.
We all know the "wag the dog scenario." It's no secret Republicans are in big trouble as the November elections come closer. We don't believe the Bush administration would create a war for partisan politics, but his top man Karl Rove did admit that is their best issue.
We consider questions of war and peace nonpartisan matters. Luckily top Senators on both sides of the aisle agree. Senator Joe Biden of Delaware is known as a straight shooter. He took off after Bill Clinton many times. He has argued for caution on the Sunday talks shows saying it would be "irresponsible" if Bush led us into war for political reasons.
Biden added that Bush hasn't explained what we would do after we depose Saddam. Republicans like House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, and Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska also question this impending invasion.
July 29, USA Today reported "many congressional leaders - including those who support the use of force against Saddam - worry that the administration needs a clearer justification than the belief that Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction." According to the USA Today, Biden says Bush has "no Constitutional authority to invade," and he hopes the Bush people have the "resolve" to do the right thing.
As it stands now, we'd be going it alone. Our allies are not with us on an invasion. Jordan's King Abdullah II calls plans to invade Iraq at this time "ludicrous" and even our #1 ally England isn't with us on this. Most of all, it's not necessary to invade. We won the Cold War without attacking the USSR, so containment works. We already have total air control over Iraq, and we've got them locked up economically.
Most people agree Bush's father pulled back because he didn't want to commit us to 10 years of military occupation or more. If Iraq has poison gas and bio-weapons, and we can find out where they are and destroy them without letting Saddam use them, we should do that. Invading would only compel Iraq to use any weapons it has against our forces and its people.
We don't want to even think about how many American troops would die in an invasion. That's not even counting casualties during any occupation afterward, and all the innocent Iraqis killed. Then there's all the money this would cost.
Bush I had raise to taxes to pay for Desert Storm, and that was just to drive Saddam out of Kuwait. Even so, that Bush left office with a $290 billion deficit! Bush II will have to raise taxes even more and roll up an even bigger deficit to get Saddam out of Iraq.
According to military and international relations experts including former Reagan and Bush officials like James A. Baker III, General Brent Scowcroft, and even Colin Powell, Iraq is not now a threat to the United States.
Weapons experts such as Scott Ritter insist inspections would prevent Iraq from becoming a threat. Ritter, a former Marine intelligence officer wrote a book, Endgame, "Solving the Iraq Problem -- Once and for All." Even if we have no choice but to attack someday, inspectors would help determine the best course of action. But Bush is leading us headlong into an war. See: RED ALERT: October War in Iraq.
The bottom line is this: Containment is working, Iraq poses no clear and present danger, therefore an invasion isn't called for at this time.
Containment worked against the USSR with all its 1000s of nuclear missiles, and it
will work against Iraq. We don't have to invade to ensure our safety.
We have better, safer, more effective and less dangerous alternatives. We can and should
demand resumption of weapons inspections and we can always invade if
the circumstances warrant. They certainly do not warrant a costly, bloody
unprovoked attack by the US. That's why we say "Inspect Iraq, Don't
Attack."
Time is of the essence! Contact Congress to Prevent War
Congress must allow qualified experts to testify at the hearings on Iraq. As a former UN weapons inspector and former Marine Colonel, Mr. Ritter as qualified as any other witness. Congress should welcome his expert analysis, but incredibly, they have refused to invite Mr. Ritter and other important witnesses so far.
Please join thousands of people across the country in demanding complete hearings on our Iraq policy. Call Congress and demand they invite the following expert witnesses to provide critical perspectives:
General Brent Scowcroft - Former U.S. National Security Adviser
Col. Scott Ritter - Intelligence Officer, Weapons Inspector
Hon. Edward Peck - Former Ambassador to Iraq
Tun Myat - Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq
Hans Von Sponeck - Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator
Denis Halliday - Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator
Dr. Richard Falk - Princeton Professor of International Law
Laith Kubba - Iraqi member National Endowment for Democracy
Dr. Louis Fisher, PhD - Author and War Powers Expert
Erik Gustafson - Gulf War Veteran, Expert on Iraq
Issam Shukri - Iraqi Dissident, Gulf War Combat Veteran
Recommendations for witnesses should be sent directly to the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. The telephone number is 202-224-4651. The fax number is
202-228-1612. Names of witnesses should be faxed ATTN: Puneet Talwar. Faxes
should include your name, address and phone number. We've gotten reports of
problems with the Committee fax machine. Please keep trying until you get through.
Call the Committee Chairman and Ranking
Member
Chairman Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE): 202-224-5042
Ranking Member Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC): 202-224-6342
D.C. 202-224-3553 - L.A. 213-894-5000 - S.F. 415-403-0100
Contact the Senate
Subcommittee on Near Eastern Affairs
It will take all our efforts to convince Congress to invite these experts on Iraq who can offer advice that will save lives. Time is running out. Call Congress and the White House now. Send email to Congress and the media using the "write to Congress" link below - it works for both. Tell all of them we don't want to spill American blood in an unnecessary, costly war.Demand to inspect Iraq, not attack.
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