|
|
|
|
|
|
by Frieda Gardner, W A M M
|
Saying No to War on Iran
Mary Wright, a retired Army Reserves colonel who went on to become a diplomat, has advised members of the military to refuse participation in a war on Iran, because “attacking Iran will be a crime against peace, a war crime . . . violating the Nuremberg Principles, the Geneva Conventions and the Laws of Land Warfare.” In addition, according to unnamed sources, at least four generals in the U.S. armed forces will resign if they are ordered to attack Iran. (London Sunday Times, 2/25/07)
Italians Oppose U.S. Base Size Increase
In Italy, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Vicenza against a proposed doubling in size of the American base housing our 173rd Airborne Brigade. Residents object to American militarism in general, and specifically to the congestion and environmental dangers, the increased risk of terrorist attacks, and to loss of local control over land and water use. (The New York Times, 02/18/07)
“Out of Iraq” Caucus Draws Press
Members of the Congressional “Out of Iraq” Caucus are getting more press and more legislative attention. This caucus has adopted the strongest position on defunding the war and bringing the troops home as soon as possible. Minnesota members are Keith Ellison and James Oberstar. Other members include Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, John Murtha, Dennis Kucinich, John Conyers, and John Lewis. Stay tuned on how much this group is able to influence the current Congress. (The New York Times, 3/4/07)
CIA Agents Indicted
An Italian court has indicted 25 suspected CIA agents and a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel in the alleged kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric on Italian soil. This action challenges the CIA’s “extraordinary rendition” program, which, without benefit of law, moves terrorism suspects from place to place, often to be tortured. Needless to say, the U.S. has no plans to extradite its agents to Italy. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 2/16/07)
A German court has also issued arrest warrants for CIA agents involved in similar activity. (Reuters, 2/28/07)
Diplomacy with North Korea
In an apparent effort to surprise the nations of the world by practicing the art of diplomacy, the Bush administration has begun a relationship with North Korea, after six-nation talks in China persuaded North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program in exchange for aid. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 3/6/07)
Nevada Mushroom Cloud Avoided Because of protests from environmentalists,
Indian tribes, and other citizens, the Pentagon decided against testing a 700-ton nonnuclear device “that would have produced the first mushroom cloud of dust over the Nevada desert in decades.” The bomb is designed to “penetrate underground bunkers.” (L.A. Times, 2/23/07)
Actions on Global Warming
After years of federal inaction, five Western states (California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Arizona) have formed a “regional pact” designed to reduce emissions that add to global warming. In a related story, the European Union has pledged to reduce its member-nations’ emissions 30 percent by 2020 if the U. S. and other nations will do the same. The union also committed itself to generating 20 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020 and running 10 percent of its cars and trucks on biofuels.
Apology Offered
Both houses of the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously to voice “profound regret” for the state’s history of slavery, saying slavery “ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals.” The message, which also includes regret for “the exploitation of Native Americans,” is symbolic, having no apparent legal consequences. Virginia is about to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where Africans were brought in bondage in 1619. (AP, 2/26/07) |
|
|
|
© 2007 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
|
 |
|
Complete April 2007 Index - click here
|
|
 |
|
|
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
