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The Bipartisan Road to War in Iran and The Activist Response
www.TowardFreedom.com
Written by Jeff Nall
Monday, 14 July 2008

More than 100 House Democrats have joined 117 House Republicans in co-sponsoring a bill which peace activists fear may further pave the road to war with Iran. The Bill, House Concurrent Resolution 362, describes Iran as a threat to international peace, stability in the Middle East, and US National Security. Introduced on May 22 by New York Democrat Gary Ackerman, the bill calls for an effective blockade against Iran, which, according to international law, is an act of aggression.

As of July 5 the bill has 220 co-sponsors including prominent Democrats such as Barney Frank (MA), Alcee Hastings (FL), Steny Hoyer (MD), Henry Waxman (CA), and the "Fire Breathing Liberal" himself, Rep. Robert Wexler (FL). [A total of 9 Florida Democrats]

H. Con. Res. 362 specifically calls on President Bush to "initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities." The bill urges the President to block refined petroleum exports to Iran and to impose "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program."In a June 24 editorial, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer pointed out that the United Nations holds that "a unilateral blockade constitutes an act of war." The paper asks whether or not supporters of Res. 362 are "asleep at the wheel, or are they just anxious to drag us into another illegal war?" ("Iran: Scary language.")

According to a press release from the Council for A Livable World, three retired military leaders have sent a letter to lawmakers "urging them to abandon" H. Con. Res. 362. Lt. General Robert G. Gard, Jr., U.S. Army (ret.), former Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Lawrence J. Korb, and Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, U.S. Navy (ret.) describe the bill as "poorly conceived, poorly timed, and potentially dangerous."

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE at TowardFreedom.com:
“The Bipartisan Road to War in Iran and The Activist Response”

Take Action: STOP WAR ON IRAN

1) CALL:
Call the Democrats who have co-sponsored this bill and tell them you are outraged to see Democrats laying the ground for war on Iran; that they should be working to Impeach the president so that he doesn’t launch another criminal “Pre-emptive” attack on an unoffending nation [Phone numbers for all 9 Florida Democratic Co-sponsors below].
Call the bill’s main sponsor, Congressman Gary Ackerman (202-225-2601), and urge him to withdraw H. Con. Res. 362 and promote diplomacy, not war.

2) SIGN:
Z Magazine’s letter to Barack Obama on Iran, signed by the likes of Noam Chomsky:
"An Open Letter to Barack Obama on Iran"

Code Pink’s petition urging Barack Obama to pursue diplomacy with Iran:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org

StopWarOnIran.org’s “Tell Bush and Congress:No War against Iran” petition: http://stopwaroniran.org/petition.shtml

3) MARCH:
Who: Brevard Patriots for Peace
What: Florida's First Mass Anti-War March to Prevent War with Iran
When: 2pm, Saturday, August 30
Where: March from Front Street Park (2205 S. Front Street, Melbourne, FL 32935)
to Melbourne City Hall City Hall (900 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne, FL 32901.)
For more info: email Jeff at sabletide@yahoo.com

Call Democratic Co-Sponsors of HR 362 and S. Res 580 --
Demand they Renounce them & Set Out to Ensure Bush Doesn’t Strike Again