The WILPF US Middle East Committee urges WILPFers and others to
speak out, as listed below, to prevent any military escalation!
Despite Trump's contention that he doesn't want to go to war with Iran, recent incidents suggest that
is what he intends. Spurred on by national security advisor, John Bolton, and perpetual neoconservative, Mike Pompeo, Trump is willing to fight Iran.
It is no secret that Israel's Netanyahu and Saudi Arabia's Mohamed bin Salman have been cozying up to one another as they struggle for power and oppose Iran, the only other large and powerful nation in the region.
The most recent incidents fuel this ongoing controversy. Accusations have flown, saying that Iran attacked ships in the Gulf; Iran denies this. Grainy US photos have been the subject of conjecture, supposedly showing Iranians pulling up to a ship to remove a mine. Iranian press reports immediately following the explosions say that the crews of nearby Iranian vessels sawships in trouble and came to the rescue. The Japanese, whose Prime Minister was meeting with Iran's leadership at that time, have said it was some sort of missile or "airborne projectile" --
not mines -- that caused the explosions on their ship. Obviously, the truth is not yet known. We recall the rush to judgment that led to the horrific war against Iraq.
The current situation reminds us that the extremely dangerous regional instability has global consequences! Our immediate action is warranted.
We Urge You:
Call your Senators; ask them to oppose any attack on Iran. Many already strongly oppose any such aggression! Call 1 202 224 3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator.
Other Ways to Speak Out
- Contact your friends who may not be WILPF members; ask them to call their Senators. We can expand our circle by reaching out to others and, thus, have a greater effect.
- Find other local groups or affiliates of national or international groups working on this issue and join with them to increase pressure. High visibility can be key to making progress.
- Write letters to the editor or opinion columns to be published locally. Many of your neighbors oppose going to war, but are reluctant to speak out. If they know they are not alone, it can bolster their confidence to also say something. Use these guidelines to help you write more effectively!
- Be creative and express your opinion visually. Cleverly designed and attractive signs can be displayed at a silent vigil, or you can create some pop-up street theater on the subject.
According to many observers, those who want a war against Iran (Saudi Arabia and Israel in particular) have both the technology and the expertise to carry out attacks and to claim that Iran did it. Both sides dispute whether the US surveillance drone Iran recently shot down was flying over Iranian airspace or in international waters.
We can make the points that there must not be a rush to judgment and that a war can be prevented. Also, the "bottom line" reality might resonate with some Senators: It would have cost much less, and might have yielded better results, had Trump sent a dozen diplomats to Iran -- instead of another thousand troops.
Our objective should be to see that war does not occur! Both US and Iranian leaders say they don't want to go to war, although they are prepared to do so.
The crippling sanctions imposed on Iran are illegal under international law. The effects they have on the civilian population fly in the face of international humanitarian standards. The 82.5 million people of Iran largely oppose war. Many of them have endured more than one war in their lifetime.
Instead of fighting, negotiations should be taking place, including a re-negotiation of the nuclear deal that Trump, at the behest of his closest advisors, broke off -- even while experts and inspectors said that Iran was not in violation. Israel has nuclear capabilities, and Saudi Arabia aspires to have such weaponry, while Iran is steps away from having this potential.
It benefits us all to see that the situation de-escalates as quickly as possible. A good way to begin solving this problem would be to use the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It should be applied equally to all states in the region.
WILPF US Middle East Committee
Odile Hugonot-Haber and Barbara Taft, co-chairs
To join the Middle East Committee and work more directly on these important issues, just send an email to [email protected]. Your participation is always welcome! Committee participants must be WILPF US members.
