Forum: Signs of Impending War Against Iran
(and What We Can Do to Stop It)
Forum speakers:
- Prof Khalil Marrar teaches history, religion and politics at DePaul University and is the author of The Arab Lobby and US Foreign Policy: The Two State Solution.
- Prof Scott Hibbard teaches Middle Eastern politics, American foreign policy and international relations at DePaul University and has published widely in scholarly journals.
- Larry Everest has covered the Middle East and Central Asia for Revolution newspaper for more than 20 years, traveled to Iran in 1979 and 1980, and is the author of Oil, Power and Empire.
Thursday, May 8, 7 pm
Depaul University
Schmidt Academic Center, Room 161
2320 N. Kenmore Avenue
The signs seem to arrive with each day's news: "US Weighing Readiness for Military Action against Iran," reported Ann Tyson in the Washington Post just this Saturday, April 26. Admiral Fallon, who spoke out publicly against an attack on Iran, was forced to resign from his position as head of CENTCOM in March and now General Petraeus, who backs Bush and Cheney in targeting Iran as he commanded the occupation of Iraq, is appointed to replace him. What's behind all this? What could be propelling the US toward a massive escalation of the war against Iraq? Hear thought-provoking and informative speakers and join the urgent discussion. (flyer for this event) (Iran facts flyer)
NOTE: The No War on Iran Coalition, in which World Can't Wait participates, calls on Chicagoans to support a resolution coming before the Chicago City Council in May. Please visit nowaroniran-chicago.org for more information on how you can support this effort.
Support the Holy Name Six
Three days into the sixth year of the US occupation of Iraq, Christians around the world celebrated Easter. In Chicago, at Holy Name Cathedral in the Gold Coast, the most prominent Catholic church in the area, services were interrupted by a challenge to the complacency. As Cardinal George started his homily, six well-dressed young people, members of the street theater group, "Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War", stood up.
One cried out, "The sixth commandment says: 'thou shall not kill.'"
"Yet more than a million Iraqis have been killed since the invasion of Iraq," said another.
After denouncing Cardinal George's January meeting with George Bush, protesters screamed, squirted stage blood on themselves, and lay in the aisle, representing the ongoing bloodbath in Iraq. The whole incident took less than 30 seconds. Ushers, aided by police, escorted the six out of the church and placed them under arrest.
Outside, as protesters waited in handcuffs for a police wagon to arrive, one reporter asked, "what was the point of the blood?" A woman answered, "people aren't visualizing what's going on. They're going about their daily lives like nothing's going on."
These six young people have since been charged with felonies and assigned punitive bail amounts. If they dare to take such bold and necessary actions to deliver this message, can't we all do something to support them?
The action of the Holy Name 6 stands on its own. Whether we respond to the challenge is up to us. - Jeff Leys
SUPPORT INFO:
EMAIL the HOLY NAME SIX with support messages holyname6@riseup.net
CONTACT the Archdiocese of Chicago and urge them to drop the charges against the Holy Name Six at these phone numbers:
General: 312-751- 8200 Cardinal George: 312-751-8230
CONTACT the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago editorial@catholicnewworld.com
SIGN the petition in support of the Holy Name 6.
WCW Chicago January 31
January 31st Report from Chicago:
"We Won't Live in a Torture State"
In driving snow and 12 below wind chill about 65 people converged on the State of Illinois Building Plaza at 12 noon. Vets for Peace and Code Pink from Indiana were the first to arrive followed by students from DePaul University, Columbia College, and Mother McCauley High School, who marched in chanting and agitating. Students from the Chicago School of Psychology, Loyola University, Northeastern University, and University of Illinois at Chicago also were present. (more...)
In the News
The Clock is Ticking for A US Attack on Iran - Dave Lindorff, 04/26/2008 (more...)
Bush Admits to Knowledge of Torture Authorization by Top Advisers - 4/12/2008.
In a stunning admission to ABC news Friday night, President Bush declared that he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details of the CIA's use of torture. Bush reportedly told ABC, "I'm aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved." Bush also defended the use of waterboarding. (more...)
G.W. Bush Is a Criminal, Like His Dad - Robert Parry, January 31, 2008
Everybody in the room knew what the unspoken reality was, but nobody dared say it: George W. Bush authorized torture, which is a crime under U.S. and international law. (more...)
There are too many moments these days when we cannot recognize our country. Sunday was one of them, as we read the account in The Times of how men in some of the most trusted posts in the nation plotted to cover up the torture of prisoners by Central Intelligence Agency interrogators by destroying videotapes of their sickening behavior. It was impossible to see the founding principles of the greatest democracy in the contempt these men and their bosses showed for the Constitution, the rule of law and human decency. (more...)
- Looking at America, The New York Times, December 31, 2007
In times such as these, the American people must speak up and make their sentiments known, acting independently as THE PEOPLE. Let us not go down in history as infamously standing silent in the face of grave crimes the way the "Good Germans" allowed the Nazis to carry out their atrocities.
Wear orange - a ribbon, wristband, bandana, and so on - daily. Its wearing is a sign of solidarity with those our government imprisons and tortures. Its wearing means that you stand against torture and tyranny. The time for private grumbling is over. The time for speaking out and acting is here. (full comment here ...)
- Comment by Dr. Dennis Loo, Los Angeles (Highlighted by NYTimes editors)