Chicago Speaks Out Against an Attack on Iran
Support the City Council Resolution
You Make the Difference!
Will you silent as your government steps up its pressure and war preparations against Iran - a Third World country half-way around the world? Bush: "all options are on the table."
Will you listen passively as all the candidates repeat Bush's lies and threats?
- McCain -
- "Bomb, bomb, bomb --- bomb,bomb Iran"
- Clinton -
- "we would be able to totally obliterate them"
- Obama -
- "I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything."
Military moves and diplomatic maneuvering are escalating. The McClatchy Newspapers report "Targeted strikes on Iran's nuclear [power] sites are again under discussion." A campaign of charges and lies reminiscent of the run-up to Iraq is being ramped up. Israel openly threatens to attack Iran - as Deputy Prime Minister Mofaz calls war "unavoidable."
Any U.S. attack on Iran would be, just like Iraq, an act of aggression for greater empire. The consequences would be horrific. If you are NOT willing to accept this, then join us in speaking out, acting locally, and thinking globally.
Urge your alderman to support the resolution to prevent another disaster in the Middle East.
You can help. The Chicago City Council has a pending resolution opposing an attack on Iran - see below. Click here to Find and Contact Your Alderman and voice your support for the resolution. Then ask friends and family to do the same.
Come to the City Council meeting and support the resolution
Wednesday, July 9
City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
121 N. LaSalle Street
More information:
- WCW Chicago No War on Iran Flier
- City Council Human Relations Committee - "No War on Iran" Expert Testimony, May 2008
- Chris Hedges - The Iran Trap
- Seymour Hersh - Preparing the Battlefield
- Ray McGovern - Bomb Iran? What's to Stop Us?
Full Text of the Resolution
--- A RESOLUTION OPPOSING WAR ON IRAN ---
WHEREAS, The Bush Administration and its Congressional allies are engaging in a systematic campaign to convince the American people that the Islamic Republic of Iran poses an imminent threat to the American nation, American troops in the Middle East and U.S. allies, and
WHEREAS, This campaign bears a strong resemblance to that waged during the lead-upto the Iraq War and occupation, with the use of unreliable sources, exaggerated threat assessments, the selective use of information, unsubstantiated accusations about Iran's nuclear program and its supply of weapons to Iraqi forces as centerpieces of their case to the American people for aggressive action against Iran, and
WHEREAS, Iran has not threatened to attack the United States, and no compelling evidence has been presented that Iran poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of the United States that would justify an unprovoked unilateral pre-emptive military attack; and
WHEREAS, We support the people of Iran who are struggling for freedom and democracy, and nothing herein should be construed as supportive of their government, the Islamic Republic of Iran, but a unilateral, pre-emptive U.S. military attack on Iran could well prove counterproductive to the cause of promoting freedom and democracy in that country; and
WHEREAS, A 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), representing the consensus view all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, concluded that Iran froze its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and an earlier NIE concluded that Iran's involvement in Iraq "is not likely to be a major driver of violence" there, and
WHEREAS, An attack on Iran is likely to cause untold thousands of American and Iranian casualties, lead to major economic dislocations, and threaten a much wider and more disastrous war in the Middle East, and
WHEREAS, a pre-emptive U.S. military attack on Iran would violate international law and our commitments under the U.N. Charter and further isolate the U.S. from the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, An attack on Iran is likely to inflame hatred for the U.S. in the Middle East and elsewhere, inspire terrorism, and lessen the security of Americans in Chicago and worldwide, and
WHEREAS, The Iraq war and occupation has already cost the lives of over 4,000 American soldiers, the maiming and wounding of over 38,000 American soldiers, the death and maiming of over one million Iraqi civilians, and
WHEREAS, According to the nonpartisan National Priorities Project, the Iraq War and occupation has cost American taxpayers more than $500 billion, the citizens of Chicago nearly $5.2 billion, and the citizens of each of Chicago's 50 wards an average of $104 million, and
WHEREAS, Any conflict with Iran is likely to incur far greater costs and divert more precious national resources away from critical human needs in Chicago and its 50 wards, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the City Council of the City of Chicago does hereby urge the Illinois Congressional delegation to clearly express the will of the people of Chicago in opposing any U.S. attack on Iran, and urging the Bush Administration to pursue diplomatic engagement with that nation, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of the resolution be forwarded to President George W. Bush and all members of the Chicago Congressional delegation.
Sponsored by:
JOSEPH A. MOORE 49th Ward
ROBERT W. FIORETTI 2nd Ward
TONI PRECKWINKLE 4th Ward
FREDDRENNA M. LYLE 6th Ward
SANDI JACKSON 7th Ward
RICARDO MUNOZ 22nd Ward
EUGENE C. SCHULTER 47th Ward
MARY ANN SMITH 48th Ward
Forum: Legalized Torture, John Yoo, and the Law
John Yoo, author of the Bush regime's torture policy that led to Abu Ghraib and more, now teaches constitutional law at Univ of California, Berkeley. The National Lawyers Guild, World Can't Wait, and others have called for his firing. Is this a matter of accountability for crimes, or a restriction on free speech and tenure? Discussion with:
- Dr. Frank Summers, psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist, president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, teacher at The Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis and Northwestern Medical School, and author of "Psychoanalysis, The American Psychological Association, and the Involvement of Psychologists at Guantanamo Bay."
- A speaker from the Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. (Read the NLG White Paper on this issue here.)
Thursday, May 29, 7 pm
Depaul University
Schmidt Academic Center, Room 161
2320 N. Kenmore Avenue
Bush admits he approved torture. By Helen Thomas. Is there no lawmaker who is appalled about the tarnishing of our image in world opinion? And where are the voices of the other presidential candidates who will inherit the Bush legacy of torture? Why the silence? I count on the American people to refuse to be shamed any more.
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)