Opinion Editorials, July 2010

Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, July 27, 2010

Open Letter to Republican Leader John Boehner

Resolution Green-Lighting Israeli Strikes on Iran Introduced by House Republicans
 
Nearly one third of the Republican Caucus in the House of Representatives has introduced a resolution giving Israel a green light to attack Iran. 

H.Res.1553 declares unwavering support for Israel to “use all means necessary,” to “eliminate nuclear threats” posed by Iran. Many credible sources conclude at Risk are:
The lives of innocent Americans, Iranians, and Israelis
The Pro-Democracy Movement in Iran
U.S. National Security and the stability of Iraq and Afghanistan
The global economy, which relies on oil flowing through the Persian Gulf

My First Letter to  Republic Leader John Boehner:

Khalid Sheikh Mohammad involvement in the terror upon America, “By his own account…stemmed from his violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel.”
 
Abdulmutallab’s Christmas Day 2009, attempt to blow up a plane was fueled by “his sympathies toward the Palestinians and anger over Israel’s actions in Gaza.”
 
H.Res. 1553 declares preemptive support for Israel to "use all means necessary," to "eliminate nuclear threats" posed by Iran.
 
What about the threats posed by:
 
 US and Israeli Nuclear Deceptions
 
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has argued "Another war in the Middle East is the last thing we need. In fact, I believe it would be disastrous on a number of levels." Numerous credible studies have concluded that such strikes would suck the US into the conflict that would engulf the region in war.
 
Top U.S. Defense and Intelligence officials have also said that an attack on Iran would only set back Iran's nuclear program a couple years.
 
The dangers of war, however, are great. It would put so much at risk:
 
            The lives of innocent Americans, Israelis, and Iranians
            The Pro-Democracy Movement in Iran
            U.S. National Security and the stability of Iraq and Afghanistan
            The global economy, which relies on oil flowing through the Persian Gulf
 
But war is exactly what many House Republicans are advocating in supporting this resolution.
 
As the House Republican Leader, you cannot remain silent on such a critical national security issue sponsored by one-third of your colleagues. Especially considering that some analysts predict the upcoming midterm elections could place you in a position to be Speaker of the House, I implore you to make clear where you stand on this dangerous resolution. As voters go to the polls this fall to decide who to vote for in their Congressional race, you must make clear whether a vote for House Republicans is a vote for another disastrous war in the Middle East.
 
I strongly urge you to denounce this dangerous resolution, which provides explicit support for military action against Iran with no consideration of the affects such a conflict would have on U.S. national security.
 
Congressman Boehner, violence only reaps more violence and the only way to peace is talking with your enemy-NOT bombing, sanctioning or torturing them.
 
My second letter:

RE: Former Bush Administration official John Bolton recently laid out the game plan to prod Israel into attacking Iran, arguing that outsiders can "create broad support" for a strike by framing it as an issue of Israel's right to self defense. Supporters for military strikes, Bolton says, should "defend the specific tactic of pre-emptive attacks" against Iran. He urges that Congress can "make it clear" that it supports such strikes and that "having visible congressional support in place at the outset will reassure the Israeli government, which is legitimately concerned about Mr. Obama's likely negative reaction to such an attack."

RE: What else Bolton laid out in 2004:

In 1963, Shimon Peres, was Israel's Deputy Minister of Defense met with President John Kennedy, at the White House. 
 
Kennedy told Peres, "You know that we follow very closely the discovery of any nuclear development in the region. This could create a very dangerous situation. For this reason we monitor your nuclear effort. What could you tell me about this?" 
 
Peres replied, "I can tell you most clearly that we will not introduce nuclear weapons to the region, and certainly we will not be the first." 
 
By September of 1986, Peres was convulsing over Vanunu, who had been employed as a lowly tech in his progeny; Israel’s clandestine underground nuclear weapons centre in the Negev called the Dimona. 
 
Peres ordered the Mossad, to "Bring the son of a bitch back here."
 
Peres ordered Vanunu's kidnapping that included a clubbing, drugging and being flung upon an Israeli cargo boat back to Israel for a closed door trial. 
 
In 1985, before quitting the Dimona, Vanunu shot 56 photos of the top-secret labs and production processes that proved Israel had become a major nuclear power by stockpiling between 100 and 200 atomic bombs within the six underground levels where plutonium production, and secret nuclear weapons were assembled without any knowledge, debate or authorization from its own citizens. Israel has yet to allow International Inspectors into the aged Dimona plant which is leaking and endangering the health of its own citizens. 
 
In 2005, Vanunu told me:
 
"President Kennedy tried to stop Israel from building atomic weapons. Kennedy insisted on an open internal inspection. 
 
"When Johnson became president, he made an agreement with Israel that two senators would come every year to inspect. Before the senators would visit, the Israelis would build a wall to block the underground elevators and stairways. From 1963 to ’69, the senators came, but they never knew about the wall that hid the rest of the Dimona from them.
 
"Nixon stopped the inspections and agreed to ignore the situation. As a result, Israel increased production. In 1986, there were over two hundred bombs. Today, they may have enough plutonium for ten bombs a year." 
 
On 24 April 2004, Uri Avnery wrote: 
 
"Everybody understands that Vanunu has no more secrets. What can a technician know after 18 years in jail, during which technology has advanced with giant steps? 
 
"But gradually it becomes clear what the security establishment is really afraid of. Vanunu is in a position to expose the close partnership with the United States in the development of Israel's nuclear armaments. 
 
"This worries Washington so much, that the man responsible in the State Department for 'arms control', Under-Secretary John Bolton, has come to Israel in person for the occasion. Vanunu, it appears, can cause severe damage to the mighty super-power. 
 
"The Americans, it seems, are very worried. The Israeli security services have to dance to their tune. The world must be prevented by all available means from hearing, from the lips of a credible witness, that the Americans are full partners in Israel's nuclear arms program, while pretending to be the world's sheriff for the prevention of nuclear proliferation."
 
My third letter:

Masters Of War-by Bob Dylan, from which I excerpt:

You that build all the guns 
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks.

You that never done nothin' 
But build to destroy

And you turn and run farther 
When the fast bullets fly.

Like Judas of old 
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won

But I see through your eyes 
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.

You fasten all the triggers 
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.

You've thrown the worst fear 
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children

How much do I know 
To talk out of turn

You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know

That even Jesus would never 
Forgive what you do.

Is your money that good 
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
...you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul...
 
5:35
US and Israeli Nuclear Deceptions

Please send Republic Leader John Boehner and Congress your message @

https://secure3.convio.net/niac/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=153

Eileen Fleming, Producer "30 Minutes with Vanunu" and "13 Minutes with Vanunu"
Founder of WeAreWideAwake.org
Staff Member of Salem-news.com

A Feature Correspondent for Arabisto.com and Dandelionsalad.wordpress.com
Author of "Keep Hope Alive" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"

http://www.youtube.com/user/eileenfleming 


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