Condemn
Bush’s “Axis of Evil” War Talk
The tragedy of September 11th, horrific as it was, created a rare opportunity for the world to devise a peaceful solution to global violence by addressing its root causes. Unfortunately, right wing conservatives exploited this heinous crime for their own interests and agenda. They unleashed the wrath of their war machine upon the Afghani people, further militarized the country and the world, restricted civil liberties and threatened those who questioned their “wisdom”. Under the guise of the “war against terrorism”, the US government inflicted civilian casualty in Afghanistan comparable to that of September 11.
The war in Afghanistan has been more successful at causing devastation and loss of innocent life than at uprooting terrorism. Although mainstream media coverage in the US primarily mirrors the Pentagon’s distorted version of events, portraying this as a clean and bloodless war, the widespread death of innocent civilians has been reported and documented by international and independent media. Killing of innocent people is just as horrific whether the instrument of death is “smart” bombs or commercial airliners, regardless of what motives the perpetrators may proclaim.
Further appeasing the Military-Industrial complex and big oil interests, by calling Iran, Iraq and North Korea the “Axis of Evil,” Bush is testing the waters for further bloodshed. Bush’s choice of possible future targets has little to do with eliminating terrorism and much to do with settling old scores. If the US government were seriously looking for evil governments, it would need to look no further than some of its closest allies like Israel, the perpetrator of daily murders of Palestinians, or Saudi Arabia, the ultra conservative government whose repressive rule created the breeding ground for the majority of the September 11 attackers.
World public opinion has rejected Bush’s “if you’re not with us you’re with the terrorists” paradigm as it has the “axis of evil” characterization. Most world governments, including close allies of the US, have openly questioned this designation. The reason for widespread criticism of this policy in the US and abroad is that it is an obvious attempt to set the stage for further acts of aggression by the Bush war mongers.
We, the Bay Area Iranians for Peace and Social Justice, condemn the “axis of evil” policy and any others that serve as a prelude to war and aggression. We believe that no government has the right to attack or invade other sovereign nations. While we condemn human rights violations and undemocratic practices of the Iranian government, as those of any other, we warn that the “axis of evil” designation is little more than a thinly veiled threat to attack these countries. To succeed in the “war on terrorism,” that injustices that foster terrorism must be addressed and eliminated. Until this matter is examined fairly and in an unbiased fashion, no country will rid itself of terrorism. Militarism, violence, and injustices are what cause terrorism. They will most certainly not be the remedy.
Bay
Area Iranians for Peace and Social Justice – February 2002 http://www.geocities.com/iforpeace/