Posted on 08/22/2006 7:21:30 AM PDT by Beckwith
When CODEPINK launched our hunger strike, called Troops Home Fast on July 4, our goal was to push forward a peace process in Iraq that included the withdrawal of US troops. Our efforts were rewarded when Iraqi Parliamentarians, expressing sympathy for the hunger strikers, invited us to Amman, Jordan, to break our 30-day fast and discuss how we could work together to promote a comprehensive Reconciliation Plan.
On Wednesday, August 2, a 14-person delegation, including "peace mom" Cindy Sheehan, former Colonel Ann Wright, Iraq war veteran Geoffrey Millard, writer/politician Tom Hayden, Iraqi analyst Raed Jarrar and CODEPINK co-founders Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans, Gael Murphy and Diane Wilson, traveled to Jordan to meet with official representatives of the largest Shiite coalition, the minority Sunni bloc, the secular parliamentary coalition, the Muslim Scholars Association and torture victims from Abu Ghraib. The Iraqis were delighted to find Americans who, like them, were passionate about ending the occupation and the violence that has wracked their country. "We have found a voice inside the U.S. that backs us," Salman al-Jumaili, speaker of the largest Sunni Parliamentary coalition, told reporters at our closing press conference (click here for AP story)
The common thread among this diverse group of Iraqis and Americans was a desire to set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, ensure no permanent bases in Iraq, and secure a U.S. commitment to pay for rebuilding Iraq. Other issues that emerged in two-days of intensive talks include the need to dismantle militias, provide amnesty for prisoners and the various armed groups, compensate victims of the violence, revise the Constitution and preserve the unity of Iraq, and reverse US-imposed de-Baathification and economic policies. We left this historic meeting with a commitment to make sure that the voices of these Iraqi parliamentarians are heard here in the US, and we will bring a group of them to the U.S. in the Fall.
On the heels of these meetings in Jordan, a part of our delegation traveled on to Lebanon while the fighting was still raging. After a harrowing ride from Syria over freshly bombed roads and bridges, we were greeted in Beirut to the booms of Israeli bombardments. We visited the devastated neighborhoods of Southern Beirut. We provided aid to traumatized children in improvised refugee camps. We heard from angry Lebanese residents who condemned the Bush administration for providing Israel with the green light -- and the weapons -- to kill over 1,000 civilians and destroy their airport, ports, bridges, roads, factories, and worst of all, entire towns and residential neighborhoods.
Now that there is a ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese need help returning home. While our government has given Israel billions for bombs and guns that have killed and maimed over 1,000 Lebanese, it has pledged a mere $50 million for rebuilding. We -- US Citizens -- should push our government to provide more funds. Now more than ever we should show the Lebanese people that we care about peace not only by continuing to oppose our military policies in the Middle East but also by supporting and joining their peace efforts. With your help we can send delegations of US women peace activists to Lebanon, we can help fund a peace walk to the Lebanese-Israeli border and we can support efforts to clear unexploded cluster bombs in southern Lebanon. We have made wonderful new friends among the Lebanese peace groups. Let's show them we want peace as badly as they do (click here to donate now).
If we in the US show the same compassion for all victims -- be they Israelis, Iraqis or Lebanese -- and put our efforts into negotiations instead of war, we would have a greater chance of ending the violence that is consuming the Middle East as well as the blowback that threatens the security of Americans.
With hope for peace,
Allison, Anedra, Dana, Erin, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Katie, Laura, Medea, Meredith, Nancy, Rae, Samantha and Tiffany
The common thread among this diverse group of Iraqis and Americans was a desire to set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, ensure no permanent bases in Iraq, and secure a U.S. commitment to pay for rebuilding Iraq...
Sorry but we need more bases in that part of the world and who the hell are these kooks to speak for America?
How's that fast coming along? Why has Cindy gained 18 pounds?
"The Muslim Scholars Association."
Sounds like some real friends of Truth, Freedom, and the American way, eh?
DC Chapter ping needed
Code Fink.
I once interviewed Tom Hayden back in 1981 up on Capitol Hill in DC. This is one self-centered jerk who has been dining out on his hatred of our country for years.
This sumbitch should get a real job. Not likely, though.
STFU.
Sincerely,
VR
Klan Pink
A shame they arrived after the bombing.
we can help fund a peace walk to the Lebanese-Israeli border
We can always hope.
During the Vietnam war leftest groups met with the enemy in secret. Now they do it right in the open and brag about it.
Useful Idiots!!
The enemy within will kill us as surely as the enemy without. Sedition and treason. It has crossed the line on dissent and protest. Line em up. Shoot em. Give em a nice trial. Trial by fire.
Tom Hayden & Hanoi JaneHayden was one of the "Chicago 7" defendants charged with
instigating the anti-US/pro-communist riots during the 1968
Democrat Party Convention in Chicago.
These guys from Abu got addicted to ugly though licentious Western women...
I guess they will finally give all of the names this fall. There have only been a couple of the parliamentarians formally named so far.
It would be nice if for once Code Stink protested the violence of Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Qaeda, etc. Or protested the UN's uselessness. I won't hold my breath.
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