The US window of opportunity to attack Iran is March to June of 2008, declared Scott Ritter, former chief weapons inspector in Iraq, in an appearance in Chicago last week. It will happen unless the people of the US say a resounding NO! against another war of [aggression], he said.
Ritter rejects the recent National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003. To support the findings of the NIE, Ritter said, is to agree with the premise: Iran HAD a clandestine nuclear weapons program. There is absolutely no proof that Iran ever had a nuclear weapons program, he asserted, just as there was never any proof that Iraq had such a program in 2003.
Ritter's position is in agreement with that of chief UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei who, on October 28, 2007, said he had no evidence Iran was building nuclear weapons and accused US leaders of adding gfuel to the fire h with recent aggressive rhetoric.
Ritter's said that the NIE plays into Bush's hand and practically assures that the US will attack Iran. Bush asserts that Iran remains a threat. He has used the NIE report as proof that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons program and continues to be such a threat. Israel agrees with Bush. Just last week, the members of the UN Security Council agreed to support further sanctions against Iran.
Ritter said now the Bush strategy for gaining support to attack Iran will be the same as it was with Iraq: Iran must PROVE it does not have a nuclear weapons program. Any failure to do so is proof that one exists. [Forgotten in this rationale, is that it's impossible to prove a negative point.]
Ritter says that the US is currently building hangars on the island of Diego Garcia so that they can accommodate B1 bombers equipped with bunker busting weapons. He points to the 2006 National Security Strategy (NSS) -- in which Iran is mentioned 14 times as the #1 threat to the US -- as more evidence that the Bush administration is intent on going to war with Iran. "When the consequences of an attack with WMD are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idly by as grave dangers materialize", Bush's NSS says.
Contrary to popular opinion, US forces are not stretched too thin because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Ritter, US air and naval forces are fully able and ready to attack Iran. In fact, he said that the US Air Force is chaffing at the bit to show its stuff because US ground forces are getting all the publicity and funding as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The US administration contemplates a gquick h 5-7 day air strike on Iran, but Ritter predicts that Iran will respond with missile attacks on Israel, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern countries. After this attack against US allies, the US will send in ground troops, who will find themselves in an unwinnable war. This will necessitate the use of nuclear weapons by the US. A grim, disastrous scenario. We must do everything in our power to prevent it. Time is short, Ritter urged.
Ritter led the UN inspection team in Iraq from 1991-1998 when he resigned because of US interference. The US ignored the teams determination that Iraq was essentially disarmed and invaded Iraq in order to reassert control over oil resources. The main purpose was to control the growth of China and India as potential threats to US interests. Ritter again pointed to US National Security Strategy reports since the fall of the USSR which say the the US will not allow any other nation or group of nations to challenge US hegemony in the world as was the case with the USSR.
The US is manipulating public opinion to gain support for a strike against Iran for the very same purpose, Ritter said.
Ritter reminded over 350 persons at his presentation that prior to the invasion of Iraq, he predicted that the US war against Iraq would last 16 years. While many scoffed at his prediction, Ritter pointed out that March 20th is the fifth anniversary of the invasion and the Bush administration acknowledged that it will be there for another ten years.
The No War on Iran Coalition, of which 8th Day Center is part, brought Ritter to Chicago along with with Ambassador Edward Peck. Peck said that anyone who believes that people have a problem with the US because they don't like our freedom has a screw loose.
The No War on Iran Coalition was formed in the Fall of 2007. It is currently working to pass a resolution in the Chicago City Council against attacking Iran, seeking signers for its Statement of Conscience against attacking Iran and other activities.
Ritter thanked attendees at his talk for all that they had done in the past and for coming to his presentation. But given the urgency of the situation, that is not enough, he urged. What will you do when you leave here? What will you do tomorrow? Next week and so forth? How will your children be effected? Bring this up in all the areas of your influence: your family, friends, place of worship, work, town, city, country. Especially make sure it's part of all conversations about the elections.
Ritter thanked attendees at his talk for all that they had done in the past and for coming to his presentation. But given the urgency of the situation, that is not enough, he urged. What will you do when you leave here? What will you do tomorrow? Next week and so forth? How will your children be effected? Bring this up in all the areas of your influence: your family, friends, place of worship, work, town, city, country. Especially make sure it's part of all conversations about the elections.
ACTIONS
1. * Support the Statement of Conscience*. Gather signatures and help publish "No Attack On Iran – A Statement of Conscience "…In conscience, we hold ourselves responsible for this crime about to be committed in our name. We will not remain silent. We will resist this machinery of aggression and terror and rally others to do everything possible to stop any attack against Iran." Contact Bob Bossie at 8th Day Center for Justice, 312-641-5151 or
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http://www.nowaroniran-chicago.org/statement.htm 2. *Contact your representative* urging them to stand against a war on Iran under any circumstances, support the Webb bill restricting Bush's ability to act without congress, or support impeachment and tie the hands of this administration before they attack. More info at
http://www.webb.senate.govhttp://www.leehouse.gov http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com 3. *The Million Signatures Campaign for Iranian Women. * Iranian women's rights activists are initiating a wide campaign demanding an end to discriminatory and unequal laws against women in the Iranian law. This is a follow-up effort to the peaceful protest of the same aim, which took place on June 12, 2006 in Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran. The campaign's courageous activists seek the support of global civil society ûnot of foreign governments but of human rights and women's rights organizations, writers and intellectuals, and people of conscience across the globe. More info at
http://www.we-change.org/english
