We have only days to stop the War Resolution from passing in Congress.  We are asking you once again to use your telephone to stop this mad rush to war which can only result in enormous death and suffering and set precedent for all US administrations to act preemptively against any nation or group it wishes.

Millions in the US and elsewhere oppose this war. For example, on Oct. 6, 30,000 demonstrated in NYC, 10,000 in Portland, 4,000 in Chicago; recently, 400,000 demonstrated in London, 1.5 million in Rome.  Most congresspersons say the vast majority of their calls oppose the war.

Congress will most likely vote on Friday on Senate Joint Resolution 46, which would give the President the authority he seeks to invade Iraq.   SJR 46 would authorize President Bush to "use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines necessary and appropriate " to "(1) "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq." and "(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Resolutions regarding Iraq."

There is a greater chance that we can defeat the bill in the Senate than in the House.  Call your Senators first. Tell Senators and Representatives that you oppose any bill supporting war on Iraq. Once they cede authority to declare war to the President, a devastating war on the Iraqi people could be unstoppable.

ACTIONS
1. Call five people you know.  Ask them to call their Senators, then their Representatives.  Ask them to call five people they know.

2. Call your Senators and Representatives NOW and every day. (See Talking Points below.)

The Capital Switchboard toll free number:
800-839-5276 or, if jammed, try 202-225-3121
Ask to be connected to your two your Senators or Congressional Representative.

If both numbers are jammed, call them directly.
For the number of your Senators  http://www.senate.gov
For the number of your Representative  http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

3. Call Senator Byrd's to support his opposition effort and possible filibuster as President Pro-Tempore at 202-224-3954.  If busy, call his West Virginia office at 340-342-5855

4. Also call Senator Daschle (D), Senate Majority Leader (202-224-2321), who has declared his support for a war resolution. (He jointly introduced with Senator Lott (R), Minority Leader, the first Resolution, SJR 45 which has been modified by SJR 46 to restrict the resolution to Iraq and not include “regional peace and security.” )

5. Find out if your two Senators and Congressional Representatives support the War Resolution, and if they are in favor of it organize and participate in nonviolent demonstrations and sit-ins at their local congressional offices. Demand that they vote against any resolution authorizing President to use force.  Only the UN Security Council has such authority under international law.  For info on engaging in nonviolent resistance go to http://www.8thdaycenter.org/092502.html and to see reports of other sit-ins go to http://www.endthewar.org

BACKGROUND AND TALKING POINTS
1. President Bush Makes More Unsubstantiated Allegations in Urging Americans to Support a War on Iraq

In his October 7 speech,  Bush told the American people that we must not wait for a  "smoking gun"  to take action.  He  built his whole speech on speculation that Iraq has or can soon build weapons of mass destruction, but he still failed prove his case that Iraq poses an immanent threat to the US.  He claimed that Iraq has 'high level' links with Al Qaeda, but did not cite any new sources, and there is to date no definitive evidence of such links.

Bush said he would press for severe conditions at the UN, conditions for Iraq to meet to avoid war, including unimpeded access to all areas by UN weapons inspectors.  Bush set no timetable for Iraq to comply with his laundry list of demands. Also Bush stated if Saddam does not disarm himself "we will lead a coalition to disarm him."  Missing from the speech was a direct reference to regime change but that is clearly US intention.

Tell your Senators/Representative that President  Bush has still presented no credible proof that Iraq is an eminent threat to the U.S. Also tell Congress that Iraq has agreed to admit Weapons Inspectors without conditions. We must hold Bush to his statement that Iraq must admit UN weapons inspectors and demand a timetable to give the Inspectors time to complete their job and report their findings. Recite results of the CBS News/New York Times poll released Sunday, October 6 showing that Americans want to wait to give the Weapons Inspectors time to return to Iraq and to get allied support for any military action.

2.   Bush is Beating the War Drums to Drown Out Complaints about the Economy

"Public says Bush needs to Pay Heed to the Weak Economy," New York Times, Sunday, October 6th, Adam Nagourney and Janet Eder. reporters.

The article summarizes the results of the New York Times/ CBS news Poll released on Sunday Oct. 6 in  which a majority of Americans say the economy is in its worst shape in nearly a decade.

On October 7,  Senator Domenici of New Mexico tried to deflect this on the Senate floor by saying that we should not blame Bush for the recession, and we must support the President's  war on Iraq.

President Bush did not mention the floundering US economy at any point in his speech. Without having proved his case that Iraq poses an immanent threat, the President appears obsessed with going to war and seems to be ignoring the hardships faced by American workers in an economic downturn.  The President should stop using Iraq as a distraction, back away from the brink of a war that will kill thousands and begin tackling the economy instead.  War with Iraq would have unpredictable effects on the US economy.  (Clearly, weapons makers will benefit.) The war could also produce an oil shock that could further weaken our fragile economy.

For more info contact the National Network to End the War Against Iraq http://www.endthewar.org or Voices in the Wilderness  http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw