Will Congress Start A War with Iran?

Dear Friends,

Iran hasn't invaded another country in over 200 years. The United States encouraged Iraq's war with Iran (1980-1988) by providing Saddam Hussein with intelligence and military support. Iran's major oil refineries were destroyed during the war, so Iran was forced to export its crude oil to be refined. The U.S. sponsored sanctions have prevented Iran from repairing or building new refineries, so they have been forced to rely on other forms of energy. Nuclear power was introduced to Iran by the U.S. after its democratically elected government was overthrown by the CIA in 1953. Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, on behalf of President Ford, persuaded the U.S. imposed Shah of Iran to build over 20 nuclear reactors: http://www.monthlyreview.org/mrzine/casmii121107.html.

The Bush administration accuses Iran of developing an atomic weapon even though there is no evidence, according to a recent N.I.E. report: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/world/middleeast/03cnd-iran.html. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has inspected Iran a total of 2,700 hours and has found nothing indicating a weapons program.

Our U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering a naval blockade of Iran. Without the authorization of the United Nations, which the resolution does not call for, this will be considered an act of war. H.CON.RES 362 already has 169 co-sponsors. This resolution calls on the president to stop all shipments of refined petroleum products from reaching Iran. It also "demands" that the President impose "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran." Is your representative a cosponsor? Call 202-224-3121 or Write your representative and ask him or her to oppose this measure for war!

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) held its annual policy conference June 2-4 in DC, and sent thousands of members to Capitol Hill to push for tougher measures against Iran. AIPAC's campaign contributions to our Senators and Representatives will be determined by how they vote for this resolution.

Israeli Prime Minister Olmert has urged the U.S. to impose a blockade on Iran. He told Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Jerusalem, economic sanctions have "exhausted themselves" and called a blockade a "good possibility". You may remember, Nancy Pelosi stripped Congressional approval for an attack on Iran from a spending bill last year.

Meanwhile, Israel carried out a major military exercise earlier this month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. More than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters participated, along with refueling tankers and helicopters that could be used for rescuing downed pilots. They flew more than 900 miles to the eastern Mediterranean and Greece, which is about the same distance between Israel and Iran’s uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/washington/20iran.html

Some good news: The U.S. Conference of Mayor's International Affairs Committee passed the No War in Iran resolution and it will go to the floor of the conference for a final vote at 10:00 am EST on Monday, June 30. Please call or email as many mayors as possible to encourage them to vote YES on No War in Iran: http://www.usmayors .org/76thAnnualM eeting/preregist eredmayors. asp

Peace and Freedom,

Jes & Leslie

Voices for Peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVXL4tOomO4

Sgt. Matthis Chiroux Refuses to be Deployed to Iraq
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_PPIU38MM0

Why I'm Voting Republican
http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/

Support Rep. Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment:
http://www.democrats.com/35-articles-of-impeachment

Chris Hedges | The Iran Trap
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/09/9501/