While Hillary Clinton has been warning leaders in Tehran that the United States could "totally obliterate" Iran if Israel was subjected to a nuclear attack, activists in Chicago have been organizing to avoid a military conflict with Iraq's neighbor. This week, their efforts could pay off, as Ald. Joe Moore (49th Ward) has introduced a resolution in the Chicago City Council "urging the Illinois Congressional delegation to clearly express the will of the people of Chicago in opposing any U.S. attack on Iran."
A hearing on the resolution, with expert testimony from former chief weapons inspector for the United Nations Special Commission in Iraq Scott Ritter, Institute for Policy Studies fellow Farrah Hassen, and acclaimed author and reporter Stephen Kinzer, is slated for 11:30 AM today. The full council will vote on the resolution at its meeting tomorrow.
(Click "Read More" to continue ...)
The No War On Iran Coalition-Chicago, an organization comprised of numerous Chicago-area peace, religious, and social justice organizations and activists, pushed the resolution and believes it comes at crucial time. Here's Michael Lynn, a member of the coalition, writing for The Guardian America:
Recent events have added urgency to the goal. In April, General David Petraeus, the commanding officer of American forces in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to that country, testified to several congressional committees. In their testimony, both struck a common theme: the role of Iran in promoting insurgent attacks in Iraq. Both men accused so-called "special groups" of Iran's Revolutionary Guards of being responsible for the deaths of American troops and rocket strikes on the Green Zone.
That testimony flies in the face of the opinion of the American intelligence community, expressed in a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (pdf) that Iran "is not likely to be a major driver of violence" in Iraq. It nevertheless allowed the Bush administration to assign blame for the Iraq debacle to Iran and provide the rationale for military action if they so chose. The president issued a thinly veiled threat in insisting that Iran cease supplying weapons in Iraq or "America will act to protect our interests, and our troops."
While it's true that local governments have no direct influence over matters of foreign policy, the bills' co-sponsors argue that the cost of another war, in both blood and treasure, would severely burden Chicagoans. Already, citizens of the Windy City have forked over roughly $5.5 billion for the occupation of Iraq.
Ritter says that if Chicago takes the lead in expressing its rejection of preemptive war, other cities and public officials will take notice as well:
I would also encourage other municipalities to consider similar resolutions opposing war on Iran, and to express their concern through the adoption of resolutions which, collectively, might serve as a notice to the United States Congress, as well as the administration of President Bush, that a war with Iran would not be supported by the citizens of this land.
Post new comment