IAWM report & AGM details

national | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis Tuesday September 09, 2003 23:00 by Aoife Ni Fhearghail - Irish Anti-War Movement info at irishantiwar dot org D6W 087 7955013

Including info on Iraq, details of AGM & upcoming events

ANTI-WAR UPDATE 09 SEPTEMBER 2003

1. Bush’s Terror – 2 years on …

2. IAWM AGM – Sunday 28 September, Teachers’ Club, Dublin

3. Upcoming Events – full details & contact groups below
Including: IAWM public meetings with Ali Halimeh (Delegate General of Palestine in Ireland) & Dr Nooh al-Kadoo (Iraqi Director of Irish Islamic Institute just returned from a fact-finding mission in Iraq), Chile 1973 the other S/11 & a celebration of the music of Victór Jara, GR No Human is Illegal meeting, Palestinian Cultural Awareness Week …)

Bush’s Terror – 2 years on …

2 years ago George W Bush told us that he was taking the world to war in 'a monumental struggle of good against evil’. Since then, tens of thousands of lives have been wasted – those killed & injured in Afghanistan, those who died in Jenin when Ariel Sharon used the ‘fight against terror’ to invade the refugee camp, those who continue to die in Iraq, and those who will suffer in the United States as their health budget is slashed to buy more guns and bombs. (Bush is spending about $150b on this war, while 40m people in the US have no health insurance).

The world today is a much more dangerous place and George W is primarily responsible. The US war in Afghanistan which began on 7 October 2001 still has not ended. Over 10,000 US troops are currently stationed there. Afghanistan is a bloody mess, with roaming bands of warlords, no elections, and no likelihood of any real elections taking place during the next 2 years. Under US occupation Afghanistan has regained its title as the world’s biggest heroin dealer.

Major combat was declared over in Iraq more than 4 months ago yet more US soldiers have died since then than during the official war. Evidence for why the world experienced yet another war has still not emerged. Indeed, the 1,400-strong Iraq Survey Group, sent out in May to begin an intensive hunt for the elusive WMD, is expected to report this week that it has found no WMD hardware, nor even any sign of active programmes. Ex weapons inspectors now say, five months after the U.S. invasion, that the notorious "unaccountable WMDs" may have been no more than paperwork glitches left behind when Iraq destroyed banned chemical and biological weapons years ago. Both Bin Laden and Hussein are still on the run and instead of destroying ‘terrorist networks’ George Bush & Tony Blair have laid the basis for many more.
Resistance is growing …
One element of the war on terror was to frighten the growing protest movement off the streets. The daily show of US power and dominance we witnessed on SkyNews was supposed to tell us to give up, that fighting back was pointless. And, in case we didn’t get the message the last 2 years have ushered in a major clampdown on civil liberties, so that all those who demonstrate against war, environmental destruction, attacks on workers’ rights and multinational greed, are labeled terrorists and have their civil rights taken away.

But it hasn’t worked and resistance to the crazy priorities of the world’s leaders continues to grow. The Iraqi people are resisting their illegal occupation and US soldiers are increasingly demanding that they be brought home. On Rumsfeld’s recent visit to Iraq he cancelled plans to address troops in Tikrit, not just because of the hostile reception from Iraqis, but also because of what his own troops might say to him. The website www.bringthemhomenow.org is receiving about 500 emails a day from US troops and their families in the States. Rumsfeld has told them that they are assisting terrorists by criticising US policy in Iraq. Soldiers like US marine Lance Corporal Stephen Funk who refused to report for duty in January and has since been sentenced to 6 months in jail, are speaking at anti-war rallies across the States. Obviously the situation is not identical to Vietnam where there was an organised national liberation struggle, but parallels are being drawn.

Polls show that support for the occupation is plummeting. The latest Newsweek poll says Americans are increasingly pessimistic about US ‘mission’ in Iraq. 69% are concerned that the US will be bogged down for many years in Iraq without making much progress in achieving its goals.
Against this backdrop, President George W. Bush's approval ratings continue to decline. In a Time magazine/CNN poll of registered voters, the president's approval slid to 52 percent. The same poll recorded 63 percent approval for Bush back in May. Zogby America measured 52% satisfaction with the job Bush is doing in August – this has now fallen to 45% (06 September). These are the lowest ratings achieved since Bush took office in January 2001.
Ireland …

A PANA representative reported that Michael Smith in Brussels said that he wanted to send troops to Iraq. Brian Cowen has said he would welcome the UN having more of a role in Iraq. If the UN is used to give legitimacy to the brutal occupation in Iraq, then we could well see Irish soldiers policing that occupation. It is vital that we build opposition to our government’s support for war & occupation and September 27th is a major part of that opposition.

Sep 27

Anti-war activists have been meeting up around the country is the past week to discuss what’s happening in Iraq and to organise postering/leafleting for September 27.

This Saturday postering teams are meeting up at 11am – contact 087 7955013 to help out. We will also be leafleting the DART stations next week – again phone us if you can help out – or turn up from 5-6pm next Tuesday & Thursday (16 & 17 Sep) at Tara St. DART Station.

Leaflets & posters are available by contacting 087 7955013. Please forward details of the 27th to everyone in your email list.


IRISH ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT AGM – Invitation to attend

The AGM takes place on Sunday 29th September beginning at 11am in the Teachers’ Club, Parnell Sq.

The agenda is as follows (in 3 separate sessions):

· Analysis: US, Iraq and global anti-war movement

· Report of Steering Committee and Strategies

· Organisation of the IAWM and elections to the Steering Committee

Deadline for motions/nominations

There will be a deadline of Monday 22nd September for motions for conference (on policy, the future work of the IAWM etc.) and also for nominations to the Steering Committee. This is to facilitate a proper debate and thought-out motions, that local groups have had a chance to discuss and vote on.

The following arrangements for the Annual General Meeting of the IAWM were agreed at a National Committee meeting on 26 July 2003:
1. Motions from local groups, affiliates and the outgoing steering committee on policy and future work of the IAWM will be discussed and voted on. Similarly all positions of responsibility will come up for re-election and to that end nominations for Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Steering Committee will be voted on;
2. The National Committee are encouraging all local groups and affiliates to meet to discuss motions and nominations and to select voting delegates for the AGM. Motions and nominations should be in by 22nd September to allow time for them to be circulated to everybody in advance. A facility for emergency motions (on international/national developments) will be available. The chair will put to conference on whether an emergency motion is taken;
3. A pre-conference circular with analysis/discussion of the international & national situation and motions and nominations and the names of outgoing officers will be sent to affiliated local & national groups and paid-up members (by email, unless individuals do not have email access). Local groups, affiliates and the outgoing steering committee can submit amendments to motions received;
4. Where an individual paid up member doesn't belong to a local group or affiliate they can submit motions, amendments and nominations if they can find a seconder;
5. Each affiliated group may send 2 delegates with voting rights and each individual paid-up member has full voting rights;
6. Others may attend as observers with speaking rights;
7. The steering committee nominate a standing orders committee to oversee the running of conference;
8. That those needing accommodation facilities contact 087 7955013 by 25th September;

Other:
· Anyone needing crèche facilities should contact Aoife on 087 7955013 by Friday 12th September. We cannot guarantee a crèche but will do our best if contacted by the 12th.
· A full list of motions/nominations will be circulated on Wednesday 24th September – the Steering Committee is suggesting that local groups should try to meet that evening or Thursday 25th so that they can discuss motions/nominations.
· We will have a list of everyone who has paid membership in 2002/2003. If your subscription is overdue or if you are not a member you can join up on the day.
Reminder: Deadline for nominations to Steering Committee Monday 22nd September.
4. Upcoming Events

End the Occupations of Iraq & Palestine – Public Meeting Dublin
Ali Halimeh, Delegate General of Palestine in Ireland on resignation of Mahmoud Abbas, Bush’s road-map, and the reality of life under occupation in Palestine
Also speaking: Andy Storey (AfrI), Ivana Bacik (Reed Professor of Law, TCD) & Richard Boyd Barrett (IAWM)
Tomorrow (Weds 10th) at 8pm in Wynn’s Hotel, Abbey St

Rally against the World Trade Organisation (in solidarity with protest in Cancún)
3pm Saturday 13th September at Central Bank
Organised by Globalise Resistance

'AN UNFINISHED SONG': A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF VÍCTOR JARA
An Evening Of Music, Poetry And Song Featuring: Cormac Breathnach, Donal O'Kelly, Michael D. Higgins, Tomas McSimoin, Joan Mc Dermot, Hada To Hada, Tommy Sands, Jayro González, Eric Fleming
Thursday 11th September in The National Concert Hall - €25/€15 - tickets 417 0077
Organised by the Latin America Solidarity Campaign

Chile 1973 And The War On Terrorism Today - The Other Sept11th
Hugh O'Shaugnessy - Journalist & author of “Pinochet: The Politics of Torture”
Public Talk in the Teachers’ Club, Monday 15 September 2003 7.30pm
Organised by the Latin America Solidarity Campaign

End the Occupations of Iraq & Palestine – Public Meeting Dún Laoghaire
Dr Nooh al-Kadoo, Director of the Irish Islamic Institute gives an eye-witness account of life under occupation in Iraq. Dr Nooh is an Iraqi and has just returned from a fact-finding mission there.
Also: Harry Browne (US citizen and journalist with The Irish Times) & Richard Boyd Barrett (IAWM)
8pm Tuesday 16 September in the Kingston Hotel, Dún Laoghaire

No Human is illegal – No Deportations – Public Meeting
7.30pm Wednesday 17th September Liberty Hall with Ronit Lentin, Elizabeth Salako, Joe Carolan (GR), Rosanna Flynn (Residents Against Racism)

Film Show - Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army –IFC, Dublin Sun 5th Oct at 3.30

Palestinian Cultural Awareness Week
Takes place October 2003 – full details from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign – 6770253

European Social Forum – November 12-15 Paris
Join the Irish Anti-War Movement delegation to the next European Social Forum
Book your flights now – information available from Irish ESF Mobilisation





Please email events for next bulletin to info@irishantiwar.org by Friday 12th September



Aoife Ní Fhearghail
Secretary
IAWM