[rad-green] Open Letter to Members of the U.S. Congress

https://richardfalk.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/open-letter-to-members-of-the-u-s-congress/

Open Letter to Members of the U.S. Congress

[*Prefatory Note*: Below is a Letter to Members of Congress with an initial
group of signatories; there are many more that have been gathered but not
listed here. The letter was drafted by myself in collaboration with Noam
Chomsky and Daniel Ellsberg. If you wish to add your signature, please send
your name and affiliation to Vida Samiian,   [email protected] who
helped compose the original text, and now with the logistics of the
initiative. If you agree with the argument, please do join us by adding
your name.

The Letter was composed prior to the Iranian missile attacks on two
American military bases in Iraq and before Trump made his formal statement
the following day, January 8th. Although his statement can is being read in
many ways, including the suggestion that Trump’s intention was to step back
from the brink of a devastating war. I listened to Trump from my own
perspective and with an attempt to hear his words as if I were an Iranian
living in Iran. I found the statement belligerent, and formulated in an
imperialist/ hegemonic language, avoiding a diplomatic sequel, and instead
resuming the ‘maximum pressure’ approach involving threats and further
intensified sanctions and other coercive moves that will bring additional
suffering to the Iranian people. Perhaps, the only hopeful element was the
suggestion that Trump would seek greater NATO involvement coupled with the
assertion of American energy independence. This may possibly have been a
geopolitical prelude to partial disengagement in the region by the United
States, but more likely was telling European countries that they should
bear a greater part of the economic burden of upholding Western interests
in the region since they remain dependent on Middle Eastern energy to meet
their needs, while the United States no longer does. In any event, the
Trump moves would undoubtedly be viewed as provocative, unacceptable, and
aggressive by Iranians.

Among the most distasteful aspects of Trump’s speech was his castigation of
Barack Obama’s laudable attempt to negotiate a tension-reducing agreement
with Iran on its nuclear program that had the support of France, UK, as
well as China, Russia, and Germany. To deride such a major breakthrough for
a better future for the region, while perpetuating a war-mongering approach
underscores why it continues to be so urgent for Congress to act.]



**********************************************************

January 7, 2019

To Members of Congress:

The unlawful and provocative assassination of Iran’s top general, Qasem
Soleimani, has already given rise to an escalating spiral of lethal events.
The greatest risks are to stumble escalating into a devastating war in the
Middle East with grave consequences for the peoples of Iran and Iraq and
likely across the region. Such a war would have disastrous effects for this
country, for the region and the world. It is certain to do further harm to
the reputation of the United States, which already is perceived in much of
the world as an irresponsible and criminal political actor in the region,
using military force in ways that have made already difficult situations
catastrophic by taking various dangerous military, economic and
quasi-diplomatic initiatives misleadingly presented as “maximum pressure.”

It is imperative for the well-being of our country, and indeed the world,
that the Congress of the United States fulfill its most solemn
constitutional responsibility, and impose effective restraints on the
war-making actions of this impeached president. This is a moment when
partisan politics should be put aside, not only for the sake of national
interests but for the benefit of humanity – we should realize that these
unilateral actions by the United States have put the entire world at risk.
It is also a moment when Republicans as well as Democrats must stand up for
a sane foreign policy, and for diplomacy and peace instead of aggression
and war, and fulfill their duties as Members of Congress.

The Iranian people have endured decades of economic warfare and covert
forms of intervention by the US and its allies. Since the revolution of
1979 in Iran and the end of a mutually beneficial relationship between the
US and Iran’s autocratic leader, the Shah, the US has imposed numerous
sanctions on Iran under various guises, threatened it with war and
inflicted pain and suffering on its people. What is desperately needed with
respect to Iran is not any further recourse to  *coercive* diplomacy based
on escalating threats, crippling sanctions, and tit-for-tat military
actions. What is urgently needed is an immediate shift to
*restorative* diplomacy
based on mutual respect for international and domestic law, with the
objective of peace, stability, and cooperation.

From all that we now know, General Soleimani had come to Iraq without
stealth on a commercial plane.  He came to Iraq on a diplomatic peacemaking
mission at the invitation of the Baghdad Government, and with a meeting
scheduled on the following day with the Prime Minister that was part of an
ongoing effort to seek a lessening of tensions between Iran and  Saudi
Arabia. In reaction to major violations of its sovereignty, the Iraqi
Parliament has voted to expel U.S. troops from their country. In place of
what seemed a promising regional initiative the assassination of General
Soleimani has resulted in an intensification of conflict, further massive
suffering, and the likelihood of dangerous escalation.

We call on Congress to act with urgency to stem this slide toward war and
regional chaos.

We urge you to consider imposing ironclad restraints on the authority of
the President to make any further use of international force without a
clear and definite authorization by the U.S. Congress, which itself should
respect the relevant prohibitions of international law and the provisions
and procedures of the UN Charter.

Respectfully yours,

Noam Chomsky

Richard Falk

Daniel Ellsberg

Phyllis Bennis

David Krieger

Judith Butler

Hatem Bazian

Vida Samiian

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