[mobglob-discuss] [Alt./media] Scott Ritter opposes war on Iraq

Sat Oct 5 12:52:32 PDT 2002

[Note: Scott Ritter as you may know is an X-U.S. Marine, former
U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq on behalf of the C.I.A. and
admittedly one who supported/voted for G.W. Bush in the 2000
U.S. presidential election.  The readily available info on Bush's 
march to war in Iraq has moved this conservative into the camp of
anti-war activist and has put him into the position of being one
of the White House's number one enemies.  Ritter emphasized just
how horrific the war will be if it goes ahead, mainly for the
death and further dispair brought on to the innocent Iraqi
citizens and the environment.  You will soon be able to access
the highlights of Ritter's talk last evening here in Vancouver at
http://www.globaljustice.ca   Regards, Tom]

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vancouver.indymedia.org

What Scott Ritter had to say
by Azad - Saturday October 05, 2002 at 10:34 AM

A brief summery of Scott Ritter's talk in Vancouver on October 4th, 2002.

Approximately 1000 people showed up at the First Baptist church on Burrard
Friday night to listen to former chief Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter speak
out against the upcoming, US led, war on Iraq. Even after the doors closed
due to lack of space, not to mention seats, dozens on people surrounded the
building, gathering around windows and doorways. A boisterous cheer could
be heard coming through the walls whenever Scott talked out against the
current US regime's push towards War and, even worse, US unilateralism.

After a powerful speech and introduction by MP Svend Robinson, Scott took
the podium and walked us through everything he experienced, knows, and
believes starting from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, straight through to the
reasons behind the current push for war. In short, he believes that Bush
and his clique have created a political trap that they can't find a way out
of. Through demonising Saddam Hussein, they turned the Iraq issue into good
vs. evil. When Iraq pulled out of Kuwait and troops started coming home,
the US people were confused. Wasn't Saddam evil? But then why are troops
coming home while he still lives and hold power?

Saddam had to go, but how? Through sanctions, they sought to contain him,
but he was already out of Kuwait so their legal ground was gone. So they
said that Saddam had to disarm, until then the sanctions will stand. Then
they made the rules of disarmament so tough that Iraq could never succeed.
But Mr Ritter said, that after some back and forth lying and hiding of
records, Iraq finally gave up 95% of all weapons of mass destructions, and
the 5% that were unaccounted for were biologicals who lifespans have
expired and a couple of missile that were blown up, but their serial
numbers not found. But if Iraq was finally disarmed, how could we keep the
sanctions going?

The answer was simple, the weapon inspectors must go. The US government
forced a political situation, without UN or security council knowledge or
approval, in which the agreed upon structure of the inspections were
cancelled without notice. Iraq disapproved and the US pulled the weapons
inspectors out in step with on going plans. Two days later operation Desert
Fox tried to kill Saddam using information gained by the inspectors.

The problem still exists, Saddam is the personification of evil in the
minds of the US people, maybe rightly so, but that has been twisted by the
elites, for over a decade, to serve their purpose of regime change. And
their chosen answer is war. But this comes at the cost of the Iraqi
children. It comes at the cost of instability throughout the region. It
comes at the cost of potential reprisals against Israel, who in return
would fight back. It comes at the cost of great suffering and death to tens
of thousands, if not millions, of civilians.

Why? What could possibly be worth all that suffering? American
unilateralism is the answer. The right of the American elites to do what
ever they want, to who ever they want, without approval or condemnation.
Bound by no laws, they would enforce the Pax Americana and become a true
empire. Long live Caesar! Long live the Queen! Long live the Empire
American! May the sun never set.

Over 1000 people gave a standing ovation to Mr Ritter as he finished he
speech with a call for open debate and challenged us, as Canadians, to
stand up for our right to talk, discuss, debate, and even dissent. As to
why he was speaking in Canada, he simply said that Canadians need to be a
good friend and neighbour and tell Bush and all his colleagues, Cretien
included, that they are drunk on power. They need to hand over the keys and
sleep it off.

        [***ACTIVIST VANCOUVERITES MARK YOUR CALENDARS!***]
On November 17th we will have an opportunity to do just that. There are
plans for a rally for said date to protest the war on Iraq and Canada's
pledge to join, despite the majority of MPs and citizens being opposed. But
unlike previous rallies, The activist organization, Campaingn to End
Sanctions Against the People of Iraq (CESAPI) is trying to rekindle the
anti-war flame of old and gather 100,000 people on the streets of downtown
Vancouver. Let's shut the city down for one day and dare them to ignore us
again! In order to do this we will need your help. Gather your friends,
family, co-workers, and co-habitants and bring them downtown on the 17th of
November. Times and meeting places will be posted soon. Lets send Cretien,
and his pal Bush, a message: War? Sanctions? Not in my name!

-- 
Tom Childs - Audio/Visual Resources
Douglas College Library
New Westminster, B.C. Canada
T: 604 527-5713 - library
T: 604 524-9316 - home
E: childst at douglas.bc.ca
U: BCGEU Local 703
W: http://www.globaljustice.ca
       "There's no way to delay, that trouble comin' everyday."
					--Frank Zappa