Speech by
Larry Ross email:
nuclearfreenz@lynx.co.nz The
world faces the greatest danger since WWII. The US, UK, Spain and
Australia are starting an illegal war of aggression against Iraq.
They have no credible excuses to justify this. They are spurning
the United Nations and international law, the US is withdrawing from
important disarmament treaties such as the International Ballistic Missile
treaty and may resume nuclear weapon testing. Many experts have warned
that this war can spawn other disasters, adverse long-term effects and
possibly a nuclear World War III. Rather than disarming Saddam
Hussein as the US claims, Bush wants to control Iraq's oil, rearrange
the Middle East and perhaps establish a global empire using his
new nuclear doctrines. These were detailed in official US documents
such as the US Nuclear Posture Review, the National Security Strategy
and the National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction. Statement. Instead
of deterrence and last resort, the Bush doctrines call for integrating
nuclear weapons with conventional weapons as one more military option,
thus greatly lowering the threshold for actual use. The US is
also making new nuclear weapons called "bunker-busters" as
well as micro nuclear weapons. Bush has stated that he is ready
to use nuclear weapons pre-emptively, as a first strike against nations
the US suspects of aiding or harbouring terrorists. In the Nuclear Posture
Review he has named seven nations as possible nuclear targets including
Russia, China, North Korea, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Iraq may be only
be the first. Bush may start the war about March 18 with the biggest
bombardment, called "Shock and Awe", the world has ever
seen. The
Iraq war is also to be a live testing ground for America's
new weapons including M.O.A.B. "The Mother of All Bombs" which
is 40% larger than any previous US bombs. Some 500,000 Iraqis may be
murdered in this "live test". The
US could use nuclear weapons. Bush may claim Iraq has used chemical
weapons. Regardless of how few casualties, he may use that accusation
to justify the use of nuclear weapons. 3.6 million nuclear casualties
are predicted in that event. That would be the greatest war crime
in history. President Bush wants to exempt US citizens, including
himself, from being prosecuted by the World Court. So he is boycotting
the new international court. Perhaps we should try and get a prosecution
launched now of those planning to commit this major war crime.
This war has the potential to spiral upward into many other conflicts.
Nuclear weapons could be used by some of the other seven nuclear weapon
states. The worst scenario is that this could turn into a global
catastrophe and doomsday. There's more than enough nuclear weapons
(some 20,000) to kill all life on earth many times. Some 5000
are on alert status ready to be launched in minutes due to accident,
miscalculation, or act of madness. Or a mad administration
could rule that nuclear weapons can be integrated into conventional
war fighting, as in Iraq.. Uniting
For Peace UN Resolution 337 We
can encourage New Zealand and others to convene a special session of
the UN General Assembly under resolution 377. It's called "Uniting
for Peace". The US will prevent the Security Council from
taking action to deter this aggression but can't control the whole UN
General Assembly. Write Prime Minister Helen Clark today and ask
her to take action to implement UN Resolution 377 Uniting for Peace. Keep
New Zealand Nuclear-Free as one way of saying "No To War In Iraq" Another
way we can say No To War In Iraq is maintaining New Zealand's nuclear
independence by continuing to uphold our nuclear-free law. This
law greatly annoys the conservative extremists in Bush's cabinet.
We want to keep them annoyed by keeping our nuclear-free policy.
We can show this visually . At
our stall you can buy some "Keep New Zealand Nuclear-Free"
stickers or "Nuclear Free Pacific" stickers which declare
our nuclear-free independence. It's another way of saying NO TO
THE US WAR IN IRAQ - no New Zealand involvement in this war. Thank
you very much. Notes:
To people reading this speech after March 15, 2003 If
you wish to order a 'KEEP NZ NUCLEAR-FREE' 2 colour sticker the price
is $2.00 If
you wish to order a 'NUCLEAR-FREE PACIFIC' full colour sticker the price
is $3.00 Send
the amount to cover your order, + $2.00 postage to NZ Nuclear-Free Peacemaking
Association Box 18541, Christchurch !.If
you wish more information on the nuclear threat you can order the
papers 'MADNESS IN THE MAKING' .A Leader in the
Guardian Jan 11,2003. Also: 'PRESIDENT PROMOTES THE USE OF NUCLEAR
WEAPONS' a statement by John Burroughs, executive director of the New
York-based Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy on Jan 1,2003. Price
is $l.00 post paid. Send $1.00 to NZ Nuclear-Free Peacemaking Association,
PO Box 18541, Christchurch. 2.
Donations Help Our Campaign We
believe the nuclear threat to human survival has never been greater.
If you would like to help us publicise the details of this threat and
how we might reduce it, and the facts on other threats such as the war
on Iraq, through meetings, papers, lobbying, NZ
Nuclear-Free Peacemaking Association, P.O. Box 18541, Christchurch. |