Article: The Need for Change in Iran Versus War

THE NEED FOR CHANGE IN IRAN VS. THE NEED FOR WAR IN IRAN

As rhetoric increases and more is revealed concerning the possible US invasion or bombing of Iran, it is worth it to stop and escape the inflammatory tirades that too often characterize "progressive" articles. As the Bush administration carries out its policies, it is important that we define ours, and begin to act politically. The first step is to get House Bill 508 passed. This bill to withdraw from Iraq is the first step in defining a winning strategy for the future. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-508
Those who vote against it should be seen by Greens and Libertarians as states that should have particular attention paid to them in the next Congressional elections.

The next step is to begin to understand that the Islamic Republic of Iran is no friend of working people and no model of governance for the people in the region. The Iranian Thermidor has seized control of the 1979 Revolution and has acted as an instrument of repression and brutality in the region. There should be no minimizing this. Those forced to endure these attacks have responded politically and organizationally. The groups they have built include: the Peoples' Mujahadeen (PMOI), Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), Al-Ahwaz Arab Peoples Democratic Popular Front (AADPF), the Workers' Communist Party of Iran (WCP-I) and others. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iran/links.htm

Opposition to US military intervention is the principle in regards to the conduct of US foreign policy. Recognition of human rights is the international standard for all governments in the world. One is not dependent on the other. Every government needs to end capital punishment, promote non-violence, provide equality for women, promote nuclear non-proliferation and not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. The means by which we propose to enforce these standards are on the horizon waiting for leadership and a new vision. But, the seed is planted every time we challenge Israel for its militarism while opposing the policies of Hamas and Hezbollah. Being consistent is as important as maintaining non-violence. There can be no peace without justice being incorporated into our proposal.

Political leadership means the ability to define the political agenda and to find the means to make it happen. As a party of opposition, the Green Parties in states throughout the US and the world have sought to elect a new generation of leaders. "The Green Party of the United States and its affiliated state parties seek to influence policy-makers and elect public officials at all levels of government. The responsibility for the conduct of foreign policy does not merely rest in the hands of the President. Those who send troops from their states, fund deployments and defense appropriations and review the Constitutionality of such actions of the Executive Branch are likewise obligated to act in a manner which provides for the common defense and promotes the general welfare." DRAFT GREEN PEACE PLAN FOR SOUTHWEST ASIA, M. Zehr (not an approved GPUS or state party document)

"The Green Party Platform promotes a peaceful and non-violent diplomacy in the resolution of conflicts around the globe. We seek to use the resources of the United States through diplomacy and not force. We seek to speak out in behalf of the victims of war- the women subjected to violence and abuse, the civilians targeted in the cross-fires of opposing forces and the children held in the arms of their parents dying an early death. We seek to avoid the environmental destruction that accompanies wars. We seek to avoid the acts of inhumanity that inherently characterizes war." DRAFT GREEN PEACE PLAN FOR SOUTHWEST ASIA, M. Zehr (not an approved GPUS or state party document) We need to look the realities squarely in the face and not flinch our willingness to come up with observations that are accurate. Denial is not an option, neither for us, nor for the armed actors in SouthWest Asia or the nations that arm and promote them.

"The power of the US deserves to be used on for the benefit of all humanity. Our politics are based on the premise that we are engage in an activity to promote the healing of the suffering of the world's peoples, not promoting the ever-powerful military-industrial complex with its insatiable appetite for devastation and destruction. Our vision is to build a generation of Americans working with people around the globe in the construction of peace. Our task is to focus on the consequences of industrialism on the planet's ecosystems, atmosphere, climate and resource depletions.
"It is time for us to: "Come home America". Come home and invest in the public infrastructure that we need to function once again so that we need not gaze upon the hopelessness of a New Orleans resident dying on a roadway from heat prostration and thirst. In America?! Come home and invest in the massive task of economic transition to renewable energies so that we do not ever have to send our sons and daughters ever again overseas to war for any natural resource. Our children are our most valuable natural resource. It is time for real change and not just empty rhetoric; real action and not just election eve promises. The Green Party intends its foreign policy to promote the unity of the peoples of the world in the great tasks that confront us all. Join us and change reality for the sake of this generation and the future generations to come." DRAFT GREEN PEACE PLAN FOR SOUTHWEST ASIA, M. Zehr
(not an approved GPUS or state party document)

We define our interests as mutual and common interests with all human beings, and living beings, for a sustainable future, a peaceful world and a mutual effort of all peoples and nations. The task is to address the means to work together and to have the ability to translate our vision into a reality. The Iranian government no more defines the Iranian people than the US government defines the American people. Change in Iran is no less desirable than change in the US. But, there is no support, no rationale and no reason for invading Iran or subjecting its people to destruction by bombs made in the US. The people of Lebanon have suffered greatly by such illusory tactics by Israel and nothing good has come from it.

As a model let us learn from the British anti-war movement when they accept Al-Ahwazi opposition groups into their coalition. "Members of the British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) will be joining the
Stop the War demonstration in London...."The regime cannot assume that opposition to war means support for its foreign policy objectives. Most anti-war activists agree that the Tehran regime is oppressive and undemocratic, but they say it is up to the people to decide its replacement not foreign governments. Many fear that a military attack on Iran would give the Iranian establishment more excuses to repress minority rights activists, trade unionists, feminists and students. "Senior members of the British anti-war movement have backed the Ahwazis' rights and have called for an end to Iran's anti-Arab execution campaign in Ahwaz. We hope that by publicising the oppression of Ahwazi Arabs at this demonstration, more progressive-minded people will support the Ahwazi movement." http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/2007/02/ahwazi-opposition-activists-support.html

In the same manner, it is worth our while to recognize the Kurdish national movements for independence, as well. As the Kurdish people begin to demonstrate their legitimacy as a nation to the people and nations of the world, it does not require any interference from the US, Turkey or Iran that intrudes on their right to self-determination. A free people deserve to have a free nation. Let the people of Iran and Kurdistan take the initiative to create their own nation in their own vision. We stand unequivocally united and move forward together and seek the better vision for our children's children, so that we might all live in peace and provide mutual support for the peoples of the world.