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Peace or Permanent War? Democracy or Empire?
by Amy Quinn and Max Elbaum
Since Sept. 11, 2001, people across the United States have been wrestling
with a stark political choice. Will the country follow President Bush
down the road of permanent war and unilateral empire building? Or will
the U.S. join the majority of the world's people in a cooperative quest
for peace and global justice?
Today, as the cost in human lives and dollars mounts daily in Iraq, this
choice is more vivid and concrete than ever.
The Bush Agenda
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Peace & Justice Agenda
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1. 'Us vs. Them' and Preemptive War
Bush's unilateral approach to foreign policy and permanent war
makes life less safe and secure for people in this country and around
the world. Bush is undermining critical institutions and treaties
such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the
Biological and Chemical Weapons Convention, the Kyoto Climate Treaty
and nuclear disarmament agreements.
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1. A New Internationalism
To promote safety and fairness, we need to repeal Bush's preemptive
war doctrine and tackle the threat of terrorism through multilateral
cooperation. The government should affirm a commitment to the many
conventions designed to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, promote
human rights and end support for repressive dictatorships. We should
withdraw U.S. military bases from the many countries where they
are unwanted by the populace.
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2. Record Military Spending, Subsidizing the Wealthy and Ignoring
the Poor
The high cost of war and militarism (about $500 billion per year)
combined with Bush's $275 billion tax cut in 2004 (two-thirds of
which goes to the wealthy) is forcing massive cuts in social spending
by all levels of government. From a $271 billion federal budget
surplus in 2001, the White House has led the country to a $500 billion
deficit this year. Under Bush, three million jobs have been lost,
poverty and racial disparities are rising and per capita income
is falling.
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2. Jobs, Fair Taxes and Economic Equality
There should be a massive cut in the military budget. Our priorities
must shift toward fighting poverty, producing jobs, protecting the
environment and improving education. We need a single-payer universal
health care system for the 44 million people with no benefits. The
$120 billion spent on the war on Iraq could, for example, be used
to double annual federal spending on education and veterans programs
or to triple funds for housing and urban development.
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3. Illegal Regime Change and Occupation
The Bush administration violated international law by invading
and occupying Iraq. Now it refuses to withdraw. The cost in Iraqi
lives, U.S. soldiers' lives and U.S. dollars--at least $120 billion
this year--is rising every day.
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3. End the Occupation of Iraq, Bring the Troops Home
The U.S. must end the occupation of Iraq, shift peacekeeping, governance
and rebuilding to the Iraqi people, and fully fund the redevelopment
efforts. The U.S. must allow for an independent process that infuses
money into Iraqi businesses and protects the rights of Iraqi workers.
All decision making that is not immediately turned over to Iraqis
must be put under the supervision of the United Nations and other
international peace and human rights institutions.
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4. Scapegoating Immigrants
Bush's anti-immigrant policies have held thousands of immigrants
indefinitely without charge, subjected detainees to physical and
mental abuse, allowed untrained local and state police to enforce
immigration laws and fostered an atmosphere of anti-immigrant scapegoating.
Men from nations with high Arab and Muslim populations are required
to register with the government, leading to mass deportations of
people with no terrorist ties.
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4. Expand Immigrant Rights and Build Trust
End the targeting of immigrants based on race, national origin
or religion for special registration, detention and deportation.
Legalization with access to permanent residency and citizenship,
protection of civil rights and family reunification should be granted
to all immigrant workers in the U.S.
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5. Rollback of Civil Liberties
The administration wants to widen the scope of the USA Patriot
Act, which has swept away critical rights and freedoms protected
by the Bill of Rights. It would grant the government greater power
to invade individuals' privacy, obtain records without people's
knowledge and limit the public's access to government information.
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5. Protect Individual Liberty and Dissent
Congress should repeal the Patriot Act and legislate pro-active
measures to protect freedom of speech and association and to limit
government stifling of dissent.
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6. Discrimination Based on Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation
The Bush administration is assaulting affirmative action, neglecting
civil rights enforcement and promoting racial profiling in the name
of the "war on terror." It is undermining voting rights
and reproductive rights and is encouraging and supporting the anti-feminist
and anti-gay fundamentalist right.
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6. No to Racism and Sexism--Equality for All
We need to strengthen affirmative action and reproductive rights,
broaden and enforce anti-discrimination laws, protect voting rights,
re-fund and re-invigorate public education to create quality schooling
for all and launch a nationwide debate to re-examine current failed
policies of prison expansion and the so-called "War on Drugs."
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7. Corporate-Led Globalization
The administration has been promoting "free trade treaties"
that enable U.S. corporations to set up shop in countries with the
cheapest labor and the weakest environmental laws they can find.
These trade policies have promoted a "race to the bottom,"
spreading unemployment, poverty and environmental degradation within
the U.S. and around the world.
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7. People-led Fair Trade
International trade treaties must promote workers' rights, human
rights and environmental protection. The North American Free Trade
Agreement and the World Trade Organization should be immediately
replaced by genuinely fair agreements. We should cancel all debt
owed to the U.S. by developing countries and provide massive resources
to fight AIDS.
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8. Financing Injustice and Bloodshed in Israel/Palestine
Washington continues to provide military and financial support
for the Israeli occupation of Palestine. This fuels bloodshed and
terrorism and blocks Palestinian self-determination.
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8. No Blank Check for Israel
Washington must end its massive and unconditional aid to Israel,
demand an immediate end to the Israeli occupation and its settlements,
respect self-determination of the Palestinian people and allow the
U.N. and others in the Middle East region to negotiate peace.
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Amy Quinn works with the Institute for Policy Studies in
Washington, D.C. (www.ips-dc.org).
Max Elbaum is an editor of War Times.
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