Campaign for a
New Foreign Policy
Our country deserves a break from the failed
policies of the past. Our arms sales and military
aid programs have created widespread anti-American sentiment. Our nuclear
weapons policies are encouraging nuclear
proliferation. Our approach to the international community
is leading to growing isolation and foreclosing meaningful leadership. Huge
increases in military spending won’t make us safer, but they will take funds
from education, health care and other programs and harm the quality of life for
all Americans. Eliminating civil liberties
will threaten our constitution and undermine the very values that make our
nation great. We’ll make our country safer by affirming our values, not
abandoning them.
Three Steps To A Safer World
1. Support Human Rights and Democracy
We should exhibit international leadership by opposing the policies of human
rights abusers, not rewarding them with weapons.
Democracy and human rights are ideals that the American people hold dear. Our
elected officials have not held true to these values. Sadly, our country leads
the world in providing arms sales and military training to human rights abusing
governments and dictatorships. When US weapons are used to prop up governments
hated by their own people, bitterness is the result. When we sell weapons
worldwide, those arms end up being used against our own troops.
2. Reduce the Threat from Weapons of Mass
Destruction
Our nation should lead a worldwide
campaign to reduce and control the threat from weapons of mass destruction - a
policy we could be proud of. We face no greater threat than nuclear weapons and
other weapons of mass destruction. Such weapons are only effective as a means of
terror - that can be aimed at us as well as others. The only way to be safe from
this threat is to destroy the stockpiles and secure those facilities that make
nuclear materials. Instead of leading
efforts to secure and dismantle nuclear weapons, the Bush Administration wants
to build new ones. In addition, spending billions on a missile defense that won’t
work while building new nuclear weapons will
only speed the pace of nuclear proliferation.
3. Cooperate with the World Community
We should play a positive leadership
role in the world community, planning strategies for a future we can all live
with. The Declaration of Independence urged
a decent respect for the opinions of mankind. Our foreign policy isn’t
reflecting that core value. Our elected officials have abandoned or blocked a
host of international agreements on arms control, human rights, the environment,
and the International Criminal Court. Instead of promoting pre-emptive strikes,
the US needs to promote policies that address the larger needs of the world
community and that minimize the potential for hate and anger. The US has the
strength and ability to better the working and living conditions of human kind,
and to increase our own security in the
process - but only if we lead through cooperation.
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www.peace-action.org
Fallout Seen From White House Nuclear Policy
If the Bush Administration has its way U.S. Foreign Policy will be
one of threats, of force and "pre-emptive" wars all for the name of
U.S. interest. Who's interest are they talking about.
They even want to create new "usable" nuclear bombs.
Diplomacy has become a thing of the past in U.S. foreign policy it would seem.
PEACE IS NOT AN OBSCENE WORD.
Prophets
and sages have handed down the idea to us,
but it would seem that we haven't been listening very well here in the United
States.
Here is how it goes:
I'm conversing with someone about a topic that they don't agree with me on, for
instance the war in Iraq.
First we talk in normal speaking voices, but when this person, lets call him
George, Dick, Donald or John, sees that I am resolved on my opinion of
continuing U.N. Inspections he begins to speak louder.
I speak louder to make my point.
This only aggravates George so he begins to yell that war is the only way to
teach these terrorist in the mid-east that we mean business.
I respond to his yelling with yelling.
Seeing that he can't out shout me George decides to shove me to get his point
across, and I reciprocate with a stronger shove back.
Oh, George is pissed now, so he gets a gun from Donald, and bang, down I go.
George says to Donald; "Well now that is how you achieve peace, and have
things your way."
Next week though, my big brother, son, father, mother, wife, dog and other
concerned family members set out after George because of my violent end.
Now if George, Dick, Donald and John have enough bullets and guns they might
be able to take care of all of them, but wouldn't it be nicer to find a
"Peaceful" way of resolving your differences instead of worrying about
whether your gun is bigger than the other guys.
Violence begets violence.
Conflict occurs for a reason, usually because of need and injustice. Resolve the
underlying reasons and spend the money on food instead of bullets.
It keeps coming back to truly treating others, as you want to be treated.
