1) INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION
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End The War Of Bombs And Sanctions

The US and UK are planning a major assault on Iraq - perhaps deploying over a hundred thousand troops - which could shatter the fragile safety net which currently sustains 23 million ordinary Iraqis.

Every month economic sanctions take thousands of young lives by depriving Iraqi families of both their livelihoods and the basic public services which they need for health - such as clean drinking water.

As President Bush has so rightly said, 'Inaction is not an option.' voices uk is organising an email and letter-writing campaign, which we urge readers to sign up to via

Voices For The Voiceless

Sanctions are an economic weapon of mass destruction which have taken hundreds of thousands of lives in Iraq since August 1990.

Over the last four years, voices uk, assisted by voices us in Chicago, has taken ten sanctions-breaking delegations into Iraq. We have met children and their carers in hospital wards and in family homes. We have been privileged to see the human face of Iraq.

We have carried stories from families in Baghdad and Basra and Fallujah and Mosul, back to London and Edinburgh and Cardiff.

And now those families face the threat of a massive criminal war that could plunge them into chaos and even greater suffering.

We Are The Majority

Voices is heartened by the fact that opposition to this war is broad and growing. It includes the Board for Social Responsibility of the Church of England, which does not believe that the proposed war has either 'proper authority' or 'right intent'. (Sunday Telegraph, 24 Mar. 2002, p. 1)

It includes Labour and Lib Dem MPs, 138 of whom have signed Early Day Motion 927 opposing the war, and Cabinet ministers Clare Short, Robin Cook, and David Blunkett who have expressed deep concern.

We are the majority. 51 per cent of people disapprove of a war against Iraq (only 35 per cent approve). (Guardian, 19 Mar. 2002, p.1)

Nuclear Threats

Opposition will deepen as Britain and the US continue to make nuclear threats against Iraq. (See the new ARROW Anti-War Briefing Nuclear Threats 2002 for more details.)

At the end of May we will be told 'sanctions have been lifted' (see p. 5). We must be ready to defeat this lie.

We also face the prospect of war on Iraq. By organising locally now, by building the Pledge of Resistance (p. 3) we can help to avert that threat.

The voices website will carry information, news of events, and leaflets for activists to use locally.

2) RECENT ACTION
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Ornella

A bold initiative by former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Hans von Sponeck finally reached fruition on Wed. 21 Mar. 2002, with the publication of a full-page anti-sanctions advert in The International Herald Tribune, signed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Arundhati Roy and over 250 others (including voices).

Key to the success of the project was another giant of the movement, Ornella Sangiovanni of Italian solidarity campaign, 'Un Ponte Per'. A full list of signatories and the text of the advert can be found at , yet another great site built by another towering figure, Seb Wills of CASI.

Brian And Richard

Two more giants of the movement: Brian Haw and Richard Crump On 28 Mar. Brian completed 300 days of his continuous anti-sanctions protest in Parliament Sq., London SW1. Please drop him a note of encouragement (he receives post if you write to him as 'The Man in Parliament Square') or go to see him if you visit central London. Richard is a stalwart of the ARROW anti- sanctions vigil, outside the Foreign Office every Monday evening 5.30- 7pm since July 1991.

Postman Pat

'You don't have to go to Iraq to break sanctions' says Jo Wilding, who went out to Iraq last year as part of the 11th voices delegation.

'You can do it from the comfort of your own local post office.' Posting anything - other than letters - to Iraq without an export licence is illegal under sanctions.

Jo recently helped organise a mass postal sanctions-breaking action in Bristol. 'It was a fun way of getting lots of people to post stuff, including some interested passers-by.

'The postman was quite anti- at first, but eventually agreed that maybe we didn't have to kill lots of children who weren't even born at the time of the invasion of Kuwait. It's a useful way of reaching people. And you get to write press releases about Postman Pat!'

ACTION If you would like a Postal Sanctions-Breaking Pack, please complete and return the tear-off slip on p. 6 to voices uk, 16B Cherwell St, Oxford OX4 1BG.

Media

March saw a huge amount of media interest in Iraq, with a constant barrage of stories and opinion pieces as the drums of war beat ever louder.

voices delegates were interviewed on Radio 1, Angel FM and other radio outlets; Act Together's Nadje al-Ali appeared on Woman's Hour and TV's Dispatch Box with Andrew Neil; and anti- sanctions academic Eric Herring took part in Radio 4's The Moral Maze.

Meanwhile voices itself and voices supporters had anti-sanctions letters published in The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Independent on Sunday and the Financial Times (UK and Hong Kong editions!).

Email Alerts

The letters in newspapers were facilitated by a series of 'media alerts' e-mailed out from the voices office, collecting - with brief comments - the days' broadsheet coverage.

ACTION If you would like to receive future media alerts please email .

The voices guide to writing letters to newspapers is also available from our Oxford office (see p. 6).

3) RYAN AND KELLY
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September 11 relatives Kelly Campbell and Ryan Amundson visited the UK in Feb. 2002 to speak at the voices/Act Together/ARROW RESIST! Conference.

Ryan and Kelly also spoke to over 200 people at a public meeting in London, and were interviewed by GMTV, Radio 4's flagship news programme Today, Sky News, the World Service and Radio 4's Broadcasting House.

With other US relatives, Ryan and Kelly have helped to form a group called 'Peaceful Tomorrows' to continue their work against war .

Transcripts and recordings of the talks that Kelly and Ryan gave in London are being prepared, and these will be available soon from ARROW, c/o NVRN, 162 Holloway Rd, London N7 8DQ, ph 020 7607 2302. Our deep thanks to them for coming.

Kelly Campbell: 'My niece Charlotte, whose father Craig was killed in the Pentagon, was barely two and a half on September 11. We weren't really sure how much Charlotte knew what was going on.

'One day, we walked this nature trail near their house, and I asked if she had been there before. She looked down at her shoes and said, "Yes, Daddy used to take me here. A plane crashed into Daddy's work, and Daddy couldn't get out."

'And, in Afghanistan, I met an eight-year-old boy who told us that he had been playing near his house, and his friend had seen something yellow, and picked it up, and he'd watched his friend explode and die.

'And now he's in the hospital missing part of his hand. And it is just so horrible that we live in a world where children have these stories.

'And it made me think about how I'm going to explain all this to Charlotte some day, and what action has our Government taken to respond to Craig's murder.

'As far as I can tell, the main action that they've taken is to kill more innocent people and to give more children horrible stories to tell.'

4) A YEAR OF ACTION
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Voices in the wilderness has an action-packed schedule planned for the next eight months - on both sides of the Atlantic.

"Smart sanctions" (p. 5) will be a major campaigning focus until the end of May. voices uk will be circulating several special letter-writing alerts to put pressure on decision-makers. Please join in by returning the slip on p. 8 or emailing .

The 11th voices uk sanctions-breaking delegation will leave Britain for Iraq on 7 May. This joint US/UK delegation will be accompanying members of Veterans for Peace (US).

Voices US will also be facilitating a Peace Walk from the Jordanian border to Baghdad in May, as well as laying the groundwork for a possible multinational, ongoing, Iraq Peace Team, to be based in Iraq. voices uk intends to help organise mass nonviolent action for August - the 12th anniversary of the sanctions' imposition - when war may be imminent.

And voices will also continue to mobilise for the Pledge of Resistance (please see facing page).

Voices us will be marking two anniversaries with a 40-day fast, from 3 Aug. to 11 Sept. 2002, followed by a Caravan, visiting sites associated with weapons of mass destruction.

Voices uk's autumn plans include a London cultural event, and a Speaking Tour across the UK.

ACTION Speakers are available now, and can be booked via the office on 0845 458 2564 (local rate call). For regular updates on voices us:

ACTION To get involved in voices uk, please email voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk or come to the London monthly planning meetings (see p. 6 for details).

5) THE ILLEGAL WAR
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The war against Iraq is unlikely to start before the autumn, in part because of what Joseph Biden, chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has described as the 'incredible division' in Washington on the subject. (Independent on Sunday, 24 Mar., p. 21) President Bush has set a deadline of 15 Apr. for the different factions to agree a unified plan.

The four main options under review have been: the 'Afghan model' (US-supported insurgency); a relatively light assault (50,000 troops); Gulf War Mk II (200,000 - 300,000 troops); and aerial bombardment.

More details about these options are available in the new ARROW briefing 'War Plan Iraq'.

No Link To 11 September

Contrary to continuing press reports, Mohammed Atta, the 11 September ringleader, did not meet an Iraqi diplomat in Prague in 2001. (Daily Telegraph, 18 Dec. 2001, p. 10) No links have been established between Iraq and 11 September or al-Qaeda.

Inspection Offer

'Iraq is ready to receive right now any British team sent by [Prime Minister Tony] Blair and accompanied by the British media to show the world where and how is Iraq developing such weapons,' said an unidentified Iraqi spokesperson in the official al-Thawra newspaper. (Associated Press report, 1 Mar. 2002)

This offer has been ignored by the British media and by the Government. If Tony Blair is really concerned about Iraq's weapons, he should call Baghdad's bluff, and send in the inspectors now.

Instead the US and UK are demanding unconditional access for UN weapons inspectors. A US intelligence official has said the White House 'will not take yes for an answer'. (Guardian, 14 Feb., p. 1)

Illegal War

'The US does not, to date, have a legal mandate for serious military intervention.' (Economist, 26 Jan. 2002, p. 59) As Lord Healey, former Labour Defence Secretary, said during Operation Desert Fox in 1998, 'It is illegal to attack with bombs targets in a sovereign country without direct authorisation from the Security Council.' (Telegraph, 21 Dec. 1998)

No such authorisation has been given, or is being sought, for the new US/UK war on Iraq. NEW ARROW Briefing: 'War Plan Iraq' . NEW Voices Briefing: 'Iraq's Weapons'

6) THE PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE
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'I oppose US/UK military retaliation for September 11th. I pledge to take part in nonviolent civil disobedience in the event of a major US/UK attack on Iraq or any other country in the course of the "war on terrorism".

In the 1980s, the Central America solidarity campaign in the US used a Pledge of Resistance to mobilise tens of thousands of people to take part in civil disobedience against military intervention. Ten thousand people were jailed for nonviolent civil disobedience, helping deter President Reagan from direct military assault.

Now, ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots of War) and voices in the wilderness uk are co-sponsoring another Pledge of Resistance, this time against the threat of a major assault against Iraq (or any other country). We are encouraging activists around the country to form affinity groups and to prepare for nonviolent civil disobedience. Our public preparation and commitment can help to deter the Government from signing up to George Bush's war.

The Pledge is reactive, but it also creates a network for us to be able to connect and cooperate in preventive, pro-active nonviolent direct action.

Join the Pledge of Resistance. Call 020 7607 2302 or sign online London Meeting, Sat. 20 Apr., 2pm, Quaker International Ctr. (see p. 6).

7) WORLD FEARS BUSH
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Foreign Secretary Jack Straw: 'The whole world has made a decision that Iraq poses a very serious threat to the security of the region and to the security of the world.' (Guardian, 16 Mar., p. 4)

WRONG. In fact, much of the world has decided that it is the United States that poses a threat to the security of the Middle East.

Iraq's Arab Neighbours

Crown Prince Abdullah, the effective ruler of Saudi Arabia: 'I do not believe it is in the United States' interests, or the interests of the region, or the world's interest, for the United States to [launch a war on Iraq].' (FT, 16 Mar. 2002, p. 10)

King Abdullah of Jordan: 'striking Iraq represents a catastrophe to Iraq and the region in general, and threatens the security and stability of the region.' (Telegraph, 12 Mar., p. 16)

Editorials in Gulf newspapers 'uniformly condemned any assault on Iraq.' 'Even the small United Arab Emirates had no time for the Cheney argument.' (Independent, 8 Mar. p. 13)

Vice-President Cheney's tour of the Middle East to mobilise support for a war on Iraq was an abject failure. 'Rarely can an American vice-president have met such a rebuff from America's Arab allies. Not a single Arab king, prince or president has been prepared to endorse a US attack on Iraq.' (Independent, 18 Mar. 2002, p. 13)

'One Arab leader after another urged the US not to mount a direct attack against Iraq.' They emphasised that the Israeli-Palestinian crisis was more serious and should take priority. (FT, 20 Mar. 2002, p.9)

An opinion poll in Kuwait found 'more than 40 per cent of its citizens are hostile to Washington's policies.' (Independent, 18 Mar. 2002, p. 13)

Iraq's Other Neighbours

'Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit called the threat of a US attack on Iraq a "nightmare".' (Guardian, 11 Mar. 2002, p. 16) He said: 'We feel that Iraq should not be the subject of military attacks because it would upset the whole Middle East.' (Guardian, 16 Mar. 2002, p. 4) Mr Ecevit 'argued that Saddam Hussein did not constitute a threat to his neighbours.' (Guardian, 16 Mar., p. 1)

A CIA survey of airfields in northern Iraq 'infuriated' Iran and Syria who are 'concerned that an American attack on Iraq will endanger their own security.' (Independent, 18 Mar. 2002, p. 13)

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stressed "the sovereignty of Iraq is a must for regional stability", 'which appeared to throw cold water on any fast-track US plan to overthrow the Iraqi leader.' (Telegraph, 14 Mar., p. 18)

'Even Israel, which was the victim of 40 Iraqi Scud missiles during the Gulf War, does not seem keen on America taking on Saddam. It maintains that Iran poses a far greater and more immediate danger.' (Telegraph, 12 Mar. 2002, p. 16)

The Wider World

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer 'told the news magazine Der Spiegel that... the international coalition against terrorism was no basis on which to attack another country, "least of all unilaterally".'

'Paris described last year's US-led air raids on Baghdad as "pointless" and "without legal foundation".'

Even Italy 'has demanded proof of Iraqi terrorism and production of weapons of mass destruction.' (these three paras. - Guardian, 12 Mar., p. 4)

Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission: 'My position is one of deep worry about a possible attack on Iraq because of the potential expansion of the conflict.' (Independent on Sunday, 17 Mar., p. 2)

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General: 'I am on record as saying any attack on Iraq at this stage would be unwise.' (Times, 26 Feb. 2002, p. 20)

Finally

'Any large-scale US military operation against Iraq would depend on access to bases [in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Kuwait] and all three countries remain anxious over the impact of an Iraqi campaign on their security and internal security.' (Guardian, 9 Mar. 2002, p. 3)

Mr Straw, listen to Iraq's neighbours. Those who should fear Baghdad, actually fear Washington.

8) SAME OLD STUPID SANCTIONS
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At the end of May, the UN will adopt a British "smart sanctions" proposal in a blaze of propaganda designed to prolong the suffering of the Iraqi people. This Big Lie must be challenged at every opportunity.

We will be told that 'sanctions are being lifted; from now on all suffering in Iraq is entirely the responsibility of Baghdad'.

This is a lie.

The Three Needs

Even after the changes, economic sanctions will still:

1) prevent the speedy reconstruction of the public health infrastructure of Iraq;
2) prevent the revival of the Iraqi economy, needed to provide jobs and living wages for Iraqi families; and
3) prevent the development of the Iraqi oil industry needed to provide a guaranteed steady income for reconstruction and revival.

The Four Tools

These are not real smart sanctions. Real smart sanctions target particular elements in a government, and apply sanctions against them (the army, the top political leadership, and so on).

The fake "smart sanctions" package Britain is putting through will still ban the entire population of Iraq from bringing in foreign exchange, from obtaining foreign loans or foreign investment, or from selling Iraqi goods (other than oil) in foreign markets.

Iraq is allowed to sell oil to buy humanitarian goods (see box), but no foreign exchange enters Iraq through 'oil-for-food'. The economy remains collapsed and cut off from the world.

From Green to Amber

What the so-called "smart sanctions" may do is make it easier for Iraq to import humanitarian goods.

At the moment, when Iraq wishes to import humanitarian goods, the items it orders are checked against a "green list" of permitted goods. Items not on the list can be blocked by members of the Security Council indefinitely - for any/no reason.

At the moment, $5.3bn worth of goods is on hold, almost all of it stopped by the US and the UK.

In the new system, there will be a list of goods which are suspect - an 'amber list' - and all other civilian goods will go through automatically.

Depending on how the new list is drawn up, the introduction of the 'amber list' may prevent the US and UK from interfering so much with the UN 'oil-for-food' programme.

This is not About Holds

The argument against the economic sanctions is not about food and medicines. It is not primarily about how many goods Iraq can bring in, or about the Sanctions Committee 'holds'.

Even if the US and UK stopped imposing any holds whatsoever on civilian and 'dual-use' goods, the economic sanctions would continue to kill.

Revive the Economy

Mr Tun Myat, the current UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, said on 30 Nov. 2001, 'No matter how much was brought in, Iraq still did not have a functioning economy, without which it was not realistic to significantly improve the situation there.' (UN Press Briefing)

In Mar. 1999, a group of aid experts asked by the UN Security Council to study the situation in Iraq concluded that '[t]he humanitarian situation in Iraq will continue to be a dire one in the absence of a sustained revival of the Iraqi economy.'

According to the FT, the "smart" sanctions 'will not revive Iraq's devastated economy while control over Iraq's oil revenues remains in the hands of the UN, and foreign investment and credits are still prohibited' (FT, 28 May 2001)

'[A]lthough [Iraq] would be able to import more [under "smart" sanctions], it would still be denied the free movement of labour and capital that it desperately needs...

'Iraq needs massive investment to rebuild its industry, its power grids and its schools, and needs cash in hand to pay its engineers, doctors and teachers. None of this looks likely to happen under smart sanctions.' (Economist, 26 May 2001)

'[T]he British proposal of "smart sanctions" offers an aspirin where surgery is called for.' (Economist, 24 Feb. 2001)

Only lifting the economic sanctions altogether can revive the Iraqi economy and enable the speedy reconstruction of Iraq's public health infrastructure.

Colin Powell let the cat out of the bag: 'Sanctions and the pressure of sanctions are part of a strategy of regime change'. (FT, 14 Feb. 2002, p. 18) Sanctions are actually a blunt tool of political change.

The so-called "smart" sanctions are no more than a propaganda device designed to undercut the growing anti-sanctions movement and to build support for the coming war.

Oil for Food

1) Iraq is allowed to sell as much oil as it can.
2) Customers pay money into a UN-controlled bank account in New York.
3) Iraq orders civilian goods.
4) If the order is approved by the UN Sanctions Committee, the supplier is paid from the UN account; the goods go to Iraq.
5) If the order is not approved, it is placed on 'hold'.

ACTION: Receive special anti-smart sanctions alerts from

9) THANK-YOU
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