THE NUCLEAR DANGERS TO THE WORLD FROM THE WAR ON IRAQ,
March 15, 2003

Speech by Larry Ross
Secretary, NZ Nuclear-Free Peacemaking Association, PO Box 18541, Christchurch, New Zealand.

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, leaflets, advertising, etc. you can send a donation to:

NZ Nuclear-Free Peacemaking Association, P.O. Box 18541, Christchurch.

nuclearfreenz@lynx.co.nz

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