|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veterans For Peace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 22, 2003
4:08 PM
|
CONTACT: Veterans For Peace
Wilson "Woody" Powell, (314) 725-6005.
|
|
|
|
Veterans For Peace Calls for the Impeachment of George W. Bush;
Articles of Impeachment for President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Attorney General John David Ashcroft
|
|
|
| ST. LOUIS, MO
- May 22 - Pre-emptive war is a response to ongoing or
imminent attacks. Since Iraq neither attacked the United States nor had the
capabilities to attack the United States, the war with Iraq was not a pre-emptive
attack. The war with Iraq was optional, elective and not in legitimate defense
of our country. As this is the case, it represents a criminal misuse of the
Armed Forces of the United States. The Bush Doctrine of pre-emptive war may be
more clearly thought of as the Bush Doctrine of Preventive War. The United
States by virtue of its superior might claims the right to attack any country that
may be a potential challenge to it. The Bush Administration asserts that the
United States of America may attack any nation or entity that it claims may
someday represent a threat to the United States. Veterans For Peace recognizes
both its moral obligation and legal responsibilities to openly speak out
against such egregious violations of law and to unequivocally oppose the Bush
Doctrine of Preventive War, a doctrine of criminal violence and aggression against
the world community.
On February 13, 2003 and March 19, 2003, respectively, Veterans For Peace
notified the top 15 generals and admirals in the United States Armed Forces and
the United States House of Representatives and Senate of the illegality of this
war.
"We believe the war against Iraq that the United States government is
planning and preparing for is in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and
customary international law. The judgment of the International Military
Tribunal at Nuremberg noted, "Resort to war of aggression is not merely illegal, but
is criminal.
"The principle of renunciation of the use or threat of force is now one of
the fundamental principles of international law and, as such, is stated with the
utmost clarity in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which imposes
definite obligations on states participating in international affairs. States
are bound in their international relations to renounce "the threat or use of
force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,
or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.
"The United States seeks to justify a pre-emptive strike on Iraq on the basis
of self-defense. Article 51 of the United Nations Charter permits the use of
force by a state to repel an armed attack or a substantial and immediate
threat to the national security of the state until the Security Council exercises
jurisdiction. A threat which permits the use of force must be an immediate,
specific threat to United States national security and not a general threat to
the Gulf region or a possible future threat. The legality of pre-emptive
self-defense has been rejected on the basis that use of force to deter future use of
force constitutes punitive rather than defensive action. Because the United
States has failed to gain Security Council approval for war, the United States
is bound by United Nations Article 51 and may not lawfully, unilaterally take
military action.
"It is clear that the current massive attack on Iraq is not based upon
self-defense. Iraq has not attacked the United States nor does Iraq constitute an
immediate and specific threat to United States national security."
As the Bush Administration clearly chose to violate both Constitutional and
International law, Veterans for Peace, having sworn once to uphold the
Constitution of the United States, hereby calls for the immediate impeachment of
George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld for their recent commission of high
crimes against peace in Iraq and the violation of the US Constitution.
Therefore be it resolved that:
In keeping with our Statement of Purpose, "to abolish war as an instrument of
foreign/international policy" and "to restrain our government from
intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations", Veterans
For Peace, Inc. has found compelling arguments and evidence to support articles
of Impeachment for President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard B.
Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Attorney General John David
Ashcroft.
To accomplish these objectives Veterans For Peace National will seek to find
responsible representatives within the United States, who have full legal
standing and the integrity bestowed upon them by both their office and their
personal record of conduct, be fully capable of successfully completing such an
undertaking. The Board will determine when and to whom Veterans For Peace will
lend support to for the impeachment process.
In the interim Veterans For Peace is resolved to continue its educational
program to inform and educate the American public and its representatives within
the United States government of the real and criminal violations of this
government. Therefore be it resolved that Veterans For Peace is officially and
fully resolved to work for the restoration and implementation of Constitutional
law and as provided for by constitutional law the impeachment of President
George W. Bush and the named members of his administration.
###
|
|
|
Common Dreams NewsCenter is a non-profit news service
providing breaking news and views for the Progressive Community.
The
press release posted here has been provided to Common Dreams NewsWire by
one of the many progressive organizations who make up America's Progressive Community.
If
you wish to comment on this press release or would like more information,
please contact the organization directly.
*all times Eastern US (GMT-5:00)
Making News?
Read our Guidelines
for Submitting News Releases
© Copyright
1997-2003 Common Dreams.
www.commondreams.org
|
|
