United for Peace and Justice – A Shame Becoming Shameful

United for Peace and Justice – A Shame Becoming Shameful
By Gabriele Zamparini

United for Peace and Justice’s National Coordinator Leslie Cagan wrote an open letter to PUPPET Iraqi Prime Minister AL-MALIKI.

Dear Prime Minister Al-Maliki,

On behalf of United for Peace and Justice, the largest coalition of peace and justice organizations in the U.S., which includes more than 1,400 national and local groups united in opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq, it is our pleasure to welcome you in the United States.

UFPJ is now asking for money to “place an advertisement based on the following Open Letter to Prime Minister Al-Maliki in one of the largest newspapers in Iraq, Assabah Al-Jadid.” The shameless UFPJ continues “This is not only a great way to pressure the Prime Minister for a meeting, but it is also a way to reach out to the Iraqi people to let them know that we stand with them in their call to end the occupation of their country.”

The Iraqi People don’t need the hypocrisy of UFPJ and its selfish, self-complacent, racist and outrageous move will result in more wars, invasions and occupations.

Now that “the largest coalition of peace and justice” [sic] in the USA is openly and shamefully recognizing the Iraqi Puppet sectarian regime of Al-Maliki and betraying the Iraqi People’s JUST STRUGGLE for freedom and independence and the universal ideals and principles of peace, justice and self-determination, will the American people of good will and honestly committed to peace and justice object to this new low?

The deafening silence of too many American intellectuals and activists adds to the shame and must be recognized for what it is and resisted.

What a shame!

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OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER AL-MALIKI

Dear Prime Minister Al-Maliki,

On behalf of United for Peace and Justice, the largest coalition of peace and justice organizations in the U.S., which includes more than 1,400 national and local groups united in opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq, it is our pleasure to welcome you in the United States.

We are writing to request a meeting with you during your visit in New York City on Thursday, July 27, 2006, in order to brief you about the U.S. peace movement's efforts to end the military occupation of Iraq and to discuss how to work together to bring about a troop withdrawal, promote reconciliation, and begin the process of reconstruction and development.

We have been heartened by the Iraqi reconciliation plan put forth by numerous Iraqi leaders to end both the occupation and sectarian tension within Iraq. We are dismayed, however, that due in part to U.S. pressure, the plan does not include a demand for a timetable for withdrawing the troops -- a point that is essential for any true reconciliation plan.

A poll earlier this year showed that 87% of Iraqis support a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. A solid majority of people in the United States agree: a June poll by CNN showed that 53% supported a timetable for withdrawal, and other major polls have found similar results.

We oppose the interference of the Bush administration in your country's domestic policies. We support your recent independent and courageous stand criticizing the aggressive Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and we hope you will continue to take independent stands that prioritize the desires of the Iraqi people over foreign interests.

There is a strong movement in the United States to end the continuing military occupation of your country, and we hope that you will have time to meet us during your visit to the United States. We would, of course, be prepared to meet at whatever time or location is best for you.


Sincerely,

Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator
United for Peace and Justice

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REPLY FROM DAVID CLINE - PRESIDENT VETERANS FOR PEACE

I think your comments are misguided, David Cline

MY REPLY TO DAVID CLINE

Thanks David.

I know your personal history and I have great respect, admiration and esteem for you.

Maliki is not the prime minister of Iraq. He does not represent anyone in Iraq but the Bush junta and its warlords in the green zone who do whatever the Bush junta tells them to do.

In Iraq the situation is absolutely awful. Sectarian bands are mass murdering everybody. People are terrified and don’t leave their homes.

Legitimizing this Iraqi PUPPET government is outrageous for the Iraqi People and their right to decide their own lives. Self determination.

UFPJ has made a very racist, patronizing and racist move.

I write this with great respect for the people of UFPJ and their commitment.

Outside the US almost everyone agrees with me and I am getting dozens of emails from the States who agree with what I write. Even from Vietnam veterans and activists like you.

Please, think again. Nothing good can come from this new course UFPJ seems to have taken.

People, activists are very unhappy with UFPJ.

Peace and solidarity,
Gabriele

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EMAIL TO CINDY SHEEHAN

Dear Cindy,

We met briefly in London the evening before the Peace Conference in that welcoming party.

I admire you very much and want to send you my warmest hugs, solidarity and gratitude for what you have been doing, writing and saying.

I have been very critical lately of UFPJ's new course, particularly the recognition of the Iraqi Puppet Government and the last Open Letter to PM Maliki.

I think that was a very bad political move from UFPJ and it offended many Iraqis and peace activists.

But my esteem, respect and admiration for you is as always very high and I keep learning from you and your example.

Thank you.

Warmest and best wishes in solidarity, peace and justice.
Gabriele Zamparini