The message below is from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and United for Peace and Justice.

Bruce Gagnon, director and organizer of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. will speak at the Hall of Philosophy, Chautauqua Institution on July 11 at 7 p.m.  The title of his presentation is "The Necessity of Dismantling the Military Industrial Complex."

Mr. Gagnon’s talk is sponsored by the Chautauqua Society For Peace and Social Justice

I am writing with the same concerns that Al Gore outlined in his speech on January 16.  In that speech, he called on all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, to stand up for our Constitution, our laws, our system of government, and most of all for the America that we all know and love.
 
Recently it was revealed that the Bush administration had been eavesdropping on a large number of Americans even though this is specifically and clearly an illegal action.  This administration blatantly disregarded the law of the Nation, thus seemingly asserting that they are above the law.  In our Country, under our Constitution, No one is above the law.
 
Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance Act (FISA)  ‘expressly to ensure that foreign intelligence surveillance would be presented to an impartial judge to verify that there was indeed a sufficient cause for the surveillance”.  This Act includes safeguards to ensure ample flexibility and an ability to move quickly when such surveillance is necessary.  But, first the court would have to be presented with evidence that such an invasion into an American’s citizens fundamental right to privacy was indeed warranted.  
 
This administration failed to present any such evidence to any court.  The President has admitted to the domestic surveillance and declared that he has no intention of stopping or bringing these wholesale invasions of privacy to an end.  This is a violation of not only our laws, but also an assault on our whole democratic system of government and the rights and freedoms that our forefathers specifically included in our Constitution, and that generations of Americans before us have fought so valiantly to preserve.
 
The fear of a terrorist attack in this Country is very real.  We want our government to take all necessary actions to try to prevent such an act of violence against the American people.  But are we willing to give up our rights, our freedoms, and our democracy and disregard the laws of our Nation in order to do so?  If so, I then say we already have been attacked and our enemies have won.  
 
I believe in our system of government and our Constitution.  I believe that we can fight effectively against our enemies without using torture (which we have recently been using and most studies show result usually in false and inaccurate information).   I do not believe in jailing suspects, even those suspected of anti American activities, without charges, without representation, without due process, and at times without even informing their families and keeping them imprisoned for indeterminate duration of time. (Which we have been doing routinely)  I do not believe in our government kidnapping suspects from foreign countries and delivering them to other countries that we know will use extreme methods of torture (some of these kidnapped victims later were proved to be completely innocent, they got the wrong person!)  I most certainly do not believe that our President is above the laws of this Nation.  He has no right under our Constitution to violate any law even if he disagrees with it.   Laws and our Constitution are what makes us Americans.  We pride ourselves on the law being, in the words of John Adams,  ‘King’ in our Country. As Gore said in his speech “A president who breaks the law is a threat to the very structure of our government”.
 
For these reasons, we need the appointment of a special counsel to purse the criminal issues raised by the warrantless wiretapping of Americans by the President.  A full investigation into the allegations must be made and supported by all Americans, regardless of political party.  This is NOT a political issue.  This is clearly a fundamental American issue.  As Bob Barr (R-GA) said “The president has dared the American people to do something about it.  For the sake of the Constitution I hope they will”
 
I am asking all Americans to call or write their Congress people to demand the appointment of a special counsel to investigate fully the invasions into American citizens right to privacy.  I ask you not to be afraid, take on the dare, and stand up for the survival of our democracy and the American system of government that we all know and love.

You may be interested in reading the Nobel lecture of Harold Pinter, 2005 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.  This link was forwarded by a CPJ member.  Please see http://nobelprize.org/literature/laureates/2005/pinter-lecture-e.html.

$380 has been contributed thus far to the CPJ as a result of the donation envelopes included in the Fall 2005 issue of the Newsletter, reports Treasurer Dan O’Rourke.  Thank you very much for generously helping the CPJ’s efforts.  Your contributions are always appreciated and needed.

I just returned with several others from this area to the largest Peace March to take place in this Country in over thirty years.   Over 300,000 people marched around our Capital to demand an end to the war in Iraq and to bring all of the troops home now.  Peace marches were held simultaneously in several other major US cities like Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix, and world wide, like the march in London that had at least 100,000 demonstrators.

People came from almost every State of our Nation, including a large group of evacuees from New Orleans.  All ages, from WWII vets, like the two 82 year old men riding on our bus, to the babies in strollers were represented.  Every religious group, Protestant Christians, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalists, had contingencies in the march. People from every walk of life, professionals to blue collar workers, homemakers, students, retirees, unemployed and laid off, those on welfare and millionaires, joined together to march for Peace.

As I write this, 1,931 US soldiers have been killed in this occupation, while an additional 14,755 US seriously wounded.  The number of Iraqi civilians who have died is estimated at 29,000 not counting those killed by as a result of the sanctions.  When those are added the number rises to over 100,000.   The financial burden of this war is having a devastating effect on our economy.  More than $197,871,382 dollars have been spent on this war so far, with the cost rising every second.  The cost to Chautauqua County has been in excess of $57,544. 

The reasons why we went to war in Iraq are not logical.  Weapons of mass destruction was given as the primary reason.  No such weapons were ever found, and in fact the UN inspectors, prior to our invasion, stated that Iraq did not have such weapons.  Iraq has no nuclear weapons and experts state that even under the best of circumstances they were years away from development.  The justification to combat terrorism equally has its flaws.  First and foremost, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.  Not one of the hijackers was from Iraq.  Secondly, the militant Islamic groups, such as those associated with Al Quida, are most concerned with overturning governments that do not agree with their fundamentalist beliefs.  This includes Iraq even under Saddam.  Third, the argument to promote democracy is far from believable.  There are many other countries in the world that do not have a democratic government.  We have not invaded their countries for the sole reason to establish a democracy.   Rather, many of these countries have good relations with the US regardless of their undemocratic governments. 

For these and many other reasons, I will march for peace.  I will march on the streets of our Capital and into the offices of our Congress people.  We must end this senseless war.  We must bring the troops home now. It is time for all of our resources to be spent on our own people.  It is time for Peace.

Judi Lutz Woods"

The CPJ earned $330.50 at its annual garage sale held Saturday September 17.  Thanks to all who donated items, purchased items, and worked to make this fundraiser a success.