Thousands begin to mobilize against U.S. war moves in Gulf

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Sept. 22 demonstration in Chicago, Ill., against U.S.

"We, the young people of this country, didn't start this war. However, we will be the ones who will be forced to fight it. We want to stop the wara war that would trade the lives of many people in exchange for the security of cheap oil. So please, let's Bring the Troops Home Now!"

- Eric Meyer, leader of Students for Peace in the Persian Gulf, speaking at Sept. 14 U.C. Berkeley "Teach-In Against U.S. Intervention in the Middle East"

Even before a shooting war has begun, nousands nationally are already mobilizing against U.S. intervention in the Middle East. The U.S. government and the major media would like us to believe that the American people overwhelmingly support the government in its war moves. But this is clearly untrue.

Teach-ins of 2000 people in New York City and U.C. Berkeley in mid-Octoberdrawing together broad sectors of the population-have sent a powerful signal to the warmakers in Washington that the American people want nothing to do with war. [See coverage of teach-ins, pp. 9-14.] Young people such as Eric Meyer of the Berkeley Students for Peace in the Persian Gulf are leading the way. They are the sons and daughters of the Vietnam generation, and they have grown up knowing the devastation that such a war can cause.

Many have also been empowered by the women's movement, having marched in pro-choice demonstrations and helped to keep the women's health clinics open. Likewise, campus struggles for African-American and Ethnic Studies Departments, in support of South African freedom struggles and against U.S. intervention in Central America have intervention in Middle East.

Special coverage, See pp. 8-16.

Vol. 8, No. 10 Tina OCTOE IER 1990 50 CENT The warmongers in Washington are riding high. They have created a broad imperialist alliance with Britain, France, Germany, and Japan against the people of Iraq.

They have ordered their "royal allies" in Saudi Arabia and the emirs of artificially created states to pay for troops from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt to act as buffers in the Saudi desert between the U.S. Marines and Iraq.

But most important, President George Bush is forging an historic alliance with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in Washington's aggression against Iraq and the Arab people.

Accord fuels U.S. war drive In a final communiqué signed by Bush and Gorbachev at the conclusion of their Sept. 9 Helsinki, Finland, summit, the two enemies of the Arab people said: "We are united in the belief that Iraq's aggression must not be tolerated. No peaceful international order is possible if larger states can devour their smaller neighbors."

The statement continued: "[We are] united against Iraq's aggression as long as the crisis exists. However, we are determined to see this aggression end, and if the current steps fail to end it, we are prepared to consider additional ones consistent with the UN Charter. We must demonstrate beyond any doubt that aggression cannot and will not pay."

To show its loyalty to Washington's war drive in the Arab East, on Sept. 25, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze led the charge at the United Nations Security Council meeting that voted to impose an air-traffic embargo against Iraq. The UN had earlier imposed an economic blockade against the Iraqi people.

In a speech to the General Assembly, Shevardnadze warned Iraq that "war may break out in the Gulf region any day, any moment."

"We should remind those who regard ag(continued on page 9, in “Iraq and Kuwait dispute: A history suppressed”)

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Action Beacock/Socialist