International Campaign to Stop Bush's Drive to War Against Iran: Half a million signers say "Stop War on Iran"

International Campaign to Stop Bush's Drive to War Against Iran: Half a million signers say "Stop War on Iran"

In response to the growing threat of military action against Iran, activists across the globe have launched "Stop War on Iran," an international campaign against a new war. Prominent initial signers on the statement (available online at http://stopwaroniran.org/statement.shtml ) include: former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Bishop Thomas Gumbleton; Harold Pinter; historian Howard Zinn; George Galloway MP; former UN Assistant Secretary-General Dennis Halliday; Tony Benn, MP; former First Lady of Greece Margarita Papandreou; Ardeshir Ommani, co-founder of American-Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC); author Michael Parenti; and many others.

Since the launch of the campaign, the online statement has garnered more than 21,000 signatures, and nearly half a million petitions saying "Stop War on Iran" have been sent to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, and the board of directors of Halliburton.

Organizers with the Stop War on Iran campaign note that Bush's recent "surge" speech indicated a real danger of an imminent military strike against Iran."Bush's speech, rather than indicating that he was heeding the will of the people and ending the war, indicated that he plans to widen the war including attacks against Iran," said Sara Flounders, an organizer with Stop War on Iran."Yesterday the U.S., in clear violation of international law, raided the Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, illegally detaining five people and seizing computers and documents.This action, which is an act of war itself, immediately followed Bush's 'surge' speech and was the first step in his plans to prolong, escalate, and expand the war."

Navy Veteran Dustin Langley, an organizer with Stop War on Iran, said, “Bush has ordered two aircraft carrier groups to the Persian Gulf.Each aircraft carrier carries three squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and one squadron of F-14 Tomcats.In addition, each carrier group includes several guided missile cruisers, guided missile destroyers, fast frigates, and submarines, all capable of launching cruise missiles.We know from reports last year that the Pentagon has drawn up a list of targets in Iran and that the planned strikes could kill thousands of Iranian people.Over the next few days and weeks we will be organizing meetings, rallies, and protests across the country to build a movement to stop another disastrous war."

Ardeshir Ommani, co-founder of American-Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) and an organizer with Stop War On Iran, said, “We've already seen Bush push the UN to levy sanctions against Iran.U.S. plans to strangle Iran go far beyond the formal UN Security Council decisions--they're also trying to force other countries to cut off trade credits and We know from recent experience that sanctions using 'weapons of mass destruction' as a pretense, can very easily be the prelude to military action.Washington recently called for “regime change” in Iran and began working towards that objective. Congress approved a more than $100 million budget to finance covert and overt activities to provoke insecurity and undermine the country’s economic, social and political stability."

Media Contact:Dustin Langley 646-354-8056

Stop War on Iran
55 W. 17th St. 5th Fl.
NY NY 10011 212.
633.6646 www.StopWarOnIran.org