-Caveat Lector- Monday January 13, 2003
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storyprint.cfm?storyID=3050509 'Human shield' peace activists mobilise for Iraq 09.01.2003 - To the delight of Baghdad, anti-war activists round the world are staging their own mobilisation to Iraq to act as "human shields" if the bombs start falling and in solidarity with the Iraqi people. As the United States and Britain build up their military presence in the Gulf, the volunteers from Western and Muslim groups are also planning to converge on Iraq for what they view as an 11th hour peace mission. Shrugging off criticism they are handing a propaganda gift to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the groups involved insist they can recruit hundreds or even thousands of volunteers. "I am calling for a mass migration to Iraq. We can stop this mad war," said Ken Nichols, a Dutch-based former US marine who was in the 1991 Gulf War and is now behind one of the highest-profile human shield convoys. His We the People group is seeking volunteers to join a convoy leaving London this month. They plan to travel through European and Middle Eastern capitals to arrive in Iraq in early February where they intend to fan out to key installations. "If war starts, I will be in the most vulnerable areas. I want to be out where the bombs drop," Nichols added, saying hundreds would be on his convoy. "If there is a risk of large Western casualties, that is quite a political liability." Another big rallying point is in Iraq's neighbour Jordan. There, a campaign led by leftist, Islamist parties and civic bodies is seeking 100,000 human shield volunteers. Organisers, the National Mobilisation Committee for the Defence of Iraq, would not give current figures but said many were responding and that the first convoy would leave in a week. "The war against Iraq is a war against the whole Arab nation," committee head Hakm al- Fayez told Reuters. The new human shield plans have inevitably revived memories of the Gulf War when Saddam forcibly held thousands of Western hostages after his invasion of Kuwait. Many were put near sensitive sites in a futile bid to dissuade attacks. Iraq also used Iraqis - alongside some foreign volunteers - as human shields in 1998 against US-British bombing. Not surprisingly, Baghdad has welcomed the latest offers. "This is a practical Arab and international reaction to the hostile build-up of troops in the Gulf and neighbouring countries," said one senior Iraqi official, Saad Qasim Hammoud. To avoid being seen as pawns of Saddam, some among the many groups and charities organising trips to Iraq are shunning the tag "human shield" and are as critical of his government as they are of US and British war plans. These groups prefer to couch their aims in terms of educating the West and showing solidarity with ordinary Iraqis. "We do not support any government," said Kathy Kelly, of the US-based Voices in the Wilderness (VIW) group which has long opposed sanctions on Baghdad and is now organising an Iraq Peace Team to travel there. "We want to be alongside people at a difficult and stressful time. We hope there will not be a war. If there is, we will be there," added Kelly, who was part of a 72-member peace camp inside Iraq near the border with Saudi Arabia in 1991. One poignant stance has been taken by a group of American relatives of September 11 victims - Families for Peaceful Tomorrows - who left for Iraq days ago on a week-long visit. "My hope is that all people will come to realise that loss of more human life will not solve the problems of the world," said Kathleen Tinley, who lost her uncle Michael when two hijacked planes crashed into New York's World Trade Centre. Many of the activists said they were well aware of Saddam's alleged crimes - both in terms of repression of Iraqis and the weapons capacity that is the West's main bone of contention - but they could not be quiet on the suffering of ordinary Iraqis. "If people had actually read the UN reports or been to the country, like I have, and seen babies dying of diarrhoea, they would realize what the West has been doing with its sanctions and what this is all about," said British student Matthew Barr, who is leaving for Iraq with a VIW group. Many of those forcibly used as human shields by Saddam in 1991 are shocked that others would actually volunteer to do it. "They are a bunch of lunatics who don't know what went on," said one British ex- hostage, Ron Eccles. "It is a naive and unbelievable idea. It is very unlikely to deter any action." - REUTERS Herald feature: Iraq Iraq links and resources ©Copyright 2002, NZ Herald A<:>E<:>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article has to stand on its own merits. Therefore, unless I am a first-hand witness to any event described, I cannot attest to its validity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om