Re: Mongering for War

In a recent Bill Moyer's interview, the former
ambassador to Iraq described where the Iraq war
agenda came from.  Here's an excerpt from the
transcripts:


MOYERS: So this is not just about weapons of mass destruction.

WILSON: Oh, no, I think it's far more about re-growing the political map of 
the Middle East.

MOYERS: What does that mean?

WILSON: Well, that basically means trying to install regimes in the Middle 
East that are far more friendly to the United States there are those in the 
administration that call them democracies. Somehow it's hard for me to 
imagine that a democratic system will emerge out of the ashes of Iraq in 
the near term. And when and if it does, it's hard for me to believe that it 
will be more pro-American and more pro-Israeli than what you've got now.

MOYERS: Tell me what you think about the arguments of one of those men, 
Richard Pearl, who is perhaps the most influential advocate in the 
President's and the administration's ear arguing to get rid of Saddam 
Hussein. What do you think about his argument?

WILSON: Well, he's certainly the architect of a study that was produced in 
the mid-'90s for the Likud Israeli government called "a clean break, a new 
strategy for the realm." And it makes the argument that the best way to 
secure Israeli security is through the changing of some of these regimes 
beginning with Iraq and also including Syria. And that's been since 
expanded to include Iran.

MOYERS: So this was drawn up during the '90s&

WILSON: Right. During the '90s, absolutely.

MOYERS: By men outside of all this?

WILSON: Outside of all this, yeah.

MOYERS: And&

WILSON: Now, Richard Pearl's been outside of office since the Reagan years.

MOYERS: And this, you're saying that this has become a blueprint for the 
Bush Administration?

WILSON: Well, I think this is part of what has been the underpinning of 
the-- of the philosophical argument that calls for basically radically 
changing the political dynamics in the Middle East and&

MOYERS: To favor Israel?

WILSON: Well, to favor American national security interests and Israeli 
national security interests which are tied. I mean, we have&

MOYERS: How so?

WILSON: We have an important strategic responsibility to ensure the 
territorial integrity of Israel. It's one that we've accepted since 1948. 
It's one that's been increasingly close. There are those who believe that 
perhaps we've confused our responsibilities with the slavish adherence to 
the Lecoup strategy.

MOYERS: Lecoup, the party.

WILSON: It's the party in power right now. And certainly when the President 
or when Sharon comes the Prime Minister comes to Washington and says that 
George Bush is the best friend that Israel ever had. And George Bush calls 
him a man of peace, calls Sharon a man of peace, there are those who wonder 
about the depth of our ties and the extent to which our national security 
responsibilities may somehow be confused with our support for the current 
government in Israel.

MOYERS: So help us understand why removing Saddam Hussein and expanding 
that movement, throughout the Middle East which would benefit Israel?

WILSON: Well, I think those are the sorts of questions that you need to ask 
to Richard Pearl. The argument that I would make&

MOYERS: We asked him but he didn't want to come on the show.

WILSON: Yeah. The argument that it seems to me I've done democracy in 
Africa for 25 years. And I can tell you that doing democracy in the most 
benign environments is really tough sledding. And the place like Iraq where 
politics is a blood sport and where you have these clan, tribal, ethnic and 
confessional cleavages, coming up with a democratic system that is 
pluralistic, functioning and, as we like to say about democracies, is not 
inclined to make war on other democracies, is going to be extraordinarily 
difficult.

And let me just suggest a scenario. Assuming that you get the civic 
institutions and a thriving political culture in the first few iterations 
of presidential elections, you're going to have Candidate A who is likely 
going to be a demagogue. And Candidate B who is likely going to be a 
populist. That's what emerges from political discourse.

Candidate A, Candidate B, the demagogue and the populist, are going to want 
to win elections of the presidency. And the way to win election is enflame 
the passions of your population. The easy way for a demagogue or a populist 
in the Middle East to enflame the passion of the population is to define 
himself or herself by their enemies.

And the great enemy in the Middle East is Israel and its supplier, the 
United States. So it's hard to believe, for me, that a thriving democracy 
certainly in the immediate and near-term and medium-term future is going to 
yield a successful presidential candidate who is going to be pro-Israel or 
pro-America.

You can read the rest at:
http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_wilson.html



At 3/5/2003  01:31 PM, cecarl@whtt.org wrote:
> Dear Friends and Advisors:
>
> Four Anti-Defamation League (ADL) activists appeared on a Phoenix
> radio talk program Sunday night.  One of the four boasted that "50
> million Christian evangelicals" unequivocally stand with the State of
> Israel. He claimed the Christian Right, not the American Israeli
> Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is Israel's greatest strength.
> We agree, and we wonder WWJD?
>
> The ADL leaders stopped short of demanding the annihilation of Iraq.
> They are able to avoid mongering for war against Israel's most vocal
> adversary only because the evangelical Christian Right leaders act as
> Israel's proxies in openly demanding the bombing of Israel's
> neighbors. The excuse offered is a specious claim that Christians are
> bound by scripture to "support higher authority" (Romans 13) which
> they transform to justify the proposed annihilation of the Arab
> people of not only Iraq but also of Palestine.
>
> This huge and influential Christian voting block is truly the core of
> America's serial war problem.  Many Americans, including a growing
> number within the press, are now beginning to see that the bombing of
> Iraq would be politically impossible without the hulking image of
> these estimated 50 million self- professed Judeo-Christians
> supporting death.  Jerry Falwell claimed on national television
> recently that the number is over 70 million.
>
> Sadly, many of these "lambs" are being misrepresented and manipulated
> by their self-appointed herdsmen.  Without this huge pressure block,
> not only would the bombing of Iraq not happen, the occupation of Gaza
> would soon evaporate.  Sadly, was it not for the Christian Right,
> America's serial wars would probably diminish into the more peaceful
> world Jesus sought.
>
> How can this paradox be solved? That the followers of the PRINCE OF
> PEACE are the makers of war?  We ask every Christian to face this
> question personally and ask your leaders:
>
> "IS THE MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL THE FULFILLMENT OF BIBLE PROPHESY?"
>
> This is the defining issue of our day, and it is also the subject of
> C. E. Carlson's February 27 radio debate with Clarence Wagner, an
> avowed Israeli patriot, and a fundraiser for "Bridges for Peace" a
> charity based in Israel.  Wagner's affirmative answer to the defining
> question is characteristic of almost every evangelical leader who
> opts for war. It is a badge to look for.  It is the false mantra that
> must be corrected.
>
> Israel is the puss-filled fistula causing the illness that is
> reflected in America's serial wars.  Prominent Christian right
> leaders are the core of the boil.  A tape of the radio debate will be
> sent to those who contribute to WHTT.  It may also be purchased on
> our site. Please look for it.
>
> THE FOLLOWING HATE AND FEAR FILLED E-MAIL LETTER TO YOUR EDITOR IS A
> BLOODY APPEAL FOR MONEY FROM A MAN WHO WORKS FOR CELEBRITY CHRISTIAN,
> PAT ROBERTSON.
> THIS IS CHRISTIAN RACISM AT WORK!
>
> Jay Sekulow writes:
>
> "Subject: Our nation faces war with Iraq!"
>
> "Dear Charles Carlson,"
>
> "Right now, Iraq is a great danger to you and your family!"
>
> "The terrorist regime in Iraq hates all that you stand for as an
> American citizen and would love nothing more than to cripple your
> nation and wipe out your very way of life."
>
> "The alarming news is ... Saddam Hussein, along with Al-Qaeda, may
> now have the weapons to try it.  You and I MUST SUPPORT the actions
> our President and federal government takes to disarm this
> international tyrant.  Please join the American Center today in the
> fight for our freedom with your gift of support".  and..
>
> "I have mobilized our legal teams internationally.  Members of the
> American Center for Law and Justice, the European Center for Law and
> Justice, and the Slavic Center for Law and Justice are meeting with
> legislators in this country and overseas - the U.K., Croatia, the
> Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Italy, Belgium, France, Spain,
> Russia, and other countries as well - to build support for a
> coalition to protect freedom around the world." and
>
> "Many are wrongly questioning the President's right to send troops."
> And..
>
> "We must ensure that our President is free to take action to protect
> you and your family" (and signed)
>
>  "Jay Sekulow Live!" -(end of forwarded war-con)
>
> For more detail on Christian racism read: PHARISEE WATCH: Promise
> Keepers, Men of Integrity (http://www.whtt.org/articles/030225.htm)
>
> From our bookstore, phone and credit card orders accepted:
> (http://www.whtt.org/bookstor.htm)
>
> THE SOURCE OF OUR WAR PROBLEM WHY JUDEO-CHRISTIANS DO NOT DEMAND
> PEACE, by Charles E. Carlson, a Special Report details the role of
> the Oxford University Press' Scofield Reference Bible in controlling
> Christian thought.  It explains how Christian Zionism grew from
> within the ranks of the new evangelicalism, and how it was used to
> create radical anti-Islamic bias. Special attention is given to the
> war role of the Southern Baptist Convention and of prominent
> televangelists.  A strong case is made that the leadership of
> American churches bear the responsibility for the Mideast wars.  This
> is a must for every Pastor and lay-leader, 12- page "Fall, 2002"
> Pamphlet, $6.00, 10 for $30.00, 100 for $175.00
>
> New Video:
> AMERICAN MISSILES IN GAZA AND THE COMPLICITY OF THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT,
> by Charles E. Carlson, a talk given many times in recent months at
> Universities, religious and secular groups, and culture centers.  It
> includes the speaker's photos and camcorder record of the sights and
> sounds of a 3:00 AM missile raid over Gaza City that killed four and
> left many wounded.  70 minute video  $25.00
>
> Join our Strait Gate Project
> We Hold These Truths (www.whtt.org/straitgate)
> P.O. Box 14491
> Scottsdale, AZ 85267
> 480 947 3329 (cecarl@whtt.org)
>
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> ###
>
> Permission to forward granted when this trailer's included:
>
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+++

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-----------------------------------------------------------
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