AKBAYAN Party-list leaders today criticized the Arroyo government’s “bending over backwards” to welcome US Pres. George W. Bush. “Parang walong oras lang na stopover, O.A. (overacting) naman ang paghahanda at expectations ng gobyerno natin,” Akbayan representative Mayong Aguja noted.
Referring to the interference of the US Secret Service on Congressional arrangements in preparation for President Bush’s arrival on October 18, Aguja cited the relocation of a cafeteria in the House as indicative of the unequal relations between the US and the Philippines. “If President Arroyo were to visit the US Capitol, would the American congressmen move any of their offices to accommodate her security retinue?,” Aguja said.
Peace advocate and AKBAYAN leader Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel lamented the demolition of squatter dwellings in front of the House of Representatives. “This is very Imeldific. The Arroyo administration is going the way of the Marcoses. This reminds us of the time when Mrs. Marcos built white walls to cover squatter colonies just to impress her foreign guests.” Hontiveros-Baraquel stressed.
AKBAYAN President Ronald Llamas questioned the value of the Bush stopover on the Philippine economic climate, as claimed by President Arroyo. “Kahit buong US cabinet pa ang dumating dito, kung mali ang economic strategy, hindi aangat ang ekonomiya natin,” Llamas said. He pointed out that other Asian countries such as Thailand and Malaysia had better economies without being subservient US allies.
Josua Mata of the Alliance of Progressive Labor explained that a number of countries in Asia had more effective anti-terrorism campaigns even if they did not allow US troops in their territory or blindly commit to the so-called US war on terrorism. “Our government’s subservience damages our international stature. Everyone knows that our government is an American stooge pretending to be independent. Nakakahiya,” Mata said.
Aguja urged members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to wear black during the Bush address to the joint session on October 18. “By wearing black, we stand in solidarity with the victims of US aggression around the globe. This is also a statement that expresses our mourning for the sorry state of Philippine sovereignty,” Aguja concluded.
Showing posts with label Gobal Terrorism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gobal Terrorism. Show all posts
Oct 15, 2003
Oct 13, 2003
Visitation of the “God”
This coming October 18 the country shall be witness and a victim to the unwanted and insulting visit of US President George W. Bush, renowned butcher of Iraq, the leviathan white leader who lied to America about weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the granddaddy of terrorists and all-time warmonger and profiteer of the modern world. Quite expectedly, our very own Madame President together with her cohorts will welcome Bush like how a champion is greeted by his loyal subjects after a successful crusade against evil forces. Predictably, the Bush visit will be treated like the second coming of Christ himself, a profound visitation of “God” a miraculous rendezvous with our very own “divine-led” Ate Glo. They will talk for eight hours about nothing but increased global militarization and regimentation as a solution against “terrorism,” WTO troubleshooting through bilateral trade agreements and, of course, a tap in the back for Gloria, the United States’ leading cheerleader in Asia for her unwavering support of US policies and unilateral actions.
Meanwhile, the patriotic ranks of the working people will be guaranteed a taste of hell through possible and successive violent dispersals if they will not behave in the presence of the most powerful man in the world. The Arroyo Administration, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), will deny our people the right to peacefully protest, assemble and register their collective sentiment but will give the Bush entourage and the US Secret Service all the freedom they need to make sure Mr. Dubya’s visit will be pleasant. Last week poor families living in shanties near Congress were forcibly demolished because the government consider them as an eyesore to the great white leader. To Gloria, this is efficient housekeeping. To the Arroyo government, this is “Filipino hospitality.” It is the act of welcoming the guest to our house while beating and evicting the residents.
To that the working people say: NO! NO WELCOME FOR GEORGE W.BUSH! NO TO GLORIA’S CURTAILMENT OF THE PEOPLES’ RIGHTS! The labor sector will not be denied of their right to protest!
Clearly, the 8-hour Bush visit will not benefit the working class in any particular way. The visit will not guarantee them more jobs, higher wages, food in the dining table, nor will it raise hopes for the many poor families living below poverty line. In fact, the visit will be highly detrimental to our interest. Bush will push for post-WTO bilateral agreements that will boost the liberalization of vital industries, trade and services that can lead to more job loss, increased contractualization and diminished wages.
Gloria kept on bragging the numerous lists of supposed benefits of furthering strong ties with the US government. However, contrary to her false claims, the relationship between the US and the Philippines historically has always been an exploitative one, with the Philippines as the perennial loser. We did not get anything from the deployment of US troops here in the Philippines or with the Powell visit. The promised 100,000 jobs for Filipinos in post-war Iraq are unfulfilled. Trade relations between US and Philippines are highly disadvantageous to our part.
Furthermore, why do we have to glorify Bush with our warm welcome if all around the globe and even in his own country the US President is scorned, ridiculed and hated for his unilateral and militarist actions? Why do we have to welcome the world’s greatest terrorist and butcher of Iraq and Afghanistan? Why do we have to give warm reception to the real coddler of the likes of Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and the Al-Qaeda group? Why do we have to roll the red carpet to the number one defender of WTO and capitalist globalization so raucously preached by Ate Glo?
The working people already have their hands full with the rubbish of Gloria. We do not need the filthy garbage truck that is George W. Bush. Now is the time to expose this false god for what he really is: A terrorist, a criminal, a murderer and lastly, a Goliath with “feet of clay”.
May 8, 2003
INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS REGARDING THE INVASION, OCCUPATION AND "RECONSTRUCTION" OF IRAQ To Endorse the Demands
The US-lead invasion and occupation of Iraq is illegal
In 1946, the Nuremberg Tribunal judged that "To initiate a war of aggression is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole."
Consequently, we demand
An immediate end to the illegal occupation of Iraq by the United States and the United Kingdom and the immediate withdrawal and removal of all foreign troops, military advisers and representatives, military equipment and armaments.
We insist that
The Iraqi people have absolute and sovereign right to determine their own future and any decision about the need for international assistance rests solely with the Iraqis.
The United States' and United Kingdom's occupation of Iraq is illegal, as is any administrative authority or interim government established by the occupying forces. Therefore, any decisions made by the occupying forces or their representatives are not binding on the Iraqi people.
The UN-held escrow Iraqi oil account must not be used to foot the bill for reconstruction of the damage caused by the illegal war and UN sanctions. The funds must be held in trust for the Iraqi people until there is a legitimate and genuinely representative government elected by the people.
While we strongly support independent civil society assistance to and solidarity with the Iraqi people, the United Nations and its agencies, other governments and non-governmental organisations should not serve as a cover to legitimise, or profit from, the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Humanitarian aid must not be used to support or promote the military, political and economic objectives of the occupying forces.
The UN, other governments and NGOs should not use their own resources or public money to replace humanitarian assistance, aid, reconstruction or other development activities which are the legal and moral responsibility of the invading and occupying forces, nor should they characterise as "aid" that which is the entitlement of the Iraqi people.
The Iraqi people have sovereignty over all natural resources and utilities. The invading and occupying forces or their private sector proxies have no right to make any decisions about who controls or benefits from the exploitation of natural resources or the construction and delivery of basic services and utilities.
The full costs of all reconstruction, compensation and reparations for the physical, social, economic, psychological, ecological, cultural and heritage destruction caused by the US-lead invasion of Iraq must be borne by the aggressors.
Reparations for the physical, social, economic, psychological, ecological, cultural and heritage loss, damage and suffering caused by the UN Security Council mandated sanctions must be borne by the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.
In addition, reparations must be paid to all persons who have suffered physical, economic and psychological loss and trauma resulting from twelve years of sanctions and the 2003 invasion based on individual and collective claims and dispensed by an independent compensation tribunal.
We call for
A Peoples War Tribunal based on the Geneva Conventions and Nuremberg Tribunal principles and precedents to investigate and prosecute the war crimes of, amongst others, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Tommy Franks, Tony Blair, Jack Straw, and John Howard.
International sanctions on the aggressor nations for their illegal, preemptive attack on a sovereign nation.
The United States Government to desist from threats of force and use of force against all sovereign nations.
Focus on the Global South
8 May 2003
In 1946, the Nuremberg Tribunal judged that "To initiate a war of aggression is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole."
Consequently, we demand
An immediate end to the illegal occupation of Iraq by the United States and the United Kingdom and the immediate withdrawal and removal of all foreign troops, military advisers and representatives, military equipment and armaments.
We insist that
The Iraqi people have absolute and sovereign right to determine their own future and any decision about the need for international assistance rests solely with the Iraqis.
The United States' and United Kingdom's occupation of Iraq is illegal, as is any administrative authority or interim government established by the occupying forces. Therefore, any decisions made by the occupying forces or their representatives are not binding on the Iraqi people.
The UN-held escrow Iraqi oil account must not be used to foot the bill for reconstruction of the damage caused by the illegal war and UN sanctions. The funds must be held in trust for the Iraqi people until there is a legitimate and genuinely representative government elected by the people.
While we strongly support independent civil society assistance to and solidarity with the Iraqi people, the United Nations and its agencies, other governments and non-governmental organisations should not serve as a cover to legitimise, or profit from, the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Humanitarian aid must not be used to support or promote the military, political and economic objectives of the occupying forces.
The UN, other governments and NGOs should not use their own resources or public money to replace humanitarian assistance, aid, reconstruction or other development activities which are the legal and moral responsibility of the invading and occupying forces, nor should they characterise as "aid" that which is the entitlement of the Iraqi people.
The Iraqi people have sovereignty over all natural resources and utilities. The invading and occupying forces or their private sector proxies have no right to make any decisions about who controls or benefits from the exploitation of natural resources or the construction and delivery of basic services and utilities.
The full costs of all reconstruction, compensation and reparations for the physical, social, economic, psychological, ecological, cultural and heritage destruction caused by the US-lead invasion of Iraq must be borne by the aggressors.
Reparations for the physical, social, economic, psychological, ecological, cultural and heritage loss, damage and suffering caused by the UN Security Council mandated sanctions must be borne by the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.
In addition, reparations must be paid to all persons who have suffered physical, economic and psychological loss and trauma resulting from twelve years of sanctions and the 2003 invasion based on individual and collective claims and dispensed by an independent compensation tribunal.
We call for
A Peoples War Tribunal based on the Geneva Conventions and Nuremberg Tribunal principles and precedents to investigate and prosecute the war crimes of, amongst others, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Tommy Franks, Tony Blair, Jack Straw, and John Howard.
International sanctions on the aggressor nations for their illegal, preemptive attack on a sovereign nation.
The United States Government to desist from threats of force and use of force against all sovereign nations.
Focus on the Global South
8 May 2003
Apr 5, 2003
The Root of Bush's Obsession
THE debate on the United Nations on the obsession of US President Bush to wage war on Iraq last Friday (Saturday in Manila) after the latest report of top UN inspector Hans Blix showcased the irrationality of the American position, which is supported wholeheartedly by our ownobsessed president, Gloria Arroyo.
Blix reported that the Iraq is cooperating in the world body's demand for disarmament. And in recent days, Blix said, there has been "substantial measure of disarmament."
"We are not watching the breaking of toothpicks; lethal weapons are being destroyed," Blix said. US Secretary of State Colin Powell's reply undermined even more the US position. He said: "I know these are not toothpicks, but real missiles. But the problem is, we won't know how many missiles there are, how many toothpicks there are." Powell's statement brings us to the question: If they don't know how many missiles there are, why are they so obssessed with going to war to eliminate something they are not sure about?
The irrationality of the Bush administration is in stark contrast to the sensible position that the French government has taken. In the UN debate, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin was the epitome of common sense.
Reacting to the March 17 deadline of the US, which many said is ridiculous, De Villepin said: "Why do we need to use force at any price when we can resolve this peacefully?"
Why, indeed?
Ambassador Reynaldo O. Arcilla, whose expertise on disarmament and Middle East earned him appointment as member of the five-man committee on Afghanistan formed by the UN Security Council a few months before 9/11, gave some explanation in a recent speech before the Rotary Club Makati East.
Excerpts from Arcilla's speech: "Why the seeming obsession to attack Iraq? One analyst attributes it to the unpublicized but real threat to US economic hegemony from the use of the Euro as an alternative oil transaction currency. The Federal Reserve Bank's greatest nightmare is that OPEC will switch its international transactions from a dollar standard to a euro standard. Saddam sealed his fate, so to speak, when he made the switch in November 2000 and later converted his $10 billion reserve at the UN to euro. Imagine if OPEC switches to euro. Everybody would have to flush dollars out of their (central bank) reserve funds and replace them with euro. The dollar would crash anywhere from 20 to 40 percent, followed by a currency collapse and massive inflation. Foreign funds would stream out of US stock markets and dollar- denominated assets. What you will see would be a typical Third World country scenario.
"... That the US supported Bin Laden and the Taliban for years and viewed them as freedom fighters against the Russians is well known. However, there are more intriguing things. Did you know that as late as 1998 the US was paying the salary of every single Taliban official in Afghanistan; that there is more oil and gas in the Caspian Sea area than in Saudi Arabia, but you need a pipeline through Afghanistan to get the oil out; that UNOCAL, a giant American oil conglomerate, wanted to build a 1000-mile long pipeline from the Caspian Sea through Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea; that UNOCAL spent $10 billion on geological surveys for pipeline construction and very nicely courted the Taliban for their support in allowing the construction to begin; that all of the leading Taliban officials were in Texas negotiating with UNOCAL in 1998; that in 1999 the Taliban changed its mind and threw UNOCAL out of the country and awarded the pipeline project to a company from Argentina; that Mr. John Maresca, VP of UNOCAL, testified before the US Congress and said no pipeline will be built until the Taliban was gone and a more friendly government was established in Kabul; that the leader of the new government in Afghanistan formerly worked for UNOCAL; that the special envoy appointed by Bush to deal with that new government was the "chief consultant to UNOCAL"; that the Bush family acquired their wealth through oil; that Bush's Secretary of Interior was the president of an oil company before going to Washington; that George Bush Sr. now works with the "Carlysle Group" specializing in armaments and huge oil investments around the world; that Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser, worked for Chevron before going to Washington; that Chevron named one of its newest supertankers after Condoleezza; that Dick Cheney worked for the giant oil conglomerate Haliburton before becoming vice president; that Haliburton gave Cheney $34 million as a farewell gift when he left Haliburton; that Haliburton is in the pipeline business; that the US government quietly announced on 31 January 2002 that it will support the construction of the Trans-Afghanistan pipeline; that President Musharraf of Pakistan and President Karzai of Afghanistan announced in February 2002 their agreement to build the proposed gas pipeline from Central Asia to Pakistan via Afghanistan? Stranger things may have happened but these assertions certainly leave one wondering what the real purpose is of the Bush administration in dealing with Iraq, known to have the second biggest oil reserve after Saudi Arabia.
"Aside from the seeming vested interest of Bush and his people in the oil business, the American economy is sagging and the US needs armed conflicts to keep the armaments factories humming. (Lest we forget, the Republican Party has always been associated with the corporate military-industrial complex in the United States.) The presidential election is just around the corner and Bush Jr. does not want to suffer the same fate as his father. His old man didn't get reelected despite the surge in his popularity right after the 1991 Gulf War because of the way the economy was going. Bush Jr. needs a victory in Iraq and timing is very important. Get the economy going by spending more on the war before the campaign starts for election 2004."
Blix reported that the Iraq is cooperating in the world body's demand for disarmament. And in recent days, Blix said, there has been "substantial measure of disarmament."
"We are not watching the breaking of toothpicks; lethal weapons are being destroyed," Blix said. US Secretary of State Colin Powell's reply undermined even more the US position. He said: "I know these are not toothpicks, but real missiles. But the problem is, we won't know how many missiles there are, how many toothpicks there are." Powell's statement brings us to the question: If they don't know how many missiles there are, why are they so obssessed with going to war to eliminate something they are not sure about?
The irrationality of the Bush administration is in stark contrast to the sensible position that the French government has taken. In the UN debate, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin was the epitome of common sense.
Reacting to the March 17 deadline of the US, which many said is ridiculous, De Villepin said: "Why do we need to use force at any price when we can resolve this peacefully?"
Why, indeed?
Ambassador Reynaldo O. Arcilla, whose expertise on disarmament and Middle East earned him appointment as member of the five-man committee on Afghanistan formed by the UN Security Council a few months before 9/11, gave some explanation in a recent speech before the Rotary Club Makati East.
Excerpts from Arcilla's speech: "Why the seeming obsession to attack Iraq? One analyst attributes it to the unpublicized but real threat to US economic hegemony from the use of the Euro as an alternative oil transaction currency. The Federal Reserve Bank's greatest nightmare is that OPEC will switch its international transactions from a dollar standard to a euro standard. Saddam sealed his fate, so to speak, when he made the switch in November 2000 and later converted his $10 billion reserve at the UN to euro. Imagine if OPEC switches to euro. Everybody would have to flush dollars out of their (central bank) reserve funds and replace them with euro. The dollar would crash anywhere from 20 to 40 percent, followed by a currency collapse and massive inflation. Foreign funds would stream out of US stock markets and dollar- denominated assets. What you will see would be a typical Third World country scenario.
"... That the US supported Bin Laden and the Taliban for years and viewed them as freedom fighters against the Russians is well known. However, there are more intriguing things. Did you know that as late as 1998 the US was paying the salary of every single Taliban official in Afghanistan; that there is more oil and gas in the Caspian Sea area than in Saudi Arabia, but you need a pipeline through Afghanistan to get the oil out; that UNOCAL, a giant American oil conglomerate, wanted to build a 1000-mile long pipeline from the Caspian Sea through Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea; that UNOCAL spent $10 billion on geological surveys for pipeline construction and very nicely courted the Taliban for their support in allowing the construction to begin; that all of the leading Taliban officials were in Texas negotiating with UNOCAL in 1998; that in 1999 the Taliban changed its mind and threw UNOCAL out of the country and awarded the pipeline project to a company from Argentina; that Mr. John Maresca, VP of UNOCAL, testified before the US Congress and said no pipeline will be built until the Taliban was gone and a more friendly government was established in Kabul; that the leader of the new government in Afghanistan formerly worked for UNOCAL; that the special envoy appointed by Bush to deal with that new government was the "chief consultant to UNOCAL"; that the Bush family acquired their wealth through oil; that Bush's Secretary of Interior was the president of an oil company before going to Washington; that George Bush Sr. now works with the "Carlysle Group" specializing in armaments and huge oil investments around the world; that Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser, worked for Chevron before going to Washington; that Chevron named one of its newest supertankers after Condoleezza; that Dick Cheney worked for the giant oil conglomerate Haliburton before becoming vice president; that Haliburton gave Cheney $34 million as a farewell gift when he left Haliburton; that Haliburton is in the pipeline business; that the US government quietly announced on 31 January 2002 that it will support the construction of the Trans-Afghanistan pipeline; that President Musharraf of Pakistan and President Karzai of Afghanistan announced in February 2002 their agreement to build the proposed gas pipeline from Central Asia to Pakistan via Afghanistan? Stranger things may have happened but these assertions certainly leave one wondering what the real purpose is of the Bush administration in dealing with Iraq, known to have the second biggest oil reserve after Saudi Arabia.
"Aside from the seeming vested interest of Bush and his people in the oil business, the American economy is sagging and the US needs armed conflicts to keep the armaments factories humming. (Lest we forget, the Republican Party has always been associated with the corporate military-industrial complex in the United States.) The presidential election is just around the corner and Bush Jr. does not want to suffer the same fate as his father. His old man didn't get reelected despite the surge in his popularity right after the 1991 Gulf War because of the way the economy was going. Bush Jr. needs a victory in Iraq and timing is very important. Get the economy going by spending more on the war before the campaign starts for election 2004."
Feb 4, 2003
US War on Iraq: Terrorism at its worst!
Last week, US President George W. Bush delivered a war speech in US Congress even as the United Nations Security Council and other UN members are positioning for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Iraq. Bushand his minions only manifested their true character as top terrorists in the world, thus dislodging Osama bin Laden from the top spot.
The US government doesn’t care if other small nations, like the Philippines, would be gravely affected by the war. If it ignored the warning of UNICEF and World Health Organization that if the war escalates over three million people would suffer from malnutrition and the total direct casualties would hit more than 250,000, neither would it mind the displacement of more than a million of our overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East. It would not be bothered also if the war would lead to the skyrocketing of oil prices thus further ruining the Philippine economy.
We have about 1.4 million Filipinos working and living in the Middle East. All of them are in danger of being annihilated by the weapons of mass destruction from both contending sides. Right now, the Philippine government is preparing for the immediate evacuation of our OFWs once the war breaks out. Unfortunately, the government could only provide two C-130 planes that have a loading capacity of merely 100 persons each. The government is saying that we could easily ask the assistance of the US for the OFW evacuation because of the existing Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the Philippine and US governments. However, once the war gets going, what assurance could we get from the US when it is already busy bombarding and wiping out not only Saddam but also the whole Iraqi populace? Worse, our
OFWs might become Iraqi targets if the Arroyo government expresses its full support for the US invasion of Iraq.
It is clear now that the US seeks to “end” terrorism by sowing fear and terror among the peoples of the world by instigating war of aggression against any leader of a nation that is critical or unyielding to US foreign policies; even without any concrete evidence of terrorist linkages and/or activities. Unfortunately, the Philippine government seems bent on supporting the US invasion, which would only further inflame terrorism and would make our country and the Filipinos here and abroad vulnerable to terrorist revenge attacks. In fact, Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said as early as December that our 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty binds the Philippines to help the US and vice-versa since it requires the two countries to assist each other in case of attack. With the ongoing Balikatan Exercises and the MLSA, it is quite doubtful that the Philippine government would decide otherwise.
“Terrorist” tag and possessing “weapons of mass destruction” are in fact smokescreens only for the real objective of the US in its latest military adventure – OIL. By invading Iraq and ousting Saddam Hussein, the US will be able to remove one pestering problem that threatens the easy access of Middle Eastern oil needed by the American market as well as its allies. Thus, the US’ bullish and arrogant stand against Iraq as part of its “war against terror” is actually a deception.
The Alliance of Progressive Labor and Akbayan condemn the US war of aggression on Iraq and call on the government not to support it and instead work on viable economic programs for the displaced OFWs and other coping mechanisms once the war breaks out in the Middle East.
No to US-led invasion of Iraq!
No to US’ war-for-oil!
Stop US global terrorism!
Rescue OFWs and provide them jobs in the Philippines!
Prevent war and avoid the massive loss of innocent lives!
Alliance of Progressive Labor AKBAYAN · MASP
The US government doesn’t care if other small nations, like the Philippines, would be gravely affected by the war. If it ignored the warning of UNICEF and World Health Organization that if the war escalates over three million people would suffer from malnutrition and the total direct casualties would hit more than 250,000, neither would it mind the displacement of more than a million of our overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East. It would not be bothered also if the war would lead to the skyrocketing of oil prices thus further ruining the Philippine economy.
We have about 1.4 million Filipinos working and living in the Middle East. All of them are in danger of being annihilated by the weapons of mass destruction from both contending sides. Right now, the Philippine government is preparing for the immediate evacuation of our OFWs once the war breaks out. Unfortunately, the government could only provide two C-130 planes that have a loading capacity of merely 100 persons each. The government is saying that we could easily ask the assistance of the US for the OFW evacuation because of the existing Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the Philippine and US governments. However, once the war gets going, what assurance could we get from the US when it is already busy bombarding and wiping out not only Saddam but also the whole Iraqi populace? Worse, our
OFWs might become Iraqi targets if the Arroyo government expresses its full support for the US invasion of Iraq.
It is clear now that the US seeks to “end” terrorism by sowing fear and terror among the peoples of the world by instigating war of aggression against any leader of a nation that is critical or unyielding to US foreign policies; even without any concrete evidence of terrorist linkages and/or activities. Unfortunately, the Philippine government seems bent on supporting the US invasion, which would only further inflame terrorism and would make our country and the Filipinos here and abroad vulnerable to terrorist revenge attacks. In fact, Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said as early as December that our 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty binds the Philippines to help the US and vice-versa since it requires the two countries to assist each other in case of attack. With the ongoing Balikatan Exercises and the MLSA, it is quite doubtful that the Philippine government would decide otherwise.
“Terrorist” tag and possessing “weapons of mass destruction” are in fact smokescreens only for the real objective of the US in its latest military adventure – OIL. By invading Iraq and ousting Saddam Hussein, the US will be able to remove one pestering problem that threatens the easy access of Middle Eastern oil needed by the American market as well as its allies. Thus, the US’ bullish and arrogant stand against Iraq as part of its “war against terror” is actually a deception.
The Alliance of Progressive Labor and Akbayan condemn the US war of aggression on Iraq and call on the government not to support it and instead work on viable economic programs for the displaced OFWs and other coping mechanisms once the war breaks out in the Middle East.
No to US-led invasion of Iraq!
No to US’ war-for-oil!
Stop US global terrorism!
Rescue OFWs and provide them jobs in the Philippines!
Prevent war and avoid the massive loss of innocent lives!
Alliance of Progressive Labor AKBAYAN · MASP
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