kriz@skat.usc.edu (Dennis Kriz) (12/14/90)
This is taken from a working paper of the American Friends Service Committee, "Talking Points on the Crisis in the Persion Gulf", Oct. 9, 1990: Events in the Middle East since the beginning of August -- invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and the subsequent military buildup in the Gulf region -- make us fearful that there will be war, war that will kill and maim many people and destroy both natural and human-made resources. Hopes raised by the ending of the Cold War are being dashed by the rush of military actions and responses in a region flooded with sophisticated armament. As we address these ominious developments, our perspective and recommendations flow from our own and the AFSC's fundamental values and understandings: * Rejection of military means to resolve political issues; * Support for non-military means for responding to aggression and injustice, including economic sanctions; * Belief in the need for and value of negotiations in conflict situations; * Support for strengthening international bodies; * Concern for the human impact of political and military events -- including concern for noncombatants and for those affected by economic sanctions. Dennis again. The document itself is rather long (13 pages). I am going to give only the policy recommendations suggested to the AFSC which are listed in the paper: IRAQ'S INVASION: Iraq should withdraw its military forces from Kuwait and submit its grievances to a negotiating process. Saddam Hussein must also end his calls for "Holy War" and other provocations to prepare for a negotiated settlement. KUWAIT: Kuwait's sovereignty must be restored. Iraqi withdrawl from Kuwait must not be linked directly to Iraqi demands for political change (in Kuwait)); the future course of Kuwait should be left for the Kuwaitis to decide. THE MIDDLE EAST CONTEXT FOR THE CURRENT CRISIS: The United States should support United Nations and other multilateral efforts to acheive negotiated settlements of the major conflicts in the Middle East -- the Gulf Crisis the Israeli/Palestinian/Arab conflict, and the situation in Lebanon -- on the principles of self-determination, mutual recognition and mutual security. US STRATEGIC INTERESTS IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA: AFSC believes that United States' interests and the interests of those in the Middle East would best be served by an immediate halt to the build up of U.S. forces, an end to U.S. naval interdiction, and a phased withdrawl of U.S. forces from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Such steps with UN inspection of vessels bound to or from Iraq, would allow sanctions to work. President Bush should take the lead in diplomatic efforts to replace U.S. forces with an Arab or United Nations peacekeeping presence. GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES: Whatever the ultimate solution in the Gulf, steps must be taken to lift the debts of the Third World and to assist in forms of development that put the needs and interests of the majorities of people, expecially including women who are often neglected by development plans, ahead of gain for narrow elites. MILITARY FORCES IN THE REGION: The AFSC has called upon the United States government to use the current crisis as an opportunity to initiate discussions with all major arms suppliers to the Middle East about steps to halt the arms transfers, not only to Iraq, but to all nations in the region. ECONOMICS AND OIL: The United States urgently needs to adopt a long-term energy policy that prohibits profiteering in times of international crisis while it discourages use of oil, encourages safe alternative sources, and address the burdens that possible increased oil prices place on low income people. The United States must find wasy to reduce its oil consumption markedly. Incentives must be developed for people to live simply, use less packaging, reduce and recycle waste, and prevent polution. The United States must forego its perception of its "right" to foreign oil. HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS: While the AFSC supports economic sanctions against Iraq, we have rejected the use of food and medicine as weapons. The embargo should permit their shipment to Iraq. Non-combatants must not be placed at risk. Iraq should release immediately all hostages and detainees in Iraq and occupied Kuwait. The American Friends Service Committee has established a Gulf Assistance Fund, to contribute to emergency assistance efforts of a concortium of non-governmental organizations in Jordon. The U.S. should be challenged to respond adequately to the harsh suffering of refugees and should make maximum use of its airlift capacity (so well demonstrated in teh past months) to fly evacuees out of Jordon. The United States should support Jordon in seeking relief from UN sanctions under Article 50 of the UN Charter. Furthermore, it should allow free passage of ships bearing food and other non-military goods into the Jordanian port of Aqaba. The United States should support the application of United Nations Article 50 to the situation of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories as well as in Jordon. It should also offer direct economic aid to Palestinian health and welfare institutions on the West Bank and in Gaza. DOMESTIC REPERCUSSIONS We reject the concept that participation in military service is a measure of gender equality and the suggestion that it marks the success of struggles for women's rights in the United States. The President and other U.S. leaders must exercise moral authority to deplore and help put a stop to displays of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry, even as they seek a peaceful resolution of the confrontation that has given rise to them. Dennis once more. If you'd like more information on what the Quakers are saying in concern to this crisis, you can write the AFSC at: American Friends Service Committee 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 dennis kriz@skat.usc.edu