This article appeared in War Times/Tiempo de Guerras No. 13, October 2003.

http://www.war-times.org/issues/13art6.html

Peace or Permanent War? Democracy or Empire?

By Amy Quinn and Max Elbaum

Since Sept. 11, 2001, people across the United States have been wrestling with a stark political choice. Will the country follow President Bush down the road of permanent war and unilateral empire building? Or will the U.S. join the majority of the world's people in a cooperative quest for peace and global justice?

Today, as the cost in human lives and dollars mounts daily in Iraq, this choice is more vivid and concrete than ever.

THE BUSH AGENDA

1. 'Us vs. Them' and Preemptive War

Bush's unilateral approach to foreign policy and permanent war makes life less safe and secure for people in this country and around the world. Bush is undermining critical institutions and treaties such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the Biological and Chemical Weapons Convention, the Kyoto Climate Treaty and nuclear disarmament agreements.

2. Record Military Spending, Subsidizing the Wealthy and Ignoring the Poor

The high cost of war and militarism (about $500 billion per year) combined with Bush's $275 billion tax cut in 2004 (two-thirds of which goes to the wealthy) is forcing massive cuts in social spending by all levels of government. From a $271 billion federal budget surplus in 2001, the White House has led the country to a $500 billion deficit this year. Under Bush, three million jobs have been lost, poverty and racial disparities are rising and per capita income is falling.

3. Illegal Regime Change and Occupation

The Bush administration violated international law by invading and occupying Iraq. Now it refuses to withdraw. The cost in Iraqi lives, U.S. soldiers' lives and U.S. dollars--at least $120 billion this year--is rising every day.

4. Scapegoating Immigrants

Bush's anti-immigrant policies have held thousands of immigrants indefinitely without charge, subjected detainees to physical and mental abuse, allowed untrained local and state police to enforce immigration laws and fostered an atmosphere of anti-immigrant scapegoating. Men from nations with high Arab and Muslim populations are required to register with the government, leading to mass deportations of people with no terrorist ties.

5. Rollback of Civil Liberties

The administration wants to widen the scope of the USA Patriot Act, which has swept away critical rights and freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights. It would grant the government greater power to invade individuals' privacy, obtain records without people's knowledge and limit the public's access to government information.

6. Discrimination Based on Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation

The Bush administration is assaulting affirmative action, neglecting civil rights enforcement and promoting racial profiling in the name of the "war on terror." It is undermining voting rights and reproductive rights and is encouraging and supporting the anti-feminist and anti-gay fundamentalist right.

7. Corporate-Led Globalization

The administration has been promoting "free trade treaties" that enable U.S. corporations to set up shop in countries with the cheapest labor and the weakest environmental laws they can find. These trade policies have promoted a "race to the bottom," spreading unemployment, poverty and environmental degradation within the U.S. and around the world.

8. Financing Injustice and Bloodshed in Israel/Palestine

Washington continues to provide military and financial support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine. This fuels bloodshed and terrorism and blocks Palestinian self-determination.

A PEACE & JUSTICE AGENDA

1. A New Internationalism

To promote safety and fairness, we need to repeal Bush's preemptive war doctrine and tackle the threat of terrorism through multilateral cooperation. The government should affirm a commitment to the many conventions designed to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, promote human rights and end support for repressive dictatorships. We should withdraw U.S. military bases from the many countries where they are unwanted by the populace.

2. Jobs, Fair Taxes and Economic Equality

There should be a massive cut in the military budget. Our priorities must shift toward fighting poverty, producing jobs, protecting the environment and improving education. We need a single-payer universal health care system for the 44 million people with no benefits. The $120 billion spent on the war on Iraq could, for example, be used to double annual federal spending on education and veterans programs or to triple funds for housing and urban development.

3. End the Occupation of Iraq, Bring the Troops Home

The U.S. must end the occupation of Iraq, shift peacekeeping, governance and rebuilding to the Iraqi people, and fully fund the redevelopment efforts. The U.S. must allow for an independent process that infuses money into Iraqi businesses and protects the rights of Iraqi workers. All decision making that is not immediately turned over to Iraqis must be put under the supervision of the United Nations and other international peace and human rights institutions.

4. Expand Immigrant Rights and Build Trust

End the targeting of immigrants based on race, national origin or religion for special registration, detention and deportation. Legalization with access to permanent residency and citizenship, protection of civil rights and family reunification should be granted to all immigrant workers in the U.S.

5. Protect Individual Liberty and Dissent

Congress should repeal the Patriot Act and legislate pro-active measures to protect freedom of speech and association and to limit government stifling of dissent.

6. No to Racism and Sexism--Equality for All

We need to strengthen affirmative action and reproductive rights, broaden and enforce anti-discrimination laws, protect voting rights, re-fund and re-invigorate public education to create quality schooling for all and launch a nationwide debate to re-examine current failed policies of prison expansion and the so-called "War on Drugs."

7. People-led Fair Trade

International trade treaties must promote workers' rights, human rights and environmental protection. The North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization should be immediately replaced by genuinely fair agreements. We should cancel all debt owed to the U.S. by developing countries and provide massive resources to fight AIDS.

8. No Blank Check for Israel

Washington must end its massive and unconditional aid to Israel, demand an immediate end to the Israeli occupation and its settlements, respect self-determination of the Palestinian people and allow the U.N. and others in the Middle East region to negotiate peace.

Amy Quinn works with the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. (www.ips-dc.org). Max Elbaum is an editor of War Times.