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abolition-usa-digest      Saturday, July 28 2001      Volume 01 : Number 455




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

Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 18:27:23 -0700
From: [e-mail] (marylia)
Subject: (abolition-usa) NIF "Soaring Cost" report on web

AND IT'S AVAILABLE ON TRI-VALLEY CAREs' WEB SITE. READ ON...

The Department of Energy (DOE) is keeping the full cost of its largest
construction project from Congress and the American people.  Tri-Valley
CAREs latest report reveals $1.5 billion in hidden costs of building the
National Ignition Facility (NIF) mega-laser.  That increases its price tag
from DOE's current estimate of $3.5 billion to $5 billion.  DOE originally
told Congress the facility would be built for just $1.1 billion.

The report titled, "Soaring Cost, Shrinking Performance: The Status of the
National Ignition Facility" was written by Dr. Robert Civiak, who spent 10
years as the federal Office of Management and Budget Program Examiner for
DOE's nuclear weapons programs, including the NIF.

* THE FULL REPORT CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM OUR WEB SITE AT www.igc.org/tvc *
OR, YOU MAY ORDER A PAPER COPY FROM OUR OFFICE.

Construction spending is just the tip of the NIF iceberg.  The study
reveals that a full account of the cost to build and operate NIF would come
to $32 billion -- six times DOE's original estimate.  Even at that price,
the NIF is not assured of ever meeting its design specifications.  The
report documents several serious technical problems, which DOE has yet to
resolve, despite years of effort.

The report was commissioned by Tri-Valley CAREs, a citizens group located
in Livermore, California, where the NIF is being built at DOE's Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory.  Tri-Valley CAREs funded the study after DOE
ignored numerous calls for an independent assessment of the NIF.

The soaring cost and shrinking performance of the NIF reduces its cost
effectiveness by a factor of nine and strengthens the argument that the
facility is not worth its huge price tag.

We request your help to stop this financially wasteful and
proliferation-provocative new nuclear weapons project. Contact us for more
information. And, enjoy our report!

Peace,
Marylia Kelley

To order:

Marylia Kelley
Executive Director,
Tri-Valley CAREs
(Communities Against a Radioactive Environment)
2582 Old First Street
Livermore, CA 94550
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web site: http://www.igc.org/tvc



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 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 22:16:58 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: [abolition-caucus] Fwd: New Article: Democracy on its

- --part1_95.df4252f.2892291a_boundary
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It is absolute rubbish to think that this analysis is correct in the USA.
Their is a huge difference on numerous social policy issues between parties.
There is a huge difference on support of treaties, international
institutions, social security, health care, public education, the role of
religion and environmental responsibility. Clinton did not have the support
of the Congress or the military. Yet, progress in many areas of our society
was made.

The "left" has been decimated. It is not in touch with the concerns of
working people, especially on values issues. And working people are not
sensitized to security and environmental issues at all. That is clearly
because of the dominance of the media of economic interests. But, look how
the right organized in and through the churches on numerous social policy
issues. They learned this from the progressive organizing in the churches
during the civil rights movements. Statistically 7 out of 10 regular church
going people voted for Bush. Is he so moral? Is he so spiritual? Why? Did he
represent their economic interests? Did he appeal to their class identity?
These issues must be soberly answered. Nader's policies were much more in
sync with the interests of working people, yet, he did not stimulate their
passions. Why? Was Bush so charismatic?

Certainly both parties support corporate dominance of the market place and
thus disproportionate adherence to the desires of a small group in political
decision making. However, the Democrats currently still put other values into
the equation and those values are worth keeping.

Jonathan Granoff

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Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=2>It is absolute rubbish to think that this analysis is correct in the USA.
<BR>Their is a huge difference on numerous social policy issues between parties.
<BR>There is a huge difference on support of treaties, international
<BR>institutions, social security, health care, public education, the role of
<BR>religion and environmental responsibility. Clinton did not have the support
<BR>of the Congress or the military. Yet, progress in many areas of our society
<BR>was made.
<BR>
<BR>The "left" has been decimated. It is not in touch with the concerns of
<BR>working people, especially on values issues. And working people are not
<BR>sensitized to security and environmental issues at all. That is clearly
<BR>because of the dominance of the media of economic interests. But, look how
<BR>the right organized in and through the churches on numerous social policy
<BR>issues. They learned this from the progressive organizing in the churches
<BR>during the civil rights movements. Statistically 7 out of 10 regular church
<BR>going people voted for Bush. Is he so moral? Is he so spiritual? Why? Did he
<BR>represent their economic interests? Did he appeal to their class identity?
<BR>These issues must be soberly answered. Nader's policies were much more in
<BR>sync with the interests of working people, yet, he did not stimulate their
<BR>passions. Why? Was Bush so charismatic?
<BR>
<BR>Certainly both parties support corporate dominance of the market place and
<BR>thus disproportionate adherence to the desires of a small group in political
<BR>decision making. However, the Democrats currently still put other values into
<BR>the equation and those values are worth keeping.
<BR>
<BR>Jonathan Granoff</FONT></HTML>

- --part1_95.df4252f.2892291a_boundary--

- -
 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 22:48:37 -0400
From: "Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Action Alert on Missile Defense

My question is about Theatre Missile Defense?  It is my understanding that
TMD is not banned by the ABM Treaty.  Instead of only asking Congress to
withhold support for weapons technologies that would violate the ABM Treaty,
we need to be opposing all of it.  Just because something does not violate
the ABM Treaty does not make it ok.  The ABM Treaty was a limited vehicle --
it does not cover all these systems.

We need to oppose the whole $8.3 billion package Bush is requesting for
BMDO.  We need to oppose all research and development for every part of Star
Wars.  TMD systems will be just as provacative as NMD in the end.  China
will be surrounded by TMD systems and will be forced to escalate their
nuclear arsenal and the peace movement will be scratching their heads
wondering how it all happened.  TMD must be opposed as well.  How come few
in the U.S. mention it?

Peace movements in the Middle East and Asian Pacific region seem to
understand the importance of TMD.  Please talk with your local groups about
this ignoring of TMD in the suggested legislative strategy for Washington
lobbying.

Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 90083
Gainesville, FL. 32607
[phone]
http://www.space4peace.org
[e-mail]


- ----- Original Message -----
From: David Culp <[e-mail]>
To: Abolition USA (E-mail) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 6:47 PM
Subject: (abolition-usa) Action Alert on Missile Defense


> Dear Friends --
>
> Below is FCNL's recent action alert on missile defense. Links to
background
> material and to sample letters to Congress are in the alert.
>
> Feel free to use, modify or adapt the alert for your own use.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> David Culp
> Friends Committee on National Legislation
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
>
> FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE - July 26th, 2001
>
> The following action items from the Friends Committee on National
> Legislation (FCNL) focus on federal policy issues currently before
Congress
> or the Administration as of July 26th, 2001.
>
> TOPICS: MISSILE DEFENSE
>
> MISSILE DEFENSE: Next week, the House Armed Services Committee is expected
> to consider the 2002 Defense Authorization bill which includes
authorization
> for missile defense program activities.  The bill is likely to include
> provisions authorizing activities which would violate the terms of the
> Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty with Russia and accelerate research,
> development and deployment of a missile defense system.  The Bush
> administration has announced its intention to either terminate the ABM
> treaty with Russia's consent or, barring this, unilaterally withdraw from
> the treaty sometime over the next several months.  The President has also
> proposed a dramatic 57% ($3 billion) increase in spending on missile
defense
> research, development and deployment for FY2002, which, if enacted would
> raise total missile defense spending to $8.3 billion. The Senate will
> consider the Defense Authorization bill in September.
>
> ACTION: Please contact your legislators today, especially if they serve on
> the House or Senate Armed Services Committee.  Urge them to oppose any
> provisions in the Defense Department Authorization bill which would
> authorize missile defense program activities that violate the ABM treaty.
> The U.S. should not rush to deploy a missile defense system that would
> undermine international arms control and disarmament efforts.  Please
> contact your senators or organize delegations to meet with your senators
to
> discuss these concerns over the August and Labor Day recess.
>
> You can use FCNL's web site to find out if your senators or representative
> are on the Senate or House Armed Services Committees.  Click on the link
> below, enter your zip code in the appropriate box, and click <Go>.  Scroll
> down to the bottom of the page and find your senators and representative.
> Under their names, click on <Info>.  Committee information is listed under
> the heading <Other Information>.  Here is the link:
> <http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/>.  You can also contact Peter
> Morscheck at FCNL, via email at [e-mail] or via telephone at (202)
> 547-6000 x 115.
>
> USE FCNL'S WEB SITE TO MAKE LETTER-WRITING EASIER:  Start with the sample
> letter posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language,
> then send your message as an email directly from our site or print it out
> and mail it. To view a sample letter, click on the link below.  Then enter
> your zip code and click <Go> in the <Take Action Now> box.   Here is the
> link <http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=44679&type=CO&azip=>.
>
> BACKGROUND:  Last week, the Bush Administration announced that U.S.
missile
> defense research and development (R&D) activities over the next several
> months will likely bring the U.S. out of compliance with the ABM treaty.
> This week, the Administration indicated that it hopes the Russians will
> agree to abandon the treaty with the U.S., but that the Administration
plans
> to move ahead aggressively with its missile defense program whether the
> Russians agree or not.   The Administration wants to complete construction
> of a missile defense interceptor site at Fort Greeley, Alaska by 2004.  It
> plans to begin clearing trees at the site this fall (which would not
violate
> the ABM treaty), and it would begin pouring concrete next spring (which
> would violate the treaty).  The treaty requires that the U.S. or Russia
give
> 6 months formal notice to the other party before withdrawing from the
> treaty.   However, the Bush Administration has not yet given this notice
to
> the Russians.
>
> It is uncertain how the Russians will respond.  Last week, following the
> meeting between Presidents Bush and Putin, the Russians indicated they
would
> be willing to negotiate a new agreement on missile defenses.  However, the
> Bush Administration indicated that it had no interest in revising the
treaty
> or negotiating a new formal agreement. Instead, the Administration is
> seeking to continue high level consultations with Russia through which
they
> hope to achieve informal agreement that both countries will simply
withdraw
> from the treaty.
>
> The Administration is proposing to expedite deployment of a missile
defense
> system and expand R&D despite serious questions about the justification,
> efficacy, cost, and reliability of such a  system.  For example:
>
> * There is little credible threat of a ballistic missile attack from
> countries such as North Korea, Iraq, or Iran, and these improbable threats
> can be reduced further and at much less cost through bilateral and
> multilateral diplomatic initiatives and verifiable arms control
agreements.
>
> * Governments around the world, especially in Europe and East Asia are
> concerned that U.S. missile defense plans will undermine global arms
control
> and disarmament efforts.
>
> * An accelerated missile defense program is virtually certain to lead
China
> to increase the number of nuclear weapons pointed at U.S. cities and may
> discourage Russia from making deep cuts in its arsenal.
>
> * After over thirty years and over $100 billion of research and
development,
> engineers have yet to design a missile defense system that will work under
> realistic conditions.
>
> * Finally, the Bush administration has yet to provide full details to
> Congress or the American people about what it is they plan to build, how
> much it will cost, or how they will pay for it.
>
> Expensive, high-tech weapons are no substitute for effective diplomacy,
arms
> control, disarmament, and international cooperation.  Cooperative
> international arms control and disarmament agreements will be far more
> effective in advancing peace and security in the years ahead and will cost
> far less than a missile shield.
>
> The Bush Administration has tried to present missile defense as a moral
> imperative for the country.  However, we at FCNL believe that the true
moral
> imperative is not to build yet another expensive, provocative, new weapon
> system, but to reduce the threat of nuclear war and accidental catastrophe
> through arms control, disarmament, and international cooperation.  U.S.
> leadership is needed now to stop another arms race before it begins.
>
> Toward that end, the U.S. should:
> * immediately de-alert U.S. nuclear weapons and encourage Russia to do the
> same;
> * sharply reduce the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile;
> * provide assistance and incentives to Russia and others to safely dispose
> of weapons of mass destruction, to halt the export of related technologies
> and weapons, and to redirect weapons industries to peaceful purposes;
> * provide positive incentives to North Korea to permanently halt its
> ballistic missile program; and
> * vigorously pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures to
> rapidly reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons stockpiles and other weapons
of
> mass destruction.
>
> For more background information on missile defense, please see FCNL's web
> site <http://www.fcnl.org/issues/nuc/nmdindx.htm>.
>
> CONTACTING LEGISLATORS
>
> Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
>
> Sen. ________
> U.S. Senate
> Washington, DC 20510
>
> Rep. ________
> U.S. House of Representatives
> Washington, DC 20515
>
> Information on your members is available on FCNL's web site:
> http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/
>
> CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION
>
> White House Comment Desk: 202-456-1111
> FAX: [phone]
> E-MAIL: [e-mail]
> WEB PAGE: http://www.whitehouse.gov
>
> President George W. Bush
> The White House
> Washington, DC 20500
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> This message supplements other FCNL materials and does not reflect FCNL's
> complete policy position on any issue.  For further information, please
> contact FCNL.
>
> Mail: 245 Second Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
> Email: [e-mail]
> Phone: [phone]
> Toll Free: [phone]
> Fax: [phone]
> Web: http://www.fcnl.org
>
> Your contributions sustain our Quaker witness in Washington.  We welcome
> your gifts to FCNL, or, if you need a tax deduction, to the FCNL Education
> Fund.  You can use your credit card to donate money securely to FCNL
through
> a special page on FCNL's web site http://www.fcnl.org/suprt/indx.htm
> FCNL also accepts credit card donations over the phone.  For more
> information about donating, please contact the Development Team directly
at
> [e-mail]. Thank you.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> This message may be found regularly on FCNL's web site http://www.fcnl.org
> where a printer-friendly version is available and on PeaceNet in the
> fcnl.updates conference.
>
> This message is distributed regularly via the fcnl-news mailing list.  To
> subscribe to this list, send an e-mail message to
>
> [e-mail]
>
> Leave the subject line blank.  The message should read
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> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
> We seek a society with equity and justice for all
> We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
> We seek an earth restored...
>
> -
>  To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to
"[e-mail]"
>  with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
>  For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
>  "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.
>


- -
 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
 For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
 "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.

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

Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 11:12:43 -0400
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [globenet] Re: (abolition-usa) Action Alert on Missile Defense

Dear Friends,
In addition to opposing the whole $8.3 billion package Bush is requesting for
Star Wars and all the research and development for every part of it, we also
need to push for negotiations on a treaty to ban every type of missile and to
keep space for peace.   Unless we present a positive alternative, we will have
a hard time arguing "just say no."  There is a new Abolition Working Group and
a Beyond Missile Defense Study Group formed by INESAP and the Nuclear Age
Peace
Foundation to work on the technical requirements for monitoring and
verifying a
missile ban.  Keep an eye out for reports that we can use to propose positive
alternatives.  In the meantime, I refer you to articles by Jurgen Scheffran on
a missile ban at www.acronym.org and by Andrew Lichterman on a missile ban at
www.wslfweb.org.   Regards, Alice


At 10:48 PM 7/26/2001 -0400, [e-mail] wrote:
>My question is about Theatre Missile Defense?  It is my understanding that
>TMD is not banned by the ABM Treaty.  Instead of only asking Congress to
>withhold support for weapons technologies that would violate the ABM
>Treaty,
>we need to be opposing all of it.  Just because something does not violate
>the ABM Treaty does not make it ok.  The ABM Treaty was a limited vehicle
>--
>it does not cover all these systems.
>
>We need to oppose the whole $8.3 billion package Bush is requesting for
>BMDO.  We need to oppose all research and development for every part of
>Star
>Wars.  TMD systems will be just as provacative as NMD in the end.  China
>will be surrounded by TMD systems and will be forced to escalate their
>nuclear arsenal and the peace movement will be scratching their heads
>wondering how it all happened.  TMD must be opposed as well.  How come few
>in the U.S. mention it?
>
>Peace movements in the Middle East and Asian Pacific region seem to
>understand the importance of TMD.  Please talk with your local groups about
>this ignoring of TMD in the suggested legislative strategy for Washington
>lobbying.
>
>Bruce K. Gagnon
>Coordinator
>Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
>PO Box 90083
>Gainesville, FL. 32607
>[phone]
>http://www.space4peace.org
>[e-mail]
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: David Culp <[e-mail]>
>To: Abolition USA (E-mail) <[e-mail]>
>Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 6:47 PM
>Subject: (abolition-usa) Action Alert on Missile Defense
>
>
>>> Dear Friends --
>>>
>>> Below is FCNL's recent action alert on missile defense. Links to
>background
>>> material and to sample letters to Congress are in the alert.
>>>
>>> Feel free to use, modify or adapt the alert for your own use.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> David Culp
>>> Friends Committee on National Legislation
>>>
>>> -----------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>> FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE - July 26th, 2001
>>>
>>> The following action items from the Friends Committee on National
>>> Legislation (FCNL) focus on federal policy issues currently before
>Congress
>>> or the Administration as of July 26th, 2001.
>>>
>>> TOPICS: MISSILE DEFENSE
>>>
>>> MISSILE DEFENSE: Next week, the House Armed Services Committee is
>>expected
>>> to consider the 2002 Defense Authorization bill which includes
>authorization
>>> for missile defense program activities.  The bill is likely to include
>>> provisions authorizing activities which would violate the terms of the
>>> Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty with Russia and accelerate research,
>>> development and deployment of a missile defense system.  The Bush
>>> administration has announced its intention to either terminate the ABM
>>> treaty with Russia's consent or, barring this, unilaterally withdraw
>>from
>>> the treaty sometime over the next several months.  The President has
>>also
>>> proposed a dramatic 57% ($3 billion) increase in spending on missile
>defense
>>> research, development and deployment for FY2002, which, if enacted would
>>> raise total missile defense spending to $8.3 billion. The Senate will
>>> consider the Defense Authorization bill in September.
>>>
>>> ACTION: Please contact your legislators today, especially if they serve
>>on
>>> the House or Senate Armed Services Committee.  Urge them to oppose any
>>> provisions in the Defense Department Authorization bill which would
>>> authorize missile defense program activities that violate the ABM
>>treaty.
>>> The U.S. should not rush to deploy a missile defense system that would
>>> undermine international arms control and disarmament efforts.  Please
>>> contact your senators or organize delegations to meet with your senators
>to
>>> discuss these concerns over the August and Labor Day recess.
>>>
>>> You can use FCNL's web site to find out if your senators or
>>representative
>>> are on the Senate or House Armed Services Committees.  Click on the link
>>> below, enter your zip code in the appropriate box, and click <Go>.
>>Scroll
>>> down to the bottom of the page and find your senators and
>>representative.
>>> Under their names, click on <Info>.  Committee information is listed
>>under
>>> the heading <Other Information>.  Here is the link:
>>> <http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/>.  You can also contact Peter
>>> Morscheck at FCNL, via email at [e-mail] or via telephone at (202)
>>> 547-6000 x 115.
>>>
>>> USE FCNL'S WEB SITE TO MAKE LETTER-WRITING EASIER:  Start with the
>>sample
>>> letter posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the
>>language,
>>> then send your message as an email directly from our site or print it
>>out
>>> and mail it. To view a sample letter, click on the link below.  Then
>>enter
>>> your zip code and click <Go> in the <Take Action Now> box.   Here is the
>>> link
>><http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=44679&type=CO&azip=>.
>>>
>>> BACKGROUND:  Last week, the Bush Administration announced that U.S.
>missile
>>> defense research and development (R&D) activities over the next several
>>> months will likely bring the U.S. out of compliance with the ABM treaty.
>>> This week, the Administration indicated that it hopes the Russians will
>>> agree to abandon the treaty with the U.S., but that the Administration
>plans
>>> to move ahead aggressively with its missile defense program whether the
>>> Russians agree or not.   The Administration wants to complete
>>construction
>>> of a missile defense interceptor site at Fort Greeley, Alaska by 2004.
>>It
>>> plans to begin clearing trees at the site this fall (which would not
>violate
>>> the ABM treaty), and it would begin pouring concrete next spring (which
>>> would violate the treaty).  The treaty requires that the U.S. or Russia
>give
>>> 6 months formal notice to the other party before withdrawing from the
>>> treaty.   However, the Bush Administration has not yet given this notice
>to
>>> the Russians.
>>>
>>> It is uncertain how the Russians will respond.  Last week, following the
>>> meeting between Presidents Bush and Putin, the Russians indicated they
>would
>>> be willing to negotiate a new agreement on missile defenses.  However,
>>the
>>> Bush Administration indicated that it had no interest in revising the
>treaty
>>> or negotiating a new formal agreement. Instead, the Administration is
>>> seeking to continue high level consultations with Russia through which
>they
>>> hope to achieve informal agreement that both countries will simply
>withdraw
>>> from the treaty.
>>>
>>> The Administration is proposing to expedite deployment of a missile
>defense
>>> system and expand R&D despite serious questions about the justification,
>>> efficacy, cost, and reliability of such a  system.  For example:
>>>
>>> * There is little credible threat of a ballistic missile attack from
>>> countries such as North Korea, Iraq, or Iran, and these improbable
>>threats
>>> can be reduced further and at much less cost through bilateral and
>>> multilateral diplomatic initiatives and verifiable arms control
>agreements.
>>>
>>> * Governments around the world, especially in Europe and East Asia are
>>> concerned that U.S. missile defense plans will undermine global arms
>control
>>> and disarmament efforts.
>>>
>>> * An accelerated missile defense program is virtually certain to lead
>China
>>> to increase the number of nuclear weapons pointed at U.S. cities and may
>>> discourage Russia from making deep cuts in its arsenal.
>>>
>>> * After over thirty years and over $100 billion of research and
>development,
>>> engineers have yet to design a missile defense system that will work
>>under
>>> realistic conditions.
>>>
>>> * Finally, the Bush administration has yet to provide full details to
>>> Congress or the American people about what it is they plan to build, how
>>> much it will cost, or how they will pay for it.
>>>
>>> Expensive, high-tech weapons are no substitute for effective diplomacy,
>arms
>>> control, disarmament, and international cooperation.  Cooperative
>>> international arms control and disarmament agreements will be far more
>>> effective in advancing peace and security in the years ahead and will
>>cost
>>> far less than a missile shield.
>>>
>>> The Bush Administration has tried to present missile defense as a moral
>>> imperative for the country.  However, we at FCNL believe that the true
>moral
>>> imperative is not to build yet another expensive, provocative, new
>>weapon
>>> system, but to reduce the threat of nuclear war and accidental
>>catastrophe
>>> through arms control, disarmament, and international cooperation.  U.S.
>>> leadership is needed now to stop another arms race before it begins.
>>>
>>> Toward that end, the U.S. should:
>>> * immediately de-alert U.S. nuclear weapons and encourage Russia to do
>>the
>>> same;
>>> * sharply reduce the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile;
>>> * provide assistance and incentives to Russia and others to safely
>>dispose
>>> of weapons of mass destruction, to halt the export of related
>>technologies
>>> and weapons, and to redirect weapons industries to peaceful purposes;
>>> * provide positive incentives to North Korea to permanently halt its
>>> ballistic missile program; and
>>> * vigorously pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures to
>>> rapidly reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons stockpiles and other
>>weapons
>of
>>> mass destruction.
>>>
>>> For more background information on missile defense, please see FCNL's
>>web
>>> site <http://www.fcnl.org/issues/nuc/nmdindx.htm>.
>>>
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>>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
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tel:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
email:  [e-mail]
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nuclear weapons.

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

Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 00:20:52 -0700
From: Tim Bruening <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Star Wars Sample Letters

Dear Abolition Caucus:

Do you have any sample letters on the Star Wars Lobby, or just on Star
Wars?  Below is my sample letter.  How can I improve it?

The Bush Administration is hell-bent on deploying a missile defense
system,
and has requested a $3 billion increase in the missile defense budget to

$8.3 billion, in spite of the following facts:

I. Only two of the past five tests have been successful, and the tests
have involved only one simple decoy, as opposed to the multiple decoys
in a real life attack.

II. It would cost over $100 billion over the next 20 years.

III. The Russians and Chinese have repeatedly warned that the deployment

of a U.S. missile defense system would prompt them to increase their
nuclear arsenals, thus triggering a renewed nuclear arms race.

I call on the great reporters of the great Sacramento Bee to investigate

the people who are lobbying for a missile defense system.  Are they
manipulating U.S. defense policy for their personal gain?  Below are
some of the leaders of the "Star Wars Lobby":

Frank Gaffney:  He is the founder and Executive Director of the Center
for Security Policy, founded in 1988.  The center pours out a steady
steam of propaganda designed to convince Americans that A) The Chinese
are about to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) attack
on the U.S. (The Chinese have only 20 intercontinental missiles) and
that B) The North Koreans are about to do the same (They don't have any
nuclear missiles!) and that C) Only a missile defense system can defend
us, and such a system is affordable and dependable (Actually, it is
still far from proven effective).  Among its funders are defense
contractors McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, TRW, Lockheed Martin;
right-wing foundations such as the Smith Foundation, Sara Scaife, and
the Coors foundations, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: Formally the Chairman of the
Commission on the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States
(Rumsfeld Commission I), and the Chairman of the Commission to Assess
United States National Security Space Management and Organization
(Rumsfeld II).  After the CIA concluded in 1997 that there was no
imminent threat of a ballistic missile attack against the U.S., Congress

set up the first Rumsfeld commission.  In 1998, the Rumsfeld Commission,

by assessing the ballistic missile threat in terms of worst case
scenarios, and by giving no weight at all to the considerable
difficulties in deploying ICBMs, was able to conclude in 1998 that the
ballistic missile "threat to the U.S. is broader, more mature, and
evolving more rapidly" than the CIA had estimated, and that such third
tier powers as North Korea and Iran could develop ICBMs within 5 years
of a decision to do so.

For more information, please contact Sacramento-Yolo Peace Action (909
12th Street #118, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-448-7157;
[e-mail]),
and the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
([e-mail]).

Sincerely,

Timothy Bruening
1439 Brown Drive
Davis, CA 95616


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

Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 09:09:02 +0000
From: Carol Wolman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Star Wars Sample Letters

- --------------B63B326C54C470E91F843ACB
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by mail.mcn.org id f6SGD8L14125

Dear Tim,   The first objection to Star Wars is that it violates the ABM =
and
Outer Space treaties, and undermines the international arms control treat=
y
structure that has successfully prevented nuclear war for the past 30 yea=
rs.
It takes away our security, and provides no replacement.

Our group has been using a short letter to Congress, with 12 liines at th=
e
bottom for signatures, addresses, and email addresses (for our mailing li=
st).
We have collected hundreds of signatures and FAX them in to our Senators =
and
Representatives at crucial times- just before a hearing or a vote.  You a=
re
welcome to use it.
                             Peace,  Carol
Here it is:

To all members of Congress-

Please cancel all funding for a national missile defense program and oppo=
se any
bills that would further the development and deployment of a missile shie=
ld or
weapons in space.  These schemes would violate the ABM treaty, destabiliz=
e the
international arms control structure that has prevented nuclear war for t=
he
past 40 years, and lead to a dangerous new arms race.  They would make us=
 less
secure, not more!

At best, missile defense would be a leaky umbrella.  It can never be 100%
effective, and since even one nuclear strike against the US is unacceptab=
le, it
is useless, a boondoggle for the military industrial complex that Eisenho=
wer
warned us against.  It does not address the real terrorist threat of a su=
itcase
bomb.

Advocacy of missile defense by the Bush administration has already raised
international tensions significantly and cost us our seat on the UN Human
Rights Commission   This talk is leading to alliances among other nuclear
nations against us.

Missile defense would increase the danger that =93rogue nations=94 will g=
et nuclear
capability, by undermining the Non-Proliferation Treaty.  Very likely, it=
 would
lead to a new arms race with Russia, China or both united.  It might even
provoke a pre-emptive first strike against us before a missile shield is =
in
place.

Please do everything you can to stop this nefarious scheme.

Name
Address                                              email




- ---------------------____________________________________________________=
___________

Tim Bruening wrote:

> Dear Abolition Caucus:
>
> Do you have any sample letters on the Star Wars Lobby, or just on Star
> Wars?  Below is my sample letter.  How can I improve it?
>
> The Bush Administration is hell-bent on deploying a missile defense
> system,
> and has requested a $3 billion increase in the missile defense budget t=
o
>
> $8.3 billion, in spite of the following facts:
>
> I. Only two of the past five tests have been successful, and the tests
> have involved only one simple decoy, as opposed to the multiple decoys
> in a real life attack.
>
> II. It would cost over $100 billion over the next 20 years.
>
> III. The Russians and Chinese have repeatedly warned that the deploymen=
t
>
> of a U.S. missile defense system would prompt them to increase their
> nuclear arsenals, thus triggering a renewed nuclear arms race.
>
> I call on the great reporters of the great Sacramento Bee to investigat=
e
>
> the people who are lobbying for a missile defense system.  Are they
> manipulating U.S. defense policy for their personal gain?  Below are
> some of the leaders of the "Star Wars Lobby":
>
> Frank Gaffney:  He is the founder and Executive Director of the Center
> for Security Policy, founded in 1988.  The center pours out a steady
> steam of propaganda designed to convince Americans that A) The Chinese
> are about to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) attack
> on the U.S. (The Chinese have only 20 intercontinental missiles) and
> that B) The North Koreans are about to do the same (They don't have any
> nuclear missiles!) and that C) Only a missile defense system can defend
> us, and such a system is affordable and dependable (Actually, it is
> still far from proven effective).  Among its funders are defense
> contractors McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, TRW, Lockheed Martin;
> right-wing foundations such as the Smith Foundation, Sara Scaife, and
> the Coors foundations, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
>
> Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: Formally the Chairman of the
> Commission on the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States
> (Rumsfeld Commission I), and the Chairman of the Commission to Assess
> United States National Security Space Management and Organization
> (Rumsfeld II).  After the CIA concluded in 1997 that there was no
> imminent threat of a ballistic missile attack against the U.S., Congres=
s
>
> set up the first Rumsfeld commission.  In 1998, the Rumsfeld Commission=
,
>
> by assessing the ballistic missile threat in terms of worst case
> scenarios, and by giving no weight at all to the considerable
> difficulties in deploying ICBMs, was able to conclude in 1998 that the
> ballistic missile "threat to the U.S. is broader, more mature, and
> evolving more rapidly" than the CIA had estimated, and that such third
> tier powers as North Korea and Iran could develop ICBMs within 5 years
> of a decision to do so.
>
> For more information, please contact Sacramento-Yolo Peace Action (909
> 12th Street #118, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-448-7157;
> [e-mail]),
> and the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
> ([e-mail]).
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Timothy Bruening
> 1439 Brown Drive
> Davis, CA 95616
>
> -
>  To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.=
com"
>  with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
>  For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
>  "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.

- --------------B63B326C54C470E91F843ACB
Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by mail.mcn.org id f6SGD8L14125

<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
Dear Tim,   The first objection to Star Wars is that it violate=
s
the ABM and Outer Space treaties, and undermines the international arms
control treaty structure that has successfully prevented nuclear war for
the past 30 years.  It takes away our security, and provides no repl=
acement.
<p>Our group has been using a short letter to Congress, with 12 liines
at the bottom for signatures, addresses, and email addresses (for our mai=
ling
list).  We have collected hundreds of signatures and FAX them in to
our Senators and Representatives at crucial times- just before a hearing
or a vote.  You are welcome to use it.
<br>           &nb=
sp;           &nbs=
p;
Peace,  Carol
<br>Here it is:<b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">To all members of Congress-</font></=
b><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">Please cancel all funding for a nati=
onal
missile defense program and oppose any bills that would further the devel=
opment
and deployment of a missile shield or weapons in space.  These schem=
es
would violate the ABM treaty, destabilize the international arms control
structure that has prevented nuclear war for the past 40 years, and lead
to a dangerous new arms race.  They would make us less secure, not
more!</font></b><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">At best, missile defense would be a
leaky umbrella.  It can never be 100% effective, and since even one
nuclear strike against the US is unacceptable, it is useless, a boondoggl=
e
for the military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us against.&nb=
sp;
It does not address the real terrorist threat of a suitcase bomb.</font><=
/b><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">Advocacy of missile defense by the B=
ush
administration has already raised international tensions significantly
and cost us our seat on the UN Human Rights Commission   This
talk is leading to alliances among other nuclear nations against us.</fon=
t></b><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">Missile defense would increase the d=
anger
that =93rogue nations=94 will get nuclear capability, by undermining the =
Non-Proliferation
Treaty.  Very likely, it would lead to a new arms race with Russia,
China or both united.  It might even provoke a pre-emptive first str=
ike
against us before a missile shield is in place.</font></b><b><font face=3D=
"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">Please do everything you can to stop
this nefarious scheme.</font></b><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font=
></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">Name     &n=
bsp;           &nb=
sp;           &nbs=
p;
Address           =
            &=
nbsp;           &n=
bsp;
email</font></b>
<br><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<br><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<br><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica"></font></b> <b><font face=3D"A=
rial,Helvetica"></font></b>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica">---------------------_______________=
________________________________________________</font></b><b><font face=3D=
"Arial,Helvetica""></font></b>
<p>Tim Bruening wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=3DCITE>Dear Abolition Caucus:
<p>Do you have any sample letters on the Star Wars Lobby, or just on Star
<br>Wars?  Below is my sample letter.  How can I improve it?
<p>The Bush Administration is hell-bent on deploying a missile defense
<br>system,
<br>and has requested a $3 billion increase in the missile defense budget
to
<p>$8.3 billion, in spite of the following facts:
<p>I. Only two of the past five tests have been successful, and the tests
<br>have involved only one simple decoy, as opposed to the multiple decoy=
s
<br>in a real life attack.
<p>II. It would cost over $100 billion over the next 20 years.
<p>III. The Russians and Chinese have repeatedly warned that the deployme=
nt
<p>of a U.S. missile defense system would prompt them to increase their
<br>nuclear arsenals, thus triggering a renewed nuclear arms race.
<p>I call on the great reporters of the great Sacramento Bee to investiga=
te
<p>the people who are lobbying for a missile defense system.  Are
they
<br>manipulating U.S. defense policy for their personal gain?  Below
are
<br>some of the leaders of the "Star Wars Lobby":
<p>Frank Gaffney:  He is the founder and Executive Director of the
Center
<br>for Security Policy, founded in 1988.  The center pours out a
steady
<br>steam of propaganda designed to convince Americans that A) The Chines=
e
<br>are about to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) atta=
ck
<br>on the U.S. (The Chinese have only 20 intercontinental missiles) and
<br>that B) The North Koreans are about to do the same (They don't have
any
<br>nuclear missiles!) and that C) Only a missile defense system can defe=
nd
<br>us, and such a system is affordable and dependable (Actually, it is
<br>still far from proven effective).  Among its funders are defense
<br>contractors McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, TRW, Lockheed Martin=
;
<br>right-wing foundations such as the Smith Foundation, Sara Scaife, and
<br>the Coors foundations, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
<p>Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: Formally the Chairman of the
<br>Commission on the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States
<br>(Rumsfeld Commission I), and the Chairman of the Commission to Assess
<br>United States National Security Space Management and Organization
<br>(Rumsfeld II).  After the CIA concluded in 1997 that there was
no
<br>imminent threat of a ballistic missile attack against the U.S., Congr=
ess
<p>set up the first Rumsfeld commission.  In 1998, the Rumsfeld Comm=
ission,
<p>by assessing the ballistic missile threat in terms of worst case
<br>scenarios, and by giving no weight at all to the considerable
<br>difficulties in deploying ICBMs, was able to conclude in 1998 that
the
<br>ballistic missile "threat to the U.S. is broader, more mature, and
<br>evolving more rapidly" than the CIA had estimated, and that such thir=
d
<br>tier powers as North Korea and Iran could develop ICBMs within 5 year=
s
<br>of a decision to do so.
<p>For more information, please contact Sacramento-Yolo Peace Action (909
<br>12th Street #118, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-448-7157;
<br>[e-mail]),
<br>and the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
<br>([e-mail]).
<p>Sincerely,
<p>Timothy Bruening
<br>1439 Brown Drive
<br>Davis, CA 95616
<p>-
<br> To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xm=
ission.com"
<br> with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
<br> For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages
send
<br> "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your mes=
sage.</blockquote>
</html>

- --------------B63B326C54C470E91F843ACB--


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

End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #455
***********************************

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