NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #20/NN_1992_20.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/6312

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE -- [09/04/92]
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/** fcnl.updates: 28.0 **/
** Topic: FCNL legis. action message 9/4/92 **
** Written  1:13 pm  Sep  4, 1992 by fcnl in cdp:fcnl.updates **
FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE -- [09/04/92]

This is the Friends Committee on National Legislation,
with updated legislative information.  To speak with a
staff member, call [phone].

This message was prepared at 4:00pm on Friday,
September 4, 1992.  It contains information and action
suggestions on the following subjects:  MILITARY
THREATS AGAINST IRAQ, U.S. WEAPONS SALES -- F-15s & F-
16s.

MILITARY THREATS AGAINST IRAQ.  For weeks now the
United States has been threatening to take military
action against Iraq again.  U.S. officials have
announced their willingness to enforce the UN's right
to inspect facilities in Iraq.  And, by imposing the
no-fly zone in southern Iraq, the U.S. has made it
clear that military intervention will be used for what
are described as humanitarian reasons.  An August 28
New York Times editorial described the enforcement of
a no-fly zone as "unclear, probably unwise and maybe
even illegal."

FCNL is opposed to the production of weapons of mass
destruction by Iraq and all other countries, and is
deeply concerned about the on-going suffering of the
Shiite Muslims in southern Iraq.  However, it is clear
that military action will not solve these problems.
In a statement issued to the press on August 27, 1992,
FCNL said, "President Bush's decision to renew U.S.
military action in Iraq only underlines the failure of
the Gulf war and continuing economic sanctions."

ACTION.  Please call the White House comment desk at
202-456-1111. You may also wish to call the
Clinton/Gore campaign headquarters at 501-372-1992.
George Bush and Bill Clinton must hear the voices of
voters.  The use of military force against Iraq will
only destroy lives and increase the suffering of the
people.


U.S. WEAPONS SALES -- F-16s & F-15s.  Two major U.S.
arms sales announced this month endanger the future of
conventional arms control.  On Wednesday, September 2,
President Bush travelled to Texas, where General
Dynamics Corporation builds F-16 military aircraft.
During this visit, President Bush announced the sale
of 150 F-16 aircraft to Taiwan.  He said he supports
the sale because the $6 billion sale will protect
3,000 U.S. jobs.

Next week President Bush is expected to announce the
sale of 72 F-15 aircraft to Saudi Arabia.  McDonnell
Douglas, a military industry based in St. Louis,
builds these planes.  Again, the industry and the
President claim that U.S. jobs will be protected by
this $5 billion sale.

Governor Bill Clinton, the Democratic Presidential
candidate, has also indicated support for these sales.
This strategy of using arms exports to try to achieve
employment security will lead to many more major arms
deals.  The U.S. is giving other major suppliers the
go ahead to jump into the global market.

FCNL opposes these U.S. sales of advanced conventional
weapons systems for several reasons. Among them are:

o    U.S. sales undermine multilateral efforts for
     conventional arms control;
o    these sales divert scarce resources away from
     economic development and can generate pressures
     for regional arms races;
o    regional arms races can lead to armed conflicts,
     endangering many lives, including U.S. military
     personnel who may be drawn into combat;
o    the sales may subvert U.S. - China agreements on
     arms limitation and undercut the arms control
     forum of the Arab-Israeli peace talks;
o    the arms export strategy to protect U.S. jobs is
     a false promise; only peace conversion  will
     secure employment.

ACTION.  President Bush and Governor Clinton are
trading arms control and human lives abroad for arms
profits and false promises of U.S. job security here.
It all adds up to bad policy.  Congress should
immediately pass resolutions of disapproval for both
sales.  Please call your Senators and your
Representative this week.  Urge them to take two
strong initiatives: (1)  Introduce resolutions of
disapproval for the F-16 sale to Taiwan and the F-15
sale to Saudi Arabia; and (2)  get to work on a real
and comprehensive economic conversion plan.  For a
copy of FCNL's short news release on this subject,
send a self-addressed stamped envelope and ask for
document "G-239-FOR."

This concludes our message.  For more information,
please write to the Friends Committee on National
Legislation, 245 Second St., NE, Washington, DC 20002.
To follow these and related issues on a regular basis,
subscribe to the FCNL WASHINGTON NEWSLETTER.  Send $25
to the above address and receive 11 issues per year.
** End of text from cdp:fcnl.updates **