Greens to Join National Protests

WASHINGTON, DC -- Greens will use their presence in various antiwar
demonstrations and other events throughout September and October to
press the Green Party's demand for immediate withdrawal of US troops
from Iraq. In Tennessee, Greens and other peace activists will be
joining the caravan to DC for the big antiwar rally on Friday,
Sept 14th leaving from Nashville. For more information please
call Chris Lugo at 615-593-0304.

Green Party activists will also use their presence in actions
organized by the ANSWER Coalition (September 15,
) and United For Peace & Justice
(National Mobilization to End the War in Iraq, October 27,
) to stress that
the Iraq War and other disastrous Bush Administrations policies are
the result of bipartisan support.

"The greatest danger to the peace movement is that organizations and
voters who oppose the war are being fooled into seeing the election of
Democrats as a step towards peace, stability, and the observance of
human rights in the Middle East," said Deanna Taylor, co-chair of the
Green Party's Peace Action Committee (GPAX)
. "It wasn't just a scheme by
neocon radicals in the Bush Administration. The Iraq War has been a
bipartisan project from the beginning."

"Democratic Congress members joined Republicans in support of the
invasion of Iraq and transfer of constitutional war powers to the
White House. Now that they're in control of Congress, Democratic
leaders are squandering their power," SAME PERSON added.

Green Party leaders listed major points of concern that they intend to
address by participating the antiwar protests:

• The growing likelihood of a US attack on Iran, and willingness of
leading Democrats, especially presidential candidates, to support a
strike. Greens warn that a US attack on Iran is now the gravest
threat to world peace.

• A massive media propaganda blitz by the White House, including a
planned address by President Bush this week, to persuade Americans
that the troop surge is succeeding, timed to coincide with General
Petraeus's final report, despite high Iraqi civilian casualties,
continuing US troop casualties and low morale, and other indications
that the situation in Iraq is worsening
.

• The refusal of Democratic leaders to demand immediate withdrawal of
US troops from Iraq or to cut off funding for the war
; concerns that Democrats
will retreat further on opposition to war in the face of the
above-mentioned Bush propaganda effort.

• The refusal of Democratic leaders to seek impeachment of President
Bush and Vice President Cheney for numerous abuses of power,
violations of the US Constitution and international law, war crimes,
and other high crimes and misdemeanors. Greens have called
impeachment a necessary step in the effort to recall troops and end
the war.

• Continued capitulation by both Republican and Democratic members of
Congress to the demands of the pro-Israel lobby (AIPAC, powerful
rightwing Christian groups); lack of discussion about Israel's abuses
of Palestinian human rights and violations of international law and UN
directives; lack of debate on the role of Israel and the pro-Israel
lobby in the decision to invade Iraq and current plans to attack Iran.

• Current US pressure, with bipartisan support, on the Iraqi
Parliament to pass the hydrocarbon law, which will place Iraqi oil
under the control of US and UK corporations and require prolonged US
military presence in Iraq to protect US & UK investments. Greens
have supported demands of Iraqi workers that the law be rejected and
that Iraqi oil remain under Iraqi control
.

Green leaders are urging US voters to support the Green Party's 'Peace
Slate' in the 2008 election. "If Green candidates get strong
percentages in races for Congress and the White House -- or even
better, a seat or two in the US House, it'll terrify the Democrats
into supporting a quick end to the Iraq War," said Jim Coplen,
co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Greens warned Americans that the Bush Administration has spread
disinformation about Iran's role in arming factions in the Iraqi civil
war and about Iran's nuclear capabilities, and has greatly exaggerated
al-Qaeda's presence in Iraq

"We're especially concerned that the Bush Administration may exploit
-- perhaps even fabricate -- a possible terrorist incident in the
coming months to intimidate Americans and sway the outcome of the 2008
election. After seven years of deception, attempts to thwart
investigate into the 9/11 attacks, and disregard for law, the Bush
Administration should have zero credibility among the media and the
public," said Jody Grage, treasurer of the Green Party.