U.N.-Iraq Weapons Inspection Process Provides an Opportunity for Anti-War Groups to Make Their Case to the U.S. Public

Interview with Jeremy Brecher,author and activist,conducted by Between The Lines' Scott Harris

Even before the Dec. 8 deadline by which Iraq was directed to present a complete inventory of its weapons programs, the Bush administration was working hard to cast doubt on the viability of the United Nations inspections program to avert conflict. Now that Baghdad has turned over some 12,000 pages of documents they claim detail their compliance with the post-Gulf War ban on their nation's possession of weapons of mass destruction, the White House is searching hard for evidence of a material breach to justify war.

The end game within the U.N. Security Council is playing out as the Pentagon calls up tens of thousands of military reservists, engages in war games and pre-positions troops and equipment throughout the Persian Gulf region.

On Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, over 150 anti-war events were organized by peace groups in cities across the U.S. While the growing movement of people around the world who oppose a pre-emptive attack on Iraq hope that the inspections process can prevent war, it's very clear that the Bush administration's stated goal of "regime change" in Iraq will not easily be deterred.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with author, activist and historian Jeremy Brecher, whose recent article "A Nightmare to Love: How the peace movement can use Bush's almost desperate attempts to destroy the arms inspection," urges those opposed to war to condemn the White House campaign to construct a pretext justifying an invasion of Iraq.

Jeremy Brecher article "A Nightmare to Love: How the peace movement can use Bush's almost desperate attempts to destroy the arms inspection," can be read online at www.commondreams.org

Related link

Newly formed anti-war coalition www.unitedforpeace.org

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