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This Speakout has not been edited

Statement of a Group of Colorado Jews

We, the undersigned, all Colorado Jews, are worried about a U.S. and/or Israeli attack on Iran.

The military components for such an attack have been put in place over the past six months. We, who only a few generations ago, witnessed our families in Europe turned into ashes in Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Sachenhausen, look with unparalleled horror at the prospect of either the US or Israel using tactical nuclear weapons. We fear the consequences of such a strike could trigger a wider regional conflict, with the shadow - the genuine possibility - of world war in the offing.

The ratcheting up of anti-Iranian rhetoric in the media, the spreading of half -truths about the nature of the Iranian regime, its role in Iraq, the disinformation campaign about its plans to develop nuclear energy - all are reminiscent of the build-up to the -invasion and occupation of Iraq. Recent position papers from rightwing think-tanks suggest that Iran be dissolved into some kind of federated state -- a scheme suspiciously similar to the emerging re-division of Iraq into ethno-religious enclaves, a form of divide-and-rule to more easily control oil production.

We also know, sadly, that the forces pushing for a military confrontation include some major American Jewish organizations - AIPAC, the ADL and the AJC among them, all of whom have lobbied hard with the neo-cons in power for yet another war. For many years, these same groups echoed the US and Israeli governments' support for the Shah of Iran as a foil against Arab countries like Iraq in the era before the Islamic revolution in Iran.

In the same way that most opponents of the current war in Iraq never supported Saddam Hussein's repressive regime (while US governments did for decades), we are not defenders or supporters of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which also enjoyed the military backing of the US during the war Saddam launched in the 1980s. We abhor its current president's purposely provocative statements to deny the Holocaust. Despite his fiery anti-Israeli rhetoric, we note that Iran has not attacked any of its neighbors for 200 years and has shown no intention of changing course. Nor is there as yet any evidence that it is building nuclear weapons.

Rationally, a war against Iran makes no sense - except to line the pockets of war-profiteers and Big Oil at the expense of the rest of us.

The US is bogged down in a losing and morally repugnant war in Iraq. The November, 2006 elections were a clear signal that the people of this country have had enough of Bush's War. Although it failed to address the central question of the US military occupation the bipartisan Iraq Study Group Report issued in December of last year, acknowledged the failure of the neo-con strategy. Yet the ruling elite wants to expand that blunder by preparing to attack Iran.

Nor does such a war make sense for Israel, bogged down after 40 years' occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, unable to find a formula to equitably share land and resources with the Palestinians. We are convinced that Israel's future is made less - not more - secure by its military imposition of one-sided division of the spoils of war. In the end, Israel's security can only come by normalizing its relations with its neighbors. It cannot do that until its resolves the Palestinian question. Launching a war against Iran will further endanger Israeli security, not guarantee it.

We consider an attack on Iran, disguised as a "pre-emptive" war or a fabricated provocation, as criminally insane, its consequences predictably inhumane. The massive bombing campaign now off the drawing board and in the works, no matter how "precision-guided", will kill thousands of civilians. A US-Israeli attack could destroy Iran as a nation and a civilization.

While we do not underestimate the difficulties of negotiating with Iran, we call on our government and the government of Israel to stop this march to war and to enter into negotiations with Iran to freeze and reverse the nuclearization of the Middle East and to address all other outstanding issues without preconditions. Both Israel and Iran have to accept each other's existence.

We call on all people, in the Jewish Community and beyond, to help stop this terrifying drive for war. War is not the answer.

Don't do it. Don't Attack Iran

Signed by: Mark Belkin, Lakewood Ira Chernus, Boulder Alan Gilbert, Conifer Irving Greenbaum, Boulder Cheryl Kasson, Denver Denny Linn, Vail Sheila Linn, Vail Leslie Lomas, Boulder Barbara Millman, Lakewood Rob Prince, Denver Vicki Rottman, Denver Barry Sharoff, Denver Juliet Wittman, Boulder Evan Weismann, Denver

READER COMMENTS

unforunately, I believe every word you have said...I'm so worried for everybody..;the manufacture of arms is a crime....the privatisation of war (with shareholders !) is monstrous....I find religous beliefs very frightening....comparative religion should be taught at all schools...I am 74..female , australian of irish descent.....thank you all for being there

unforunately, I believe every word you have said...I'm so worried for everybody..;the manufacture of arms is a crime....the privatisation of war (with shareholders !) is monstrous....I find religous beliefs very frightening....comparative religion should be taught at all schools...I am 74..female , australian of irish descent.....thank you all for being there

What- Are you guys CRAZY???? Iran is currentlly involved in the killing of OUR soldiers in Iraq. Iran flat out called for the destruction of Isreal. Iran celebrates their "DEATH TO AMERICA" day annually. No one is talking about wiping out the whole population-just taking out their nuke facilities. Their brand of Islam wants to kill you. This is their Religion Of Peace-get it ,Dimis????

I just wanted to voice support for this initiative as well.

Jewish Friends of Palestine
http://www.jewishfriendspalestine.org

Its time progressive Jewish voices get their voices heard. AIPAC, does not have a monopoly on American Jewry. Add my name to the list.

In 1981, the U.S. signed the Algiers Accord with Iran in which it agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of Iran. I visited Iran last year. Iranians are well informed and when and if they are ready they will change their government much as they did in 1979 when they overthrew the U.S. supported Shah which we put in power.

Some neo-cons correctly argue that the current government of Iran is not popular. Want to see that change in two seconds? Just attack Iran.

Kudos to the authors of this article.

The recent accord with North Korea demonstrates what can be accomplished through diplomacy -- even with a member of the so-called Axis of Evil. This effort was by far less costly, shorter in duration, and more successful than our current wars have proven.

Let's engage Iran through diplomacy, not harm its people and alienate more of the world through another military attack.

We should be less concerned about Iranians changing their government and more concerned about how we can change ours. For too long we have been lawless, running roughshod over other nations. That has to change.

I agree with these folks. Many of the rank and file of the Iranian people like the U.S. and Americans, but that would change drastically if we attacked Iran. I hope our government will do more to encourage the Iranian people to try to bring about change in their own country. We don't need another war of any kind.

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