Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 14:46:30 -0800 (PST)

Pre-Christmas bombing: What next?

Irvine -- While the U.S. celebrates a holiday season, the people of Iraq continue to suffer the effects of a UN-imposed embargo and the recent US-UK bombings. To address the issue of "What next?", Subversity, a KUCI public affairs program, this week features interviews with former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Rania Masri, coordinator of the Iraq Action Coalition; and Hussein Ishbi, media coordinator of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).

The show airs Tuesday, December 22, 1998, from 5-6 p.m. PST on KUCI, 88.9 FM in Orange County, Calif. and is Web-cast at kuci.org:8080 to any PC with a sound card (no RealAudio required).

Clark has been most vocal in condemning the effects of the UN embargo which has caused endless suffering and deaths to the Iraqi people. The Iraq Action Coalition is an informational-network dedicated to distributing information on the effects of the sanctions and military war on the people of Iraq. IAC also assists in the coordination of activities and events nationwide and worldwide in opposition to the continuing war against Iraq. The IAC can be accessed at: leb.net/IAC.

Masri has noted: "Bill Clinton last night claimed that without the sanctions, there would be `less food for [the Iraqi] people.' In fact, the sanctions have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis."

The ADC is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage. It is the largest Arab-American grassroots organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk and has chapters nationwide. Its URL is at: www.adc.org.

Hussein has noted: "Contrary to U.S. official claims, Arab governments have not backed these bombings. They know Iraq is not a military threat to the region and the Iraqi people have suffered enough."

To chat with the guests during the show, call the KUCI studios at (949) 824-5824.

Subversity in the past has interviewed Institute for Policy Studies analyst Phyllis Bennis as well as Clark twice before about the situation in Iraq.

Meanwhile, library workers (incl. Subversity's host) within the progressive library community have sent the following open letter to Pres. Clinton:

The punitive air assault unleashed by the U.S. against the people of Iraq,
Dec 16, 1998, is an appalling breach of international law, human rights
and the peace of nations.  As a result of years of embargo and inspection,
the Iraqis are utterly defenseless, with virtually no offensive
capabilities against these attacks. 

Democratic and progressive professionals should make it known that this
kind of use of overwhelming destructive force against Iraq, which punishes
a nation for its leader's crimes, is nothing but military-technological
barbarism.  While it might temporarily raise the poll ratings of a
beleaguered president awaiting impeachment, it further immiserates the
Iraqi people and its children and degrades American democracy in the eyes
of the world. 

We progressive librarians, library workers, and library school students
oppose completely the punishment meted out for non-compliance with
Clinton's will.

We declare our solidarity with the Iraqi civilians and civil society which
will suffer the consequences of this cynical exhibition of brute force.

For a time-line of U.S. statements about the sanctions on Iraq, see: www.accuracy.org/iraq.

                                
E-mail: subversity@kuci.org
Call KUCI studio at (949) 824-5824 to chat with the guests.
Show Host Daniel Tsang: (949) 824-4978
kuci.org/~dtsang