PMA Iraq Action Alert

Tuesday 14 October 1997

Kia ora,

We are in the middle of the current PMA Newsletter which has some info re US moves against Iran and Iraq, and have noted that the situation has changed fairly quickly in the past couple of days. In the event that the US is planning some kind of aggressive strike against either Iran or Iraq, we are circulating this Action Alert so that those of you who wish to can contact the US Ambassador with your thoughts on what they should / should not be doing in the Gulf.

Briefly - there has been some concern over the past few months at US statements regarding Iran's possible development of nuclear weapons - these statements having an uncanny resemblance to the types of things the US government was saying about Iraq in the months before the Gulf war.

In recent weeks the Iranian airforce has carried out strikes in Iraq on Mujahedin Khalq (Iranian rebels), and in response Iraqi warplanes have been flying in the 'no-fly' zone. Last Friday the US government threatened Iraq with "potent air and naval force" if the 'no-fly' zone violation continues; and yesterday the US aircraft carrier Nimitz arrived in the Gulf with its battlegroup (two cruisers, a destroyer, a frigate, a submarine and support ship).

In addition, to add to the escalating tension, Iran has started naval military exercises in the Gulf.

Yesterday a statement emanated from Washington assuring the world that the deployment of the Nimitz and battlegroup is aimed at Iraq, not Iran.

So there you have a quick roundup of the situation - if you feel that the people of Iraq have suffered enough from US aggression and the people of Iran should not become the next targets, then please contact the US Ambassador about this - Josiah Beeman, US Embassy, 29 Fitzherbert Tce, Thorndon, Wellington; tel (04) 472 2068; fax (04) 471 2380.

And you could also go direct to President Clinton, The White House, Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC; fax + 1 202 456 2461 or email <president@whitehouse.gov>