the other press Op-Ed January 15, 2003 http://otherpress.douglas.be.ca “Truisms”’ Us Facts Macdonald Stainsby DSU External relations Let’s play a game. I'll state some “truisms” that get spoken of in the main- stream media, and then let’s look at the real “facts.” In other words, let's point to the naked emperor. “Truism” number one: Iraq, North Korea and other countries must be prevented from acquiring “Weapons of mass destruction (WMD)” because they are likely to use them on the US and Canada. Fact: The United States has been stockpiling biological, chemical and nuclear WMD to the tune of six times the stockpiles of the rest of the world combined. All of the mustard gas used by Iraq on their own Kurdish populations were provided to them by the United States government. The children of Iraq have experienced massive amounts of birth defects due to the depleted uranium used against Iraq in the Gulf war of 1991. DU is an internationally banned substance, but has also been used by the US against Yugoslav and Afghan civilians as well. This is after the known dumping of “agent orange” on Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the sev- enties, and the current dropping of chemical agents on the rebel-con- trolled territories of Colombia, causing thousands of illnesses and defor- mations. These are only a few examples of US military uses of chemical warfare. Any proposed invasion of Iraq, ostensibly to get chemical weapons, would actually involve the further use of them as well. This, despite the fact that an “American Republican who voted for Bush” and used to head the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq (Scott Ritter) has stated that Iraq possesses no such weapons. “Truism” number two: While America worries about Iraq, North Korea possesses a real threat, as they now are claiming to have produced a nuclear weapon, in contravention of an agreement with the US signed in 1994. Fact: Well, if anyone is interested in history, the Korean Stalinist state had over three million people killed, including primarily mass numbers of peasants from both what is north and what is south. This only a couple of years after the communists had finished expelling the occupiers from Japan, again where mass atrocities were carried out against Koreans. This should be kept in mind when one wonders why the state exhibits a mas- sive distrust of the United States and Japan, who have tried to isolate the north Koreans since their origins. When the current non-proliferation agreement was put in place back in 1994, the terms included seven points. Of these seven, the US has violated five, the main one being that the US would create a “light water reactor” with the Koreans to provide the power that otherwise the nuclear program would provide. The US was also to make shipments of crude oil to supplement the cancelled nuclear power while the LWR was built. This oil was cancelled years ago, and only now does the DPRK (North Korea’s real name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) restart their nuclear program. In a sentence, the Americans broke the agreed framework years ago, and the DPRK is only acting upon that now. Although it has been almost completely ignored by the “free” media, the Koreans merely insist on some basics: one, that they didn’t break the agreement, but rather considered the American unwill- ingness to fulfil their obligations (more than half of the points) the end of the treaty (“Agreed Framework”). The north Koreans have also stated that Free Stuff at Douglas College J.J. McCullough - OP Cartoonist they have as much right as the Americans to possess these weapons. No one seems to be pointing out that elementary legal standpoint. With all of these small countries trying to acquire weapons, no one ever asks why such a state might want to do so. If the world needs to seriously de-arm ter- rorists—and there is no doubt this is true——it needs to look to the Pentagon, where some of the greatest stockpiles of state-terrorists operate, and where the largest caches of chemical and biolog- ical agents are controlled. It is from here that Saddam Hussein garnered the chemical weapons he used in the eighties. This was when Donald Rumsfeld couldn't say enough good things about “Saddam.” “Truism” number three: The United States has a right to abrogate because of their natural supe- riority and their genuine interest in creating peace in the world. Even if the “law” is broken, (and just what is “international law” anyhow?) the American inclination towards peace makes it so this issue isnt all that important. Fact: The only thing the US has to claim the right to, is the ability; i.e., that they can. That, and a pliant media that do not question truism number three, creates the subliminal “right” that we often mistakenly hear ourselves give them. Further, in the short era since the USSR, then America’s only real obstacle to global domination that it now enjoys, the United States has shown a willing- ness to use military might on a vaster and growing scale. The military assault on Panama happened immediately after the USSRyannounced that it wouldn't meddle in Central American politics, “for peace reasons”. The following year, the USSR disintegrated, and the US became the first global superpower since the Roman Empire. The track record of countries assaulted has included Iraq, Somalia, Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Sudan and countless others they have used intelligence and destabilization against. We now are watching open war moves against Iraq and none-too-sub- tle war mongering against the DPRK, an independent state that threatened no one, threatens no one and is increasingly opening up towards their southern neighbours in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The United States government is operating like the premier of British Columbia. They are drunk at the wheel and someone needs to arrest them and take away their keys as soon as possible, if we as citizens want to fight to stop and end both terror and the proliferation of WMD. On March 1, 2003 the Douglas Students’ Union, along with local peace and justice groups, will be hosting an anti-war conference all day in the New Westminster campus (rm 4401). Perhaps it isn’t the answer, but a place to ask even more questions and dispel more “truisms” of falsity. Macdonald Stainsby is a freelance writer and anti-corporate globalization activist from Vancouver. Reach him at . Pianist Ian Parker performs in free concert Join pianist Ian Parker as he performs piano music from Amadeus Mozart to Alexina Louie in a free concert at Douglas College on January 16. Parker, a Vancouver native who now resides in New York, has appeared with numerous Canadian orchestras and has played recitals across North America, Western Europe and Israel. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2001 CBC National Radio Competition and the 2002 William Petschek Piano Debut award at the Julliard School. Parker's performance is part of the College's Noon at New West concert series. Noon at New West takes place every Thursday (September through April). All performances are free and open to the public and take place at 12:30pm in the College's Performing Arts Theatre, fourth floor north at 700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster (one block north of the New West SkyTrain — station). Timothy Taylor to read at Douglas College Join short story writer and novelist Timothy Taylor at Literature Alive, a free public reading series offered by Douglas College. Taylor is the author of Stanley Park, and his short fiction has appeared in Canada’s leading lit- erary magazines and has been anthologized in such pub- lications as Best Canadian Stories, Coming Attractions’ and Islands West. Taylor will read from his work on January 22 at 7pm Douglas College’s New Westminster Campus, room 1809, 700 Royal Avenue (one block north of the New West SkyTrain station). This event is free and open to the public. Kokoro Dances performs at free lunch hour concert Douglas College presents Kokoro Dance: Chiaroscuro, a lecture and demonstration of a work in progress. The performance takes place January 23 as part of Noon at New West, Douglas College's concert series. All perform- ances are free and open to the public and take place at 12:30pm in the College’s Performing Arts Theatre, fourth floor north at 700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster (one block north of the New West SkyTrain station). For more information, please call 604-527-5495. page 9 ©