Opening Plenary
2004 World Conference against A & H Bombs
Joseph Gerson
U.S.A
It is a privilege to return to the World Conference and to be re-inspired
by the spirit of the Hibakusha, and the world’s peace movements.
Soon after Bush and Cheney came to power, it was clear that we
were entering dark and dangerous times. Since then the U.S. has
invaded Afghanistan, colonized Central Asia and recolonized the
Middle East with new military bases. It has criminally invaded Iraq.
Bush has renounced the ABM treaty, denounced the CTBT, pronounced
his disregard for Article VI of the NPT, accelerated development
of new nuclear weapons and preparations for resumption of nuclear
weapons testing, and he has threatened nuclear war.
Bush’s global military crusade grows from the megalomaniacal ambitions
of sectors of the U.S. elite. Bush the Elder sought a “New World
Order” in which “What we say goes.” Clinton aimed for Full Spectrum
Dominance. And before 9-11 Dick Cheney was clear that he sought
to impose “the arrangement for the 21st century” to guarantee that
Washington remains the world’s dominant power for decades to come.
They seek not only to re-colonize geography -but to colonize time:
the 21st century.
Thus we have the National Security Statement which prescribes unilateral
attacks to prevent the emergence of rivals, not only the so-called
“Axis of Evil,” but in years to come possibly China and Europe.
The “Arrangement” inspired the Nuclear Posture Review, the invasions
of Afghanistan and Iraq, the reconfiguration of Washington’s global
network of foreign military bases, and threats made against North
Korea and Iran.
Like the Crusaders, European colonists, and German and Japanese
militarists. This campaign cannot succeed. The question is how many
thousands of lives will be sacrificed and shattered between now
and then and what will remain. The occupation of Iraq has united
the Iraqi people against their “liberators,” and the sham transfer
of sovereignty is doomed to fail - just like “Vietnamization” thirty
years ago. Bush’s militarism and nuclear threats have spurred nations
like Iran and North Korea to accelerate their nuclear weapons programs
and solidified the understandable rage of Islamic and other nations
against the U.S. and its coalition of the coerced.
The U.S. “Presidential campaign pits hawks against hawks.” If Bush
is reelected, we will move closer to what Richard Falk calls fascist
empire. A Kerry victory will restore Clintonism: engagement as well
as containment, “soft” power and “the Big Stick,” less unilateralism
but renewed Kissingerian crackpot realism. But it will also provide
us time and space to organize to prevent the very worst.
Hibakusha, the global peace movement, and the world’s social forums
teach us that another world is possible. “We make our road by walking”,
and in the last few years we have created our own hope: the world’s
second superpower - international public opinion. Not since the
Vietnam War and the nuclear disarmament movement of the early 1980s
has the global peace movement been so powerful. The international
community has effectively isolated the U.S, and the polls tell us
that most U.S. people want U.S. troops out of Iraq.
We must also enthusiastically press the Mayors Campaign for nuclear
abolition. If we educate and organize - and circulate the Abolition
Now petition - we can use the NPT Review to bend the nuclear powers
to our will.
These are indeed dark and dangerous times. But, we have built the
second superpower that can end the Iraq war and Bush’s global military
crusade. Though the hour is late, we can still abolish nuclear weapons.
No More Hiroshimas! No More Nagasakis!. No More Iraqs! Together
for Peace!
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