DRAFT
Plan to Permanently End U.S. Empire Building, Wars,
Occupations and Use of Force Worldwide
(Updated January 28, 2012)
(This is a work in progress. Please provide comments/suggestions to Fisher@wethepeoplenow.org)
INTRODUCTION
This general plan outlines critical actions to permanently end United States wars, occupations, use of force, drone attacks, and covert operations worldwide. This plan should be coordinated with the other plans in the the Universal, Common Strategic Plan for a Peaceful, Prosperous and Just World agenda and other plans outlined on WeThePeopleNow.org in particular the Plan to Convert the Military Industrial Complex to Support a Peaceful, Green Economy with No Involuntary Layoffs
Highlights of this plan include:
• Initiating an immediate unilateral cease fire in Afghanistan, halting all U.S. drone attacks, covert operations and military and CIA actions all over the world. (These wars, attacks and covert operations are all illegal, should have never happened and must stop immediately)
• Apologizing, providing massive relief efforts and implementing "Marshall Plans" in countries harmed by the US using in part goods, commodities and foodstuffs produced in America to count as reparations while helping these countries become self sustaining as rapidly as possible
• Closing all U.S. overseas bases and facilities and bringing all US troops and government contractors home
Note: Once the above three items are accomplished terrorist acts and terrorism will essentially end
• Ending the so called "war on terror" and treating terrorist acts as crimes
• Reprogramming current appropriations to eliminate funding for wars, occupations, drone attacks and covert operations to provide funding for defensive, withdrawal and peaceful purposes.
• Using diplomacy, negotiations and international courts instead of war and violence to settle disputes with other countries
• Comply with the Constitution and as outlined in Set Aside, Repeal, Replace or Amend Injurious, Unjust Laws and Court Rulings, http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/injurious_laws_and_court_rulings.htm, set aside the following :
• The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (Pub. L. 107-40, 115 Stat. 224, enacted September 18, 2001)
• The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq (AUMF) Resolution of 2002
• Status of Forces Agreements
• Helping secure a peaceful Middle East and ultimately a peaceful just world.
• Lead efforts to rapidly phase out all nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ultimately all offensive weapons worldwide
The bibliography at the end of this document provides a list of the primary sources for the information in this outline.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
B. ACTIONS APPLICABLE TO IRAN AND NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
C. ACTIONS APPLICABLE TO ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
D. DRASTICALLY REDUCE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX SPENDING
E. JUSTIFICATION FOR ENDING WARS
F. Bibliography: Sources of the Information in this Plan
Note: All the initiatives should be initiated and completed as rapidly as practicable.
Congress must:
1. Pass emergency legislation that:
a. Prohibits any past and future appropriations being used for wars, occupations, drone attacks, offensive or covert operations or any use of force in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Iran or Pakistan or anywhere else in the world without a declaration of war by Congress and compliance with national or International law.
b. Phases out all military aid, arms/munitions sales/gifts and military technical support to foreign countries.
c. Reprograms existing appropriations to authorizes the President to use existing funds for only defensive, withdrawal and peaceful purposes, to bring the troops and necessary equipment home and accomplish relief efforts
d. Sets aside:
i. War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541-1548) (1973)
ii. The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (Pub. L. 107-40, 115 Stat. 224, enacted September 18, 2001).
iii. The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq (AUMF) Resolution of 2002
iv. Status of Forces Agreements
2. Pass timely legislation that:
The President must, in coordination with Congress, relevant civilian and military officials, the leaders of the countries of the coalition forces and the leaders of countries :
1. Order an immediate, unilateral cease fire in Afghanistan and a halt all US drone attacks offensive, covert and clandestine operations by coalition and NATO forces, the CIA and U.S. security contractors. Call on all factions to please do the same. Order U.S. Armed Forces and coalition forces to play purely, defensive peaceful roles.
a. Withdraw CIA Personnel and Mercenaries. Order an immediate withdrawal of all CIA operatives and U.S. armed defense contractors and return them to the United States as rapidly as possible.
b. Redeploy U.S. Forces. Redeploy U.S. Forces into defensive peace-keeping positions away from areas where they are not wanted.
c. Order aircraft carriers, other surface combatants and submarines, if any, from the Persian Gulf and out of sight of land.
d. Immediately return all U.S. nuclear weapons in the Middle East, if any, to the U.S.
2. Announce decision to not send any additional troops to the Mid East and describe other salient actions/initiatives of this plan including:
a. The immediate unilateral cease fire,
b. Comprehensive humanitarian and resettlement aid/assistance efforts
c. Payment of reparations, restitution and condolence payments including
funding “Marshall Plans” for reconstruction, economic development and job generation for both Iraq and Afghanistan, to be executed completely by Afghani’s and Iraqi nationals.
d. The permanent closing of all permanent military bases.
e. Withdrawal of all U. S. forces, U.S. contractors, CIA personnel, etc. to be replaced with a trained United Nations international security and peace-keeping missions if needed.
3. Formally and sincerely apologize to the people (Iraqis, Afghans, Iranians, Palestinians, Lebanese and Israelis) and governments for all attacks, economic sanctions, invasions, devastation, occupations, the deaths, maiming, abuse and torture, the damage and destruction of, homes, facilities, historical treasures, the attempted theft of oil and oil profits and other resources and the use of U.S. weapons against them.
4. Provide massive humanitarian, resettlement and employment aid and assistance efforts to insure that all the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon and other countries harmed by the who have been affected including those who have fled their countries have access to food, water, shelter, health care, security employment distributing the aid etc. to be paid for by the U.S. with the people of the countries doing the work. This work to be continued until all the people affected by the U.S. are self-sufficient.
5. Finance “Marshall Plans,” in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza and the West Bank in coordination with other countries. These plans should provide both employment opportunities and affordable necessities and needs of of life for all. There is plenty of work to be done in health care, educational programs, reconstruction, clearing land mines and debris, repairing battle damage, rebuild roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, houses, and factories. In particular the need to produce opium crops should be eliminated and replaced with crops needed by the local inhabitants. Insure that U.S. corporations and the people of the U.S. do not take advantage of these Marshal plans except to get paid for what they provide under time and material contracts.
The Afghan Marshall Plan, described at http://jobsforafghans.org, is modeled after the post WWII reconstruction of Europe with an emphasis on jobs and the elimination of the need to grow opium. This Plan as a part of a withdrawal plan would cost just 5-10% of what the U.S. is spending on the Afghan war. Similar plans are needed in Palestine, Iraq and Pakistan
There is no shortage of work to be done by unskilled and semi-skilled labor. Cash paid directly daily or weekly to laborers gets the funds to those who need it most.
The Iraqi people should to decide their future without interference with the U.S.
Individuals and organizations are available that could lead and manage much of the reconstruction efforts. These include Malalai Joya's and the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (http://www.rawa.org/index.php).
6. Treat as Equals and Respect the Fundamental Rights of all THE PEOPLE. Insure while U.S. Armed Forces, CIA agents, contractors, etc. are in the countries, they treat the people including detainees as equals and with respect, not demonize any race or culture and fully comply with their laws, the Geneva Convention, Hague Regulations, UN Security Council Resolution 1483 of May 22, 2003, other international laws, etc.
7. Use negotiations and courts instead of war to settle disputes with other countries as required by international law. Repudiate the use of force as a strategy for influencing the affairs of other nations. This particularly includes the use of drones and other remote-controlled devices, by U.S. military, the CIA or private contractors to violate foreign sovereignty and carry out assassinations, whether by U.S. military or private contractors.
8. Recognize/Restore Iraq and Afghanistan Sovereignty. Immediately recognize/restore complete Iraq and Afghanistan sovereignty and return control of oil, natural gas and other resources/assets, economy, government agencies, political processes, media, institutions, laws, etc., to the countries and the people of the Middle East so that they, not foreigners, are making the decisions about the future of their countries and are in control of their reconstruction. Cease all attempts to change national laws, privatize these countries resources, etc. In particular should not own or permitted to get a percentage of the profits.
9. Help develop, fund, support and participate in, but do not attempt to control comprehensive and broadly-inclusive negotiations and conferences on all relevant issues with no preconditions for negotiation and with no strings attached. Regional Meetings and Conferences. Means of negotiations should include phone calls, email exchanges and meetings, among representatives from the United Nations, Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, the political wings of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Taliban, and the European Union, etc.. Items suggested for negotiations should include:
a. Security and stability of the Middle East including in particular whether appropriate UN international peace-keeping are required.
b. Civil rights and equality of the people.
c. “Marshal Plans” to rebuild countries and provide employment opportunities
d. Resolution of the Sunni, Shia, Kurd power sharing situation in Iraq
e. Plans for timely, fair, fully creditable regional and national elections so that true democratic self- rule can be put into place.
f. Responsibilities of occupying powers (U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel in the West Bank and the Golan Heights), including prohibitions against changing a country's laws and taking its resources, etc.
g. Resolution of the Israel-Palestine-Syria-Lebanon situations including borders, settlements, right of return, two state solution, etc.
h. Resolution of the Turkey-Kurdish situation
i. International truth, reconciliation, amnesty, restitution, and restorative justice processes.
j. Consider the United Nations guaranteeing the borders of these countries so that they do not standing armies and for part of their armies to be reorganized and trained as Civil Engineering Corps, national and local police forces and local/state government “guards”.
k. Possible reconciliation defined as an airing of all grievances and the creation of pathways
toward open, transparent talks producing truth and resolution of grievances. . Reconciliation
must not be confused with capitulation, nor with realignments for the purposes of protecting
power relationships.
10. Release or turn over detainees to proper authorities in close coordination with applicable governments, commence releasing "security detainees" who have not been charged with a crime and pay them restitution if their confinement has been wrongful and unlawful and/or if they have been abused or tortured. If there is probable cause and they have been charged with specific crimes, as appropriate, turn them over to their own country, the International Criminal Court or indict and try them in regular U.S. court in accordance with applicable laws. If they have been held in connection with the post-invasion conflict, amnesty should be considered. In any case, detainees and prisoners must be treated humanely and with respect. They should be detained only in places which practice restorative justice and in which they can enjoy the full protection of the law and have prompt access by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This work must be completed no later than one month after enactment of this plan. This is the right and moral thing to do, and until individuals who have been wrongfully detained, abused, tortured, etc. receive justice, they could be a threat to the U.S. and our people.
11. Order a return of all U. S. contractors to the United States and turn over all contracting work to the Iraqi government/people.
12. Permanently Close all U.S. Bases. Cease the planning for and construction work on all U.S. military bases, facilities and installations and turn property over to the people/government.
13. Bring all US troops and government contractors home some of whom would provide support for a new Works Projects Administration (WPA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), go to college, go back to their old job, go into the Peace Corps, serve in the State National Guards, and the Civil Conservation & Engineering Corps, as the world disarms.
14. Cancel all Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs)
15. Insure that U.S. corporations and the people of the U.S. do not take advantage of the privatization of these countries’ oil, water, other resources, industries, economy, etc. and the illegal Bremer “privatization laws” and the Iraq Constitution written by U.S. officials.
16. Make Restitution, Reparations, and Condolence Payments. The U.S. should make restitution, reparations, and condolence payments, with no strings attached as appropriate:
a. For physical and emotional injuries to individuals abused or tortured and wrongfully and unlawfully detained
b. To the families of individuals killed or disabled by U.S. Armed Forces, private security contractors, the CIA, etc.
c. To rescue the tens of thousands of orphans from lives of destitution.
d. To emigres to return and resettlement.
e. To the employees of the government who were forced out of their jobs by the Coalition Provisional Authority.
f. To the members of the Iraq military and Iraq military retirees who suffered pay losses when the Coalition Provisional Authority disbanded the Army and refused to pay military pensions.
g. For reconstruction/restoration of what the U.S. has damaged or destroyed, for clearing and dismantling land mines, unexploded ordnance, depleted uranium, blast walls, wire barriers, etc., with Iraqis managing the contracts and doing the work.
h. For what Iraq should have received for Iraq’s oil and other resources since the invasion of Iraq.
i. For any Iraqi funds that were paid to U.S. government contractors for reconstruction work that was not done or was incomplete, shoddy or otherwise wasted.
j. For other similar items as they develop.
17. Congress pay for the items outlined in this plan from existing funds and with restitution from the individuals accountable for these problems. The cost of the McGovern-Polk plan, outlined in the book Out of Iraq, was an estimated $12 to $14 billion. Additional items in this plan and delays in getting started, would at least double this estimate. However, $28 billion would still be much less than one-third of the recent supplemental bill or three or four months of the current cost of the war. Funds are available to accomplish or assist in the accomplishment of all the above. Sources of these funds include, but are not limited to funds appropriated or made available under any provision of law including:
a. Remainder of the billions of dollars which Congress has previously appropriated
b. Funds to deploy or continue to deploy members or units of the United States Armed Forces or civilian military contractors to the Middle East.
c. Savings from cancellation of the permanent U.S. bases and other unneeded work.
d.Funds for offensive or clandestine operations in Iraq, Iran or in any country in the world in the absence of a formal declaration of war by the United States Congress.
e. Funds to deploy or operate U.S. aircraft carriers or other surface combat vessels in the Persian Gulf or within sight of land in the Middle East.
f. Funds to intervene or to plan to threaten or to overtly or covertly, intervene in the internal affairs of Iraq, Iran or any other nation.
g. Funds for CIA rendition, detention, interrogation programs and clandestine operations.
h.To accomplish "regime change".
i. Funds for any nuclear weapon development programs or to improve or refine existing nuclear weapons. These programs violate the spirit and intent of Article VI of the 1967 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPR).
j. Funds for any anti-ballistic missile (ABM) development programs or to improve or refine existing anti-ballistic missile development programs. ABM’s will not work, are much to expensive and violate the spirit and intent of 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty which President Bush unlawfully “pulled out of”.
k. Funds from cancellation of other unneeded offensive cold war weapons systems.
B. ACTIONS APPLICABLE TO IRAN AND NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Note: It is illegal for the U.S. to threaten to attack Iran, conduct any clandestine or offensive operations against Iran or invoke economic sanctions against Iran or any other country unless Congress has specifically declared war on that country.
According to the Congressional testimony of General James Cartwright on April 14, 2010: If Iran were to commit to building a nuclear weapon and kicked out international inspectors, it would take Iran 2-5 years to build “something that can actually create a detonation, an explosion that would be considered a nuclear weapon,” Gen. Cartwright clarified that it would take at least three years for Iran to develop a deliverable nuclear weapon
18. The U.S. must:
a. Conduct and support but not attempt to control both direct and multi-party diplomacy and negotiations with Iran and other countries
b. Not threaten to attack Iran, conduct any clandestine or offensive operations against Iran or invoke economic sanctions against Iran.
c. Prohibit Israel from using any weapon system or other munitions provided by the U.S. to attack or conduct any clandestine or offensive operations against Iran or any other country.
d. Assist in maintaining the Middle East WMD/Nuclear Weapons Free Zone and insure that there are no nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction on any U.S. Ships or in possession of any other U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East as required by article 14 UN Security Council Resolution 687. This resolution calls for "establishing in the Middle East a zone free from weapons of mass destruction and all missiles for their delivery."
e. Take the lead on the cessation of the nuclear arms race and complete disarmament as required by Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which requires: pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
f. Cease expending any funds on any nuclear weapon development program or to improve or refine existing programs.
g. Build on ongoing initiatives and develop a comprehensive Plan for the United States Role in Global Nuclear Disarmament which includes identifying obstacles and the underlying reasons for these obstacles and proposes short and long range solutions.
h. Ensure that sanctions do not prevent humanitarian NGO’s from providing humanitarian assistance to the Iranian people
i. Not ban visas for Iranians seeking to study, work, or visit family members in the United States. Provide the option of multiple entry visas for Iranian students which allow the visa holder to leave the country and return after meeting American immigration authorities
19. Accomplishing the above will strengthen the U.S. government's position when requesting that other states such as Iran and North Korea not develop nuclear weapons and will encourage Iran and other countries to help with the grave problems in Iraq.
C. ACTIONS APPLICABLE TO ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Congress and the Administration of the United States must:
20. Insure that the above actions that are applicable to Israel and Palestine are implemented including in particular:
a. Item B.3 above. Formally and sincerely apologize to the people and government of Palestine
b. Item B.4 above. Provide massive humanitarian, resettlement and employment aid and assistance efforts to insure that all the people and refugees of Palestine, Gaza and Lebanon who have been affected including those who have fled their countries have access to food, water, shelter, health care, security, employment distributing the aid etc., to be paid for by the U.S. with the people of these countries doing the work. This aid to be continued until all the people affected by the U.S. are self-sufficient.
c. Item B.9 above. Finance “Marshall Plans,” in Gaza and the West Bank in coordination with other countries. These plans should provide both massive increases in employment opportunities and basic services, health care, educational programs, reconstruction, clearing land mines and debris, repairing battle damage, rebuilding roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, houses, and factories.
d. Item B.15 above. Make Restitution, Reparations, and Condolence Payments to the people of Gaza, the West Bank, the people of Palestine and Lebanon and other countries for damage done by the U.S. weapons, military aid and assistance provided to Israel.
21. Cease all military aid, arms sales and gifts and military support to Israel.
22. As required by the U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA)
a. Demand that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israelis in positions of command and control cease the use of any and all weapons supplied by the U.S. for any offensive or unlawful purposes particularly in the “occupied terrorities” .
b. Order all U.S. government employees, military personnel, U.S. contractors, individuals and their agents involved in providing funds, selling, giving, supplying, delivering, transporting, supporting, maintaining, providing technical or logistical support for any offensive arms, weapons, weapons systems, munitions, and repair parts to or for Israel to cease and desist and to stop all shipments and work in progress.
23. Working with other countries and through the United Nations:
a. End the building of settlements in the West Bank and the Occupied Territories by Israelis
b. Support the admission of UN recognition of stablishment of an independent country of Palestine with full rights of self determination
c. Develop a plan to buy selected homes, buildings, facilities, roads, and infrastructure built by Israelis in selected settlements in the West Bank and turn them over to the Palestinian.
d. Encourage the government and people of Israel and Palestine to use non-violent means, reject violence and engage in open, honest negotiations and reconciliation.
e. Help develop and support UN security guarantees for Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and all other countries of the Mid-East.
f. Demand Israel’s compliance with international law and applicable UN Security Council resolution. Under international law, territory cannot be acquired by war. Palestinians who have lost their property have the right to return to them or be compensated at their choice. This right cannot be negotiated away by anyone other than the property owners.
g. End the blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt and under the watch of an international peace keeping force, if necessary, allow:
i. Free transport of goods and materials to the people of Gaza, including food, medical supplies and building materials for the rebuilding of schools, homes, factories, hospitals and government buildings.
ii. Free travel by Palestinians throughout Gaza, Palestine and the Occupied Territories.
D. DRASTICALLY REDUCE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX SPENDING
24. Reduce annual military-industrial complex and intelligence/CIA spending from about $1 trillion to less than $100 billion over the next two years with absolutely no involuntary layoffs. Russia spends less than $60 billion annually on their military.
a. Eliminate all funding for:
i. Assassinations, secret arrests, renditions, torture and abusive treatment of detainees and prisoners.
ii. Development or modification of nuclear weapons
iii. Anti-ballistic missile system
iv. Military aid and on a case by case basis provide necessary economic aid
b. Affirm the Constitutional roles and functions of the State Guards (Militias). Eliminate National from the State Guards name. Revitalize the State Guards (militias) which as the Constitution states are "necessary to the security of a free State".
c. Drastically reduce the size and roles of the standing Army, Navy and Air Force.
25. Continually Report the Status of this Plan. The status of all of these items should be continually maintained and available to the public on the White House web site.
E. JUSTIFICATION FOR ENDING WARS
The primary reasons the US military is in the Middle East is to help corporation make as much
money as possible from the world’s proven oil reserves
there. See Oil and Oil Profits: The
Primary Reason The US is in Mideast
The invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, the bombing of Libya, drone attacks against Pakistan covert operations, use of forcebterfuge in Pakistan and threats against Iran are illegal, unjust, immoral, doomed to failure and self-defeating.
Military aid, arms/munitions sales/gifts to Israel, or any country, used for other than legitimate self-defense constitute violations of the U. S. Arms Export Control Act and other domestic and international law.
Information substantiating this can be found in the A Summary of the U. S. Illegal Wars and Use of Force in the Mideast and in Proof of the Unconstitutionality and Illegality of the U. S. Wars/Occupations and Use of Force in the Mideast.
These efforts are costing over $100 million a day, a devastating drain on the American Taxpayer.
The surge in Afghanistan, which is about $1,000,000 per soldier per year, has fueled more attacks and deaths of our troops and innocent Afghans and provided more terrorist recruits.
To paraphrase Daniel Ellsberg, even if one million U.S., NATO and Afghan troops combine forces in Afghanistan, after we leave there will be no improvement in that country.
Point one of the Kucinich 12-Point Plan for Iraq, Introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich in the House of Representatives on January 9, 2007 Includes: "A US Declaration of an intention to withdraw troops and close bases will help dampen the insurgency.
Afghani people join the resistance because we're brutalizing, terrorizing, and murdering their people and because with over 40% unemployment, desperation drives Afghans to take the only jobs available -- fighting Americans and Coalition Forces or opium production. The vast majority of the Afghan people do not want to support the Taliban or al-Qaeda. If the U. S. withdraws, most of the resistance would lay down their arms and work for $5-10 a day.
F. Bibliography: Sources of the Information in this Plan
This document is based on inputs from numerous individuals, organizations and other documents including:
The Kucinich 12-Point Plan for Iraq, Introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich in the House of Representatives on January 9, 2007.
The article How to Get OUT of Afghanistan by William Polk provides “a sensible and detailed analysis of the options facing the President, and why he should choose to get out of this war right now.”
The Bush Agenda: Invading the World One Economy at a Time by Ms. Antonia Juhasz
Out of Iraq: "A Practical Plan for Withdrawal NOW", by George McGovern and William R. Polk, provide background, details and estimated costs for the major initiatives of the plan.
Ending the War in Iraq by Tom Hayden.
Statement Regarding Israel and Palestine/Gaza by Jon Monday & Barry Ladendorf,
Veterans for Peace, San Diego Chapter
H. R. 508, to require United States military disengagement from Iraq, etc. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c110:./temp/~c110sAuLco) filed on 17 January, 2007.
H. R. 1234: The Plan to End the Iraq War.
House Continuing Resolution 288
H.R. 5708
H. R. 2404, introduced by Representative Jim McGovern would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress outlining the United States exit strategy for United States military forces in Afghanistan participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.
H. R. 3699, introduced by Representative Barbara Lee would prohibit any increase in the number of members of the United States Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan.
H. CON. RES. 248, written and introduced by Representative Dennis Kucinich, Directing the President, pursuant to section 5© of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.
A dozen or so other proposed related House and Senate bills