US War with Iran: Basra Offensive Fails, Preparations Continue

The failed Basra offensive will be addressed by reinforcing Iraqi government forces, who would be expected to undertake a more slowing evolving siege of the Mahdi Army in Basra, under closer supervision and support of US forces. Arrests of Iranian agents and weapons store seizures should occur along with operations along the Syrian and Iranian borders with Iraq as well as possible naval incidents.

Taking Action:

These reports are not intended to be an academic exercise, but rather as a warning and a call to create an alternative outcome. One possible alternative to Bush's war with Iran is for every concerned American to contact the US Congress to demand, REPEATEDLY, that Congress do its duty and stop Bush from starting a war with Iran: This government has nothing to fear, except your courage to join in spirit those who stood upon Concord Bridge and fired a shot heard around the world, this time within the law to protect the law itself.

Now is our time to act.

---> Call your representatives in Congress regularly until Congress acts to control Bush by:

1. Vote a binding resolution demanding Bush obtain authorization from Congress before any attack on Iran, no matter what the circumstances;

2. Restore Posse Comitatus Act by enacting US Senate Bill S.513 and US House bill H.R. 869;

3. Repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and restore habeas corpus for all by enacting bill H.R.3835;

4. Hold impeachment hearings on Cheney; write to John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee to urge hearings be held on House Resolution 333 introduced by Rep. Kucinich in a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on November 6, 2007; and, to House Speaker Pelosi to demand she end her "impeachment is off the table" dictum, a de facto suspension of the impeachment clause of the US Constitution;

5. Include in relevant appropriation bills wording such that no funds can be spent for a declared national emergency, except upon a vote of Congress to invoke, if congress is in session, and to continue such emergency only upon a continuing resolution by Congress every 30-days;

6. Congress should hold in contempt the head of any department or agency of the executive branch, including the White House, for failing to respond to subpoena; and withhold some or all funds and appointments from those departments, when such subpoena is found to be enforceable by the courts;

7. Establish an office of special prosecutor, to be appointed by and answerable to a federal district court, with independent funding directly from Congress, to investigate high crimes committed by any member of the executive branch while exercising their official duties, including issuing or obeying illegal orders resulting in torture, murder or kidnap or violating a treaty to which the US is a signatory, where such violation prescribes capital punishment or imprisonment of up to 10 or more years;

8. Amend the US Constitution to limit president's pardon authority, so no pardon may be issued by a president for: himself, vice-president, or any person working for the executive branch, except members of the armed forces, for crimes committed during the president's term in office; or, for any person under indictment, at trial, or appealing conviction for the offense to be pardoned; or, for any person under subpoena, impeachment or on trial by the Congress. Presidential pardons should be acts of merciful forgiveness and belated restoration, not obstructions of justice, license for ongoing criminality, nor payment for services or favors rendered.

In addition to contacting Congress, each of us can act lawfully, as individuals and together with others, to halt this drift toward tyranny:

1. Inform yourself, such as learning about the Ten Steps to Shutting Down a Democratic Society.

2. Writing to editors, calling radio and TV stations to demand serious coverage of this issue;

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