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DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR SOUTH WEST ASIA

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DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR SOUTH WEST ASIA


BACKGROUND:
The issue of the war in Iraq occurs in a greater context of the situation in South West Asia. States within the region such as Israel, Syria and Iran have actively sought to promote regional strategies that benefit their own strategic and national interests. Because of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq, the US government has severely limited its role in the development of a comprehensive peace policy and its actions have increased war and conflict in the region. The foreign policy
of the US Government ought to be focused on facilitating peacemaking and ending its military actions against the nations and peoples of the region.

In presenting a proposed peace plan, I am not attempting to provide policies that the US government will unilaterally implement to provide
"solutions" for the peoples and nations of the region. In fact, it is my intention to promote, energize and support actions by those forces within the region that will provide real solutions and demonstrate true leadership. The mediating role of Saudi Arabia in the internal Palestinian political dispute represents a model of conduct by a nation in the region providing a productive role in addressing conflict and reducing bloodshed.

As Americans whose government is currently engaged in a ruthless and reckless exercise in Iraq it is time for us to begin the process of formulating a package of policies that lead in the direction of peace. This is something that a 2008 Presidential candidate can raise and present to increase public awareness. This is something that we can begin to advocate for in state legislatures and with Congressional delegations in our states.

To do so we have to first admit that our government needs to play an active and positive role in this proposal. States are encouraged to define specific
goals that address their own states' voter base and the opportunities to raise the concerns. In NM, a resolution is being proposed in the state egislature
that proposes to initiate proceedings for impeachment of Bush and Cheney in the US Congress. This is one example of actions that can be developed to implement the plan below.

1. Demilitarization of the region
Withdrawal of US and other Troops
Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Dismantling of Existing Stockpile
Restrictions on Israeli Interventions
Establishment of UN Peace Keeping Process

2. Withdraw from Occupied Territories
Dismantling of the Wall
Resolution of the Status of Jerusalem
Diplomatic Recognition of Israel
Re-establish Israel-Palestine Peace Process
US Divestment from Israel

3. Recognition of National Liberation Projects
Support for Kurdistan Towards Recognition
Support for Palestinian Authority to expand to governmental status
Recommence Israeli-Palestinian Direct Negotiations
Withdrawing PMOI (People's Mujahadeen) and PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party)
From the List of Terrorist Organizations
Ending Military Aid to Turkey

4. Accountability for Human Rights and War Crimes
Iraq War crimes
ICC Jurisdiction
Constitutional Protections by Nations
Investigations into Lebanese Assassinations
Prosecutions for Sectarian Related Violence

5. Restitution and Reparations
Determination of Amount by US and Britain
Defining Structures for Disbursements
Prioritization of Projects

6. Accountability of US Government
Constitutional Mechanisms
ICC Jurisdiction
Empowerment of States
Ending US Military Aid
Impeachment Proceedings

7. Regional Oversight
Establishment and Empowerment of Entities
Coordination with Arab League
Observers for Iraqi Sectarian Violence
Establishment of SW Asia Regional Consultation Council of Nations and Peoples


8 US Transition to Non-Carbon Fuel Energies
Establishment of a Long-Term Plan
Approval of Kyoto Accord

9 Resolution of Iraqi Political Turmoil
Recognition of Equal Political Rights
Disarmament of Political Organizations

10 Regional Economic Development
Energy Production Assistance to Iran
Oil Royalties Disbursements in Iraq
Kirkuk Integration with Kurdistan

11 Institutionalization of Peace in the US
Department of Peace
Demilitarization of the Economy

12. Establishment of Equal Rights for Women and Abolishment of Legalized
Inequalities in Iraq
Ratification of CEDAW by US and Iraq
Secularization of legal codes
Representation of women in political entities
REFERENCES:

http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/remedy/principles.htm
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index.htm
http://www.un.org/Depts/dpa/qpal/
A Time to Lead: The International Community and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1671&l=1
Israel, India and Pakistan: Regional Security and Politics Are the Solution, Not the NPT.
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/npp/perkovichreport.cfm
Arab League chief calls for nuclear-free Middle East
click here
Lebanon
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2743&l=1
Kurdistan
http://www.kurdishmedia.com
"Is Criticism of Israel Anti-Semitic?"
http://www.workingtv.com/finkelstein.html
The Liberation of Women in the Middle East
http://www.ntpi.org/html/liberationofwomen.html
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Martin Zehr Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Martin Zehr is an American political writer in the San Francisco area. He spent 8 years working as a volunteer water planner for the Middle Rio Grande region. http://www.waterassembly.org His article on the Kirkuk Referendum has been printed by the Kurdish Regional Government, http://www.moera-krg.org/articles/detail.asp?smap=01030000&lngnr=12&anr=12121&rnr=140 Another article was reprinted in its entirety by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) http://www.puk.org/web/htm/news/nws/news070514.html He is a Contributing Writer to Kurdish Aspect more...)
 

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