Grassroots Movement Works to Focus Public Attention on Downing Street Memo that Reveals Bush Administration's Dishonest Justification for Iraq War

Excerpt of speech Medea Benjamin, cofounder of Global Exchange, produced by Melinda Tuhus

Medea Benjamin is a longtime peace and social justice activist. In the 1980s, she co-founded Global Exchange, a non-profit research, education and action center that fosters people-to-people ties around the world. After the 9/11 terrorist attack, and in response to the Bush administration's color-coded terror threat alert system, she co-founded CodePink, a creative movement of women and men who oppose what they brand the Bush agenda of never-ending war.

Benjamin spoke last week in New Haven, Conn., as part of a tour promoting a new book she co-edited with fellow CodePink activist Jodie Evans titled, "Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism." In the following excerpt, Benjamin says that, although exposure of lies and atrocities by the Bush administration has not yet triggered massive, vocal opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, she is confident that a future disclosure will eventually provide that spark.

One possible smoking gun she discusses is the so-called Downing Street memo, first published in the British press on May 1 that revealed the Bush administration had fixed its intelligence on Iraq around the policy of justifying the war. Benjamin also talks about the need to re-inspire some elements of the peace movement to realize that "staying the course" in Iraq just because U.S. troops are already there, is not the way to peace.

"Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism," is published by Inner Ocean Publishing (San Francisco). For more information about CodePink, call (310) 827-4320 or visit their website at www.codepink4peace.org

Related links:


"The secret Downing Street memo," The Sunday Times of London, May 1, 2005

"USA Today defends its lack of coverage for Downing Street memo," Editor and Publisher, June 8, 2005

"Downing Street Memo Won't Die," by Jefferson Morley, Washington Post, June 7, 2005

"'Downing Street Memo' Gets Fresh Attention," by Mark Memmott, USA Today, June 8, 2005

www.afterdowningstreet.org

www.johnconyers.com

www.globalexchange.org

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