There is something wrong with the US foreign policy being predicated on the expectation that other countries should put US foreign policy desires ahead of their own interests. And if they fail to, and there is noncompliance, sanctions, foreign intervention or outright facilitation of conflict and war by the most powerful country and its allies on the planet too often, follows. Our guest the esteemed human rights activist who has practiced civil disobedience and its consequences for the last several decades shares why she and others are willing to get arrested and jailed in order to fight back against the negative outcomes that have taken so many civilian men, women and children lives. Ms. Kelley traveled to Iraq 17 times beginning in or about 1990 and also has frequented Afghanistan among other places where US foreign policy results have impacted so negatively so many lives. She is part of a larger group of patriots who are loyal to ethical tradition that says no to “unjust laws” no to “unjust wars” and no to “unjust sanctions” as she reveals the outcomes, they create from eyewitness accounts.
Our particular focus is on her Iraq experiences and lessons learned but not covered by our ‘mainstream media’ including NPR. From intentionally targeting sanitation, water systems and other infrastructure and then denying chlorinators and other supplies to address the basic civilian needs over a ten-year period during the sanction period following 1990 -1991 Desert Storm, up until the 2003 US invasion. A scenario being repeated in Yemen as well as in the 2011 Libya invasion. Ms. Kelly also responds to the takeover of the Iraqi economy by the Coalitional Provisional Authority led by Paul Bremer and the profiteering mainly by US corporate interests.
If US public knew of these tragic consequences, they would not have tolerated it. ‘Trust but verify’ demands responsibility and accountability by an informed electorate. Please join us tonight as we seek to help contribute to building such an informed US public.
