Paul S. Graham

Speculation about a US-Israeli invasion of Iran, which has been ongoing for the last couple of years, has reached a fever pitch. While most Americans are opposed to continuing the occupation of Iraq (68% according to CNN), about 25% of Americans believe that Iran is the country that poses the greatest threat to the United States (yet again proving that you can fool some of the people all of the time).

Many observers fear the US and Israel plan to attack Iran before the year is out. In an article posted today at the Edmonton Sun (and its sister publications, I imagine) Eric Margolis reviews some of the more ominous signs of an impending strike, including:

• Despite U.S. intelligence statements that Iran is not working on nuclear weapons, the US, Israel and France  are threatening military action if Iran does not end its nuclear enrichment program.
• Senior Israeli officials are threatening to attack Iran’s nuclear installations before Bush’s term expires. Recently Israel staged a dress rehearsal in the form of an exercise using F-15s and F-16s.
• American journalist Seymour Hersh has confirmed that the U.S. Congress authorized a $400-million plan to overthrow Iran’s government and incite ethnic unrest.
• Pentagon officials have said a U.S. attack on Iran is imminent, perhaps including the use of small tactical nuclear weapons.
• This year, senior American officers Admiral William Fallon and Air Force Chief Michael Mosley were fired for opposing war against Iran.

A war with Iran would be disastrous by any measure one might choose. As Canadians, we need to insist that our government express strong opposition to American war plans, and that work has to begin today.

As a starting point, write your MP and the Prime Minister. You can get their addresses here. If you aren’t already involved in an antiwar organization, find one to join, or start one.

As Eric Margolis puts it: “The dogs of war are being unleashed.”

There is no time to waste.