Anti-war forum hears from human shield

BY JAMES CAULFIELD

CANBERRA — Speaking at an anti-war forum held on May 20, "human shield" Ruth Russell described Australian Prime Minister John Howard and US President George Bush as "armchair killers" who don't have to face the consequences of their actions.

In addition to Russell, the ACT Network Opposing War forum was addressed by ACTNOW convener James Vassilopoulos and Kaseem Aboud, the president of the Iraqi Migrant Council in Sydney.

There were "far more civilian deaths than will ever be known" as a result of the Iraq war, Russell told the audience of 40 anti-war activists.

Aboud said that Iraqis are a highly politicised people who immediately saw through the US claims that its occupation of their country was aimed at their liberation from tyranny. He demanded the US occupation forces leave and be replaced by UN forces to supervise an interim administration of all those who fought against Saddam Hussein's regime.

Demonstrations started in Iraq so quickly after the US military victory because the Iraqi people know the US occupation forces may be even more difficult to get rid of than Saddam, Aboud said.

Vassilopoulos described how the US corporate elite was seeking to profit from the US occupation through the Pentagon's awarding of huge reconstruction contacts.

From Green Left Weekly, May 28, 2003.

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From GLW issue 539