Introduction

We provide "age appropriate" education and leadership training on a range of issues. A key Teach Peace Foundation theme is that information, presented objectively and calmly, is necessary for citizens to perform their role in our democracy. This newsletter presents information related to a potential attack on Iran and an unusual secret House session.

SPECIAL NOTE for new readers - Every picture in this newsletter is either a link to a video or supporting documentation.

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March to War

A few years ago it was hard for many people to believe our warning that President Bush was planning to attack Iran before he left office. Unfortunately, just yesterday the Jerusalem Post reported President Bush is planning an attack on Iran in his final months in office. He attempted last week to suppress dissent by comparing anyone who seeks to negotiate with Iran to those who appeased the Nazis prior to World War II. We are now in the final phase of the Bush administration plans to attack Iran. Click here or on the picture to the right for a video update.

Preventing War with Iran

We can still stop an attack on Iran. What is needed are millions of messages to representatives in Congress. We also would benefit from insiders, in particular Admiral Fallon, speaking out to prevent war. Former CIA officer Ray McGovern's May 20, 2008 letter to Admiral Fallon is recommended reading for everyone. If you are hesitant to act, please remember that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.

There is a resolution in the Senate,  S. Res. 356 that reads, "A resolution affirming that any offensive military action taken against Iran must be explicitly approved by Congress before such action may be initiated."

We the people must call upon Congress to prevent a war that would decrease our national security. To take action, click here or call 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your senators' offices. While you are on the phone also oppose the $169 billion bill that the Senate is voting on to extend the occupation of Iraq.

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Do You Remember the "wipe Israel off the map" reports?

In March 2007, we reported (click here and see pages 3 & 4) Iran's President Ahmadinejad has been repeatedly misquoted to brainwash the American public that war is the only option. In 2005, Ahmadinejad made a clear call for a nonviolent regime change in Israel and his statement has been incorrectly reported as wanting to use a nuclear weapon to "wipe Israel off the map." Despite confirmation by many translators that he has not threatened Israel with a nuclear weapon, the war propaganda continues.

We now learn that Ahmadinejad's words were twisted because much of the media uses an 'independent' company called Middle East Media Research Institute (Mermi) to translate Middle Eastern languages. Memri is owned by two right-wing neo-con Israelis: Meyrav Wurmser and former Israeli Military Intelligence officer Colonel Yigal Carmon. On a "related" note, Meyrav is the wife of David Wurmser who is an aide to Dick Cheney. Unfortunately, the mainstream media and leading presidential candidates continue to hammer away with the propaganda that "the president of Iran is calling for Israel to be wiped off the map." For additional information on this key piece of war propaganda, read former CIA officer Ray McGovern's latest article.

For an excellent update on why we are heading toward war with Iran, be sure to listen to the audio Scott Ritter recorded at his April 21st Teach Peace presentation. This file may take a minute or two to load.

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Leaders in San Francisco & Beyond

Leaders is a leadership education and training program for high school students. Students are taught to think critically and live life helping others with integrity, humility, compassion, and courage. We are scheduled to meet with the San Francisco School Board Curriculum Review Sub-committee on June 9th.  Unfortunately, there are concerns about whether the review process is fair. On May 14, 2008, the Bay Guardian published an article criticizing the JROTC Task Force (click here for the article). We have also witnessed problems but are continuing to work for a positive outcome. As illustrated in our Glance n-Go chart, we have the ideal solution for San Francisco. Regardless of what happens in San Francisco, the demand for Leaders is expanding as we continue to gain program endorsements. Our efforts are also accelerated by organizations like the ACLU that are now educating Americans why JROTC is violating international law. To access our We Want You(th) information piece, click here.

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Secret House Sesson

Only four secret sessions have been called in the history of the House of Representatives. The fourth secret session was called on March 13, 2008. The last House secret session was over 20 years ago in 1983 to discuss the secret US war against Nicaragua. It wasn't until the Iran Contra scandal of 1986 that the public learned the U.S. was illegally selling weapons to Iran in order to fund the secret war with Nicaragua. What most Americans still do not know is the US weapon sales to Iran began in 1981 as part of an illegal operation orchestrated by Ronald Reagan while running for President against President Jimmy Carter. For more information about this moment in history read America Held Hostage.

Secret House sessions have historically been used for two purposes: 1) to influence representatives with false information so that they support legislation they would otherwise oppose, and 2) silence representatives as the information cannot be shared with the public. This latter use is likely why Rep. Dennis Kucinich refused to participate in the secret House session. A secret House session seems hard to believe so click here to watch the video protest of Rep. Kucinich.

Leaks from the recent March meeting indicate a key topic was managing civil unrest near the end of this year. Could the civil unrest be connected to a new war with Iran?

Peace be with you, The Teach Peace Foundation Team