Cultures of Resistance

Ever since President Bush anointed Iran as a founding member of the ìAxis of Evilî in a 2002 State of the Union speech, the threat of war between the two nations has never been far. In 2007 a highly aggressive barrage of ominous threats and provocative maneuvers by the U.S. administration led many to think that a case was steadily being built for a preemptive U.S. attack, in much the same way that the invasion of Iraq was sold to the media and the public.

On December 3, 2007 the hawks and neoconservatives took a hit with the unprecedented public release of the National Intelligence Estimate (N.I.E.), regarded as the consensus opinion of 16 difference U.S. government intelligence agencies, which reported that Iran had suspended itís secret nuclear weapons program in 2003. While many in the peace movement sighed with relief, the N.I.E. in and of itself has not necessarily reduced the risk of military conflict with Iran, and in fact the neoconservative war lobby is already pushing back. Some analysts think that any prospect that this NIE has for reducing the risk of an attack can be counter-balanced by the lulling of people into a security that will take focus off it and

thus ultimately make such an attack easier. A senior Pentagon official, who told the media there had been ìno course correctionî only days after the release of the N.I.E. document, gave one ominous signal in this direction.

The Cultures of Resistance Network is deeply engaged in the campaign to stop a disastrous war with Iran, and urges all other activists and concerned citizens to get involved. Our work is based on the proposition that diplomacy is the ONLY option, and mutual understanding is key to defusing the conflict. The following organizations and campaigns are all working strategically and effectively to head off a conflict between the United States and Iran. We are proud to support their timely and courageous work.