Peace Activists Decry NATO Chief’s Meeting with President Bush; Demonstration Planned Sunday, May 20, 3 p.m. in Crawford, Texas

CRAWFORD, Texas, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — When Jaap De Hoop
Scheffer of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization visits the Bush Ranch in
Crawford, Sunday, May 20, peace activists will be on hand to decry the Iraq
war and NATO’s role in the so called “war on terror.”
A White House press release declared, “The President looks forward to
discussing with the Secretary General NATO’s crucial role in advancing
freedom and security.” They will discuss operations in Afghanistan and
NATO’s ongoing transformation to meet the security challenges of the 21st
century.
According to Carl Rising-Moore of The Camp Casey Peace Institute,
founded by Cindy Sheehan, “Violations of the Afghan code of honor by NATO
forces during their search-and-destroy missions and the excessive use of
force during military operations leading to loss of innocent lives have
provoked widespread revulsion among Afghan people.” Twenty-thousand NATO
troops will be defeated just as the 100,000 man Soviet army left
Afghanistan with their tails between their legs.”
“NATO’s self-proclaimed authority to manage international conflict is
puzzling,” said Hadi Jawad of the Crawford Texas Peace House. “Who
empowered NATO to be the police of the world? Why is NATO more powerful
than the United Nations? And whose interest does NATO serve? De Hoop
Scheffer is perceived worldwide as a mere puppet of the US.”
Kay Lucas, director of Crawford Texas Peace House, commenting on De
Hoop Sheffer’s visit said, “The security challenges of the 21st century can
only be met through diplomatic measures of governments who truly represent
their people’s wishes for peace and justice. Armies, by design, invade,
occupy and plunder resources of defenseless peoples. NATO is a tool of the
imperial powers, providing them a ‘protection racket’ on a global scale.”
“NATO’s original role as a military alliance to counter the threat of
communism has outlived its utility,” according to Rising-Moore. “It should
be disbanded or at least converted to a humanitarian aid organization.”
Demonstration:
When: Sunday, May 20, 3 p.m.
Where: Crawford, Texas

Press Conference:
Crawford Texas Peace House (http://www.crawfordpeacehouse.org )
When: Monday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: 9142 E. 5th St., Crawford, Texas 76638
“This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merging
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http://www.XpressPress.com”

SOURCE Camp Casey Peace Institute and Crawford Texas Peace House

Comment: With the Soviet threat gone, what exactly is NATO’s purpose these days?