Here is an example of first-rate guerilla theater.


>>Media Advisory
>>For Immediate Release
>>February 24th, 1998
>>
>>LIBBY DAVIES, M.P., TO LEAD SEARCH FOR
>>U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
>>
>>(Vancouver) Libby Davies, Member of Parliament for Vancouver East, will
>lead a Citizens' Weapons Inspection Team composed of community and church
>leaders to search for U.S. weapons of mass destruction suspected to be
>deployed in neighbouring Washington State.
>>
>>The team's visit to Washington State will occur as nuclear-armed U.S. and
>British military forces, backed by Canadian forces, stand poised for a
>military assault against Iraq to enforce U.N. weapons inspections.
>>
>>"Canada should play the role of peacemaker by working to ensure that all
>weapons of mass destruction are banned," said Libby Davies. "Our team will
>begin by inspecting the country which possesses thousands of the most deadly
>weapons ever created - nuclear weapons."
>>
>>Analysts suspect that 1600 active nuclear weapons are based in Washington
>State - more active weapons than Britain, France, and China combined. The
>team will focus its inspection on Submarine Base Bangor, the homeport of
>eight Trident submarines located near Puget Sound, west of Seattle. A
>Trident submarine can carry 24 missiles and 200 nuclear bombs - enough to
>destroy an entire country.
>>
>>Joining Libby Davies, M.P., will be Peter Coombes, President of End the
>Arms Race; Murray Dobbin, National Board Member of The Council of Canadians;
>Ed Schmitt, Chair of the Peace and Social Justice Committee of the Anglican
>Diocese of New Westminster; David Morgan, President of Veterans Against
>Nuclear Arms; and others.
>>
>>The team will depart Vancouver at 7 A.M. Thursday, February 26th, (the same
>day the H.M.C.S. Toronto arrives in the Persian Gulf). It will be joined by
>U.S. members at a meeting in Seattle at 11 a.m., and the team will arrive at
>Submarine Base Bangor at 4:00 p.m.
>>
>>The team has written the base commander requesting full and unconditional
>access to the site to search for nuclear weapons of mass destruction. "Only
>rogue states stockpile and conceal weapons of mass destruction," said Peter
>Coombes. "We expect to be granted our request for an inspection of nuclear
>weapons deployed on the U.S. submarines."
>>
>>                                      (30)
>>
>>Contact: Libby Davies, Ottawa (613) 992-6030, Vancouver (604) 775-5800.
>>      Jillian Skeet, End the Arms Race at (604) 688-8846.
>>      The team will depart in white vans at 7 A.M. from
>>      1207 Salsbury Drive (at William St. near Commercial Drive).
>>
>>
>>
>>******
>>END THE ARMS RACE
>>Suite 405
>>825 Granville Street
>>Vancouver BC V6Z 1K9
>>604/ 687-3223
>>Fax 604/ 687-3277
>>[log in to unmask]
>>www.peacewire.org
>>
>>
>>President William Jefferson Clinton
>>The White House
>>Washington, D.C.
>>
>>February 24, 1998
>>
>>Mr. President:
>>
>>      End the Arms Race, one of Canada's largest peace and disarmament
>organizations, is currently working with peace workers in Washington State
>to organize an international Citizens' Weapons Inspection Team to visit
>Naval Submarine Base Bangor on Thursday February 26.  We are scheduled to
>arrive at the Naval Submarine Base Bangor at approximately 4:00 p.m. The
>team will consist of eight to ten Canadi
>>ans and will be joined by an equal number of Americans.  Among the Canadian
>team are prominent community workers and a Member of the Parliament of Canada.
>>
>>We trust that you will take the appropriate action to ensure that our
>international Citizens' Weapons Inspection Team is given full access to
>Naval Submarine Base Bangor in Washington State.
>>
>>      The team visiting the area is requesting a brief meeting with the
>Commanding Officer of Naval Submarine Base Bangor so we can get detailed
>information regarding its purpose.
>>
>>It is suspected that Submarine Base  Bangor in Washington State is being
>used to store and deploy weapons of mass destruction.  It is commonly
>understood that at least eight Trident nuclear submarines are based at
>Bangor, each with the capacity to carry twenty-four intercontinental
>ballistic missiles armed with eight nuclear warheads each.
>>
>>      Continuing, indefinite reliance on nuclear weapons as the cornerstone of
>United States and NATO defence strategy is a clear violation of the nuclear
>disarmament obligation in Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which
>was described in the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of
>Justice as an obligation "to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to
>nuclear disarmament in all
>> its aspects."
>>
>>      Therefore, as ethically concerned and law abiding citizens, we acknowledge
>our duty and responsibility to confirm whether or not weapons of mass
>destruction are stored in the area.  Thus, we are requesting a tour of the
>base and access to all documentation that confirms whether or not weapons of
>mass destruction or the delivery vehicles of any such weapons are present on
>the base.
>>
>>      We also request access to inspect any nuclear weapons or their delivery
>vehicles that may be present at Naval Submarine Base Bangor.
>>
>>      Once again, I wish to repeat our strong desire to meet with the Commander
>of Naval Submarine Base Bangor on February 26 to discuss its purpose and to
>learn more about the types of weapons systems that are present at the base.
>>
>>      I trust that as the President of the United States, you will do all that
>is necessary and appropriate to help ensure that the United States and the
>North Atlantic Treaty Organization are abiding by international law and norms.
>>
>>
>>Yours Sincerely,
>>
>>
>>
>>Peter Coombes
>>President
>>
>>
>>
>>>From [log in to unmask]  Tue Feb 24 20:17:32 1998
>>
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