This is a copy I sent to Right Wing raving lunatic of a columnist, for the San Francisco Columnist, Debra Saunders, in response to a pro-bush editorial she wrote. I also, for what it’s worth, cc’ed the letter to a couple of liberal columnists on the “Chronicle” staff, and Dennis Bernstein of KPFA radio, in Berkeley - Ken M

Hey Debra, just to show you a sample of what the American working class thinks about Bush’s war, check out the list of labor organizations that have passed resolutions against this upcoming war. Of particular interest is Teamsters Local 705, the second largerst Teamster local, and the largest UPS Teamster local, based out of Chicago. At the meeting to consider the anti-war resolution, over 400 members were in attendendce, and the anti-war resolution passed with only one dissenting vote. It gets more interesting. All of the Vietnam Veterans, and sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans present who spoke on the anti-war resolution all supported it. Which brings up the question of your male conservative co-thinkers: George Bush who because of family influence jumped ahead of a 18 month waiting list for the Texas National Guard, and if that isn’t enough “disappeared” during the last two years of his committment. Vice President Cheney, who while of military age during the Vietnam conflict, said he had “other committments? ” and so couldn’t participate. George Will-ABSENT. Rush Limbaugh-“Ow, ouch, my leg”. In short Debra, your “men” (and I use the term losely) conservative colleagues, don’t come through Vietnam, looking all that good.

Too move on. Please explain how sending a cruise missle into a crowded bomb shelter in down town Baghdad, crowded with non-combatants, including infants was a “courageos act”. I submit, that not only was that a criminal act, but also, a cowardly act. You want to talk about Palestinian suicide bombers killing Jewish non-combatants? You and I are in agreement, that such acts are despicable. The problem is, is your deafening silence, about a tank crew of four Israeli soldiers, surrounded by 50 tons of twisted steel (known as a “tank”) and armed with a 105MM cannon, and a 50 caliber machine gun, gunning down two Palestinian children, both brothers, aged 6 and 8 in the middle of a public street for “violating curfew”. Yes, they may have been technically breaking the law, but capital punishment? Again Debra, I submit to you that not only was this a criminal act by members of the so-called Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) , but also a COWARDLY act. Yet I heard nothing from you on this.

Let’s move on to the sanctions against Iraq, that have killed over 1, 000, 000 Iraqis, half of them children. And, no Debra, it’s not because of incompetence by the Iraqi government, but because of the US not allowing needed supplies into Iraq. You don’t believe me? Let’s go back to a CBS interview, with then Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, “is the cost of 5, 000 dead Iraqi children each month worth it”, she replied, “Yes it’s worth it”. You noticed she didn’t lie, and say US sanctions had nothing to do with it. Again, her answer, “yes it’s worth it”.

Tell me Debra, why you have nothing to say, about 10, 000 workers in this country being fired from their jobs every year for engaging in union organizing? I could ask you a lot more, but, for now, I think your hands are full.

Kenneth Morgan, member, Local 6, International Longshore and Warehourse Union, and an anti-war Vietnam War Veteran

Current List of Labor Organizations Against the War
What follows is the most up-to-date list of labor organizations that have taken a stand against the Bush Cabal’s drive to war.

Census of Labor Organizations That Have Taken a Stand Against War in Iraq
National Organizations
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees American Postal Workers Union
Canadian Auto Workers
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Communication Workers of America
National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981
Pride at Work
Service Employees International Union
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers (UE)
United Farmworkers of America

State Federations
Hawaii State Federation
Washington State Labor Council

Central Labor Bodies
Albany, New York, Central Labor Counci
Cleveland Federation of Labor
Duluth Central Labor Body
Hartford Labor Council
King County Labor Council
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
Monterey Bay CLC
Philadelphia Central Labor Council
Rochester CLC
Sacramento Labor Council
San Francisco Labor Counci
San Mateo County Central Labor Council
Saratoga Labor Council
South Bay Labor Council
Troy CLC
Vancouver District Labor Council
Washington, DC CLC

District/Regional Organizations
1199/Service Empolyees International Union (SEIU)
AMerican Federation of State, County, Muncipal Employees, (AFSME) District 1707 Council
AFSME District 37 Council
Association of Flight Attendants - Alaska Airlines
Association of Flight Attendants - United Airlines
CA Pipe Trades Council
California Federation of Teachers
California Faculty Association/SEIU Local 1983
California Nurses’ Association
International Association of Machinists (IAM) District Lodge 77 Retirees
New Mexico Carpenters
New York State Nurses’ Association
SEIU Local 1199
SEIU 1199FL
SEIU 1199 NE
SEIU 1199 PASEIU 1199 NJ
SEIU 1199 NY
SEIU 1199 WI
SEIU Wisconsin District
Wisconsin Federation of Teachers
Working Families Party of NY

Local Organizations
AFSCME Local 215
AFSCME Local 304
AFSCME Local 371, DC 37
AFSCME Local 444
AFSCME Local 1549
AFSCME Local 1930, DC 37
AFSCME Local 3800
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1, Chicago Teachers Union
AFT Local 6, Washington Teachers Union
AFT Local 1078, Berkeley Federation of Teachers
AFT Local 1474, UC-Berkeley
AFT Local 1493
AFT Local 1521
AFT Local 2026
AFT Local 2190/UUP, SUNY
AFT Local 2334, Professional Staff Congress, CUNY
AFT Local 4345, Mendocino Co. Fed. of School Employees
AFT/West Haven Federation of Teachers
American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 10
CWA Local 1180
CWA Local 9423
CWA Local 9415
Hotel and Restuarant Employees (HERE) Local 2
HERE Local 5
HERE Local 483
HERE Local 2850
IAM Local Lodge 459
International Longshore and Warehoues Union (ILWU) Local 10
ILWU Local 5
ILWU Local 6
Millwrights’ Local 2158
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 214
Newspaper Guild Local 32035
NWU Local3/UAW Local 1981
Oakland Education Association
Office and Professional Employees’ International Union (OPEIU) Local 2
Painters and Tapers Local 913
Plumbers & Fitters Local 393
SEIU Local 73
SEIU Local 250
SEIU Local 254
SEIU Local 535
SEIU Local 660
SEIU Local 715
SEIU Local 790
SEIU Local 1000/CSEA
Teamsters Local 705
United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2865/AGSE, Univ. of CA
UAW Local 600
UFCW 1776
United Brotherhood of Carpenters/New Mexico
United Healthcare Workers of Greater St. Louis
United Union Representatives of Los Angeles
United Teachers of Los Angeles
UPAT (Painters) Local 510 Sign & Display

Other Labor Organizations and Ad Hoc Committees
1199ers for Peace & Justice
Albany Labor for Peace
Boston Labor for Justice With Peace
Chicago Jobs with Justice Cmte. for New Priorities
Chicago Coalition on Contingent Academic Labor
DC37 Labor Against the War, NYC Muni
Detroit Labor Committee for Peace & Justice
Filipino Workers Association
Ground Zero for Peace
Jobs With Justice/Vermont Workers Center
Jobs With Justice, Atlanta, GA
Jobs With Justice, Washington State
Labor Committee for Peace & Justice, Bay Area
New York City Teachers Against War (NYCLAW)
NY City Labor Against War
Ohio Fair Trade Campaign
Organized Labor Against the War
Portland Labor for Peace & Justice
Sacramento Labor for Peace & Justice
Santa Cruz Labor Committee for Peace & Justice
South Bay Labor for Peace & Justice
Toronto Committee Against Sanctions and War
Trade Unionists Against the War
Washington DC Labor for Peace & Justice
Workers for Peace