<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">All,<BR>
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The Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice and the Metro Chicago Progressive Media Network have been hosting a series of book discussion/strategies meetings to focus on how we can be more effective in ending the current war/occupation.<BR>
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We have been consulting prominent anti-war spokespersons and activists for their input. The idea is to discuss their books and extract from them what is most useful for our own efforts here in our own groups and in our own area. Currently we are examining Tom Hayden's "Ending the War in Iraq."<BR>
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Since May 24 is on Memorial Day weekend, the meeting date for the Book Discussion/Strategy group has been moved to May 31. Same place and time: 11:00 am, Buzz Cafe, 905 S. Lombard. We will be either in the upstairs meeting room or at the lounge at the back of the first floor. <BR>
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We will be continuing discussion of Tom Hayden's 2007 book "Ending the War in Iraq." For those who have not had a chance to read the book there will be a brief presentation. <BR>
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One of the interesting points Hayden covers is his analysis of what he terms the "8 Pillars" of support for the war/occupation of Iraq. Many of these have been severely weakened already and he offers a fairly detailed strategy for targeting all of the pilllars:<BR>
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1. Iraqi public support<BR>
2. American public support<BR>
3. Congressional support<BR>
4. Media support<BR>
5. Sufficient troop strength<BR>
6. Sufficient financial strength<BR>
7. Support of allies/world opinion<BR>
8. Moral justification<BR>
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A lot of you have been doing research on some of the underlying determinants of US policy and your input would be very valuable. This is a chance to put our heads together.<BR>
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Hope you can attend. <BR>
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Beverley<BR>
708/447-1547<BR>
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