Dahlia Wasfi: "Blind Patriotism a Thin Veil for Racism"

Archived historical material. This page preserves information about a speech delivered on October 17, 2004, at the Million Worker Rally in Aurora, Colorado. It is presented as a historical record only and does not describe any current event, organization, or availability.

Context of the Archived Speech

According to the archived source, Dahlia Wasfi spoke at the Million Worker Rally held in Aurora, Colorado, on October 17, 2004. Her remarks were titled "Blind Patriotism a Thin Veil for Racism." The speech, as preserved, addressed the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, the arguments offered by the Bush administration in support of military action, and the speaker's view that racism and fear shaped public support for the war.

Opening and Central Argument

The archived text opens with a quotation attributed to Hermann Goehring, described in the source as Chief Aide to Adolf Hitler, about leaders drawing populations into war by claiming they are under attack and denouncing peacemakers as unpatriotic. Wasfi then referenced the chant "No Blood for Oil" and criticized more than a decade of sanctions, years of U.S. and British bombing of Iraq, and the "shock and awe" assault.

She argued that if opposing the invasion and occupation were defined as anti-American, then many groups would have to be excluded, including family members of September 11 victims, students who demonstrated, veterans' organizations such as Veterans for Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War, military families, and workers. She contended that what would remain would be a narrow population of corporate executives and government officials.

Claims About the Case for War

In the archived speech, Wasfi disputed several stated justifications for the invasion. She said the alleged link between Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda was unsupported, citing a statement attributed to CIA director George Tenet. She described documents concerning uranium from Niger as forgeries, citing the International Atomic Energy Association. She also argued that weapons of mass destruction claims were contradicted by earlier inspections and by the findings of U.N. inspectors directed by Hans Blix.

She further asserted that the United States had funded Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War and had supplied conventional and chemical and biological weapons, and she cited the Halabja massacre in that context. She characterized concern for the Iraqi people as not having driven U.S. policy.

Stated Motives and Criticism of Officials

The speech asserted two motives for the war: serving the Israeli government and obtaining Iraqi oil. Wasfi named Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, and David Wurmser and described them as connected to Israeli policy planning, referencing a 1996 document titled "A Clean Break." She also pointed to oil-industry ties of officials, including George W. Bush's history in the Texas oil business and Dick Cheney's former role at Halliburton, and to Condoleezza Rice's service on Chevron's board. She noted that oil fields were among the first sites secured after Baghdad fell.

Casualties, Weapons, and Domestic Concerns

Wasfi described civilian harm, including cholera and dysentery outbreaks, unexploded cluster munitions, and the use of depleted uranium, which she linked to increased infant mortality and pediatric cancers in Iraq and to Gulf War Syndrome. She criticized the USA PATRIOT Act as violating constitutional amendments and described economic effects including deficits, unemployment, and strained social programs.

She called for bringing troops home, argued that dissent is essential to democracy, and criticized the choice between the major parties in the November 2 election. The archived text ends mid-sentence with a quotation attributed to Clarence Thomas of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10.

This summary reflects only the archived source and should be read as a historical document, not as a statement of present fact or endorsement.