Hi all,

People here are planning a week of action, to be kicked off today, and to run until the 15 Feb day of action. The idea was to magnify the impact of these actions by asking home communities to join in similar actions on the same day; e.g. hanging a banner on a water treatment plant both here and in our various home communities, giving the message that bombing such sites will be a war crime.

I don't have all the details yet, but thought I should give you a heads up on it. Hopefully more details out tonight.

I am sure you all have a LOT on, but thought that perhaps some people would want to take these on.

The level of tension and hopelessness here is dreadful. I spoke to an MSF person this morning, and they are expecting tremendous casualties. There is very little prepared - many of the NGOs will have only a skeletal staff and UN as well. Because of the sanctions, very basic items like anaesthetic are not widely available, though international NGOs are trying to bring it in. I heard that the ICRC will have only 6 international staff, and only one medical surgeon, who will be treating military casualties as well as civilian, so a tremendous burden. MSF is bringing in 6 surgeons.

Anything you can do to avert this, now is the time ... it is really going to be horrendous. Personally, I am thinking more and more along the lines of nonviolent direct action to concretely derail this war train.

This is my last day in Baghdad so don't reply by email, I won't get it. I'm at the Al Fanar Hotel (964 1717 7440 or 964 1717 2833 or 964 1718 8007) til tomorrow at 8:00 am. I will be in Amman from Sunday night to Tuesday morning at the Al Monzer Hotel, 962 6463 9469. Flying out of Amman on the morning of the 11th. We are eight hours ahead of you.

solidarity,

Mary