Joint Statement in Response to Threat of War with Iraq From the General and Executive Secretaries of Five Quaker Organizations Ninth

The peace committee of the Old Haverford Friends Meeting presents:

www.NotMyWar.com

Joint Statement

Joint Statement in Response to Threat of War with Iraq From the General and Executive Secretaries of Five Quaker Organizations Ninth Month, 24, 2002

"I told them that I lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars...I told them I was come into the covenant of peace which was before wars and strife were..."

George Fox, Founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), 1651.

The United States government stands on the verge of launching a major war against Iraq. At the same time, U.S. political leaders are promulgating a doctrine that asserts the United States' right to launch unilateral, preemptive military strikes on any nation or group to counter a perceived threat. The peace and security of all peoples are threatened by these developments.

If ever there were a time for Friends to take action based upon our historic peace testimony, that time is now. We call upon Friends to witness and work to prevent this war, to reverse this new military doctrine, to call upon our governments to implement multilateral, diplomatic responses to the threats posed by the government of Iraq, and to continue developing positive, nonviolent approaches to resolving international conflicts. We know that there are millions of people of good will with whom we can join in this work.

We find many compelling reasons for all people of faith and reason to oppose this war and this dangerous new military policy. Among them are:

A war with Iraq is likely to cause tremendous loss of human lives, vast destruction, and terrible human suffering.

The aftermath of a war with Iraq is likely to include years of chaos and suffering in Iraq, instability and violence in the Middle East and South Asia, hatred of the United States for generations to come, and an increase in acts of terrorism against countries deemed responsible for the war.

Such a war, and the policy that underlies it, would legitimize preemptive military strikes by nations that feel threatened by others. Such a terrible precedent would undermine international law and the U.N. Charter and could lead to a tremendous increase in wars and violence in the future.

We know from history that acts of violence only breed further violence.

We also know that the terrifying spiral of violence and hatred can be interrupted by acts of creative nonviolence, conflict resolution and courageous love. The real path to global security lies in a stronger global civil society based on increasing trust and respect, the rule of international law, and the removal of the roots of violence and war.

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.

Thomas Jeavons, General Secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee

Bruce Birchard, General Secretary, Friends General Conference (organization listed for identification purposes only)

Steven Baumgartner, Executive Director, Pendle Hill

Joe Volk, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation

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SEVEN DAYS OF ACTION IN WASHINGTON ON IRAQ

Guidance for advocacy visits

Emphasize religious and patriotic values. We expect our government to:

pursue peace, not war.
work with the community of nations, not engage in rattling sabers or threats to overthrow governments.
respect international law while holding in high regard all human life.

Emphasize the moral dimensions and consequences of war.

To consider war without considering the suffering of the Iraqi people is unacceptable.
U.S. military action as a means of dealing with proliferation problems sets a very dangerous precedent for other nations in the world.
If the objective of war is to oust Saddam Hussein, American respect for the integrity of other nations will be doubted by many allies and world leaders.
War against Iraq could easily destabilize the entire Middle East and provoke a larger confrontation that threatens the security of all nations in the region.
Many Middle Eastern nations have already warned us of this unintended consequence of war against Iraq.
The energies and riches of the U.S. should be dedicated to a global war against poverty and to counter the root causes of terrorism. The billions that an Iraq war would cost can ensure more long-term security for the U.S. if it were spent on a "Marshall Plan" for the Middle East.

Emphasize the humanitarian situation and plight of the Iraqi people currently and as a likely consequence of war.

Due to economic sanctions and Saddam Hussein's policies, a May 29, 2002 UNICEF report finds:

o One in eight Iraqi children die before their fifth birthday.

o One in three Iraqi children suffer from chronic malnutrition.

o One-third of all children do not attend school.

Ask what post-war Iraq would look like and how the U.S. intends to address the humanitarian situation after a war is conducted with many civilian casualties and destruction of societal infrastructure.

Do not engage in debates on the complexities of the sanctions issues.

Caution that anti-American sentiment, which brings a threat of terrorism against U.S. citizens, would be heightened by war against Iraq.

The Congress and Administration must work harder to calm, not provoke, the anti-American hatred that feeds terrorism.

War against Iraq will have the likely result of increasing anti- American sentiment in the Middle East and thereby make American citizens even more vulnerable to terrorist attack.

Emphasize the United Nations as the internationally-accepted authority and only practical means for controlling and eliminating Iraq's weapons.

The President's commitment to work with the U.N. Security Council is welcome. But insisting that the U.N. precisely implement U.S. policy is not what international cooperation is about. Urge the Administration and Congress not to undercut UN processes by go-it- alone rhetoric or actions.

Do not in any way defend Saddam Hussein or deny the threat posed by Iraq's weapons.

Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking should be the highest Middle East priority for the U.S. government.

A war against Iraq would set back, if not destroy, Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

The cooperation of European allies, Arab states and others for Israel-Arab peace must be maintained, and Congress should support international efforts toward Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Urge a "no" vote on congressional authorization of military force but emphasize that whatever Congress does, it remains incumbent on the U.S. to work through the U.N. and not to act unilaterally.

Do not in any way be belligerent or antagonistic toward those Members who indicate they will vote to authorize force. Instead, recognize and treat with respect the fact that many feel pressured to vote in favor of authorization due to public opinion and the upcoming election, and many others just disagree with our position.