Statement Against War

THE CASE AGAINST WAR
A Statement by Doubts About War

Over the past several months, through an array of shifting justifications, the Bush administration has made clear its intention to wage war on Iraq. Now the war has begun. Rather than adhering to international law, the administration has chosen the path of violence. In adopting this course, it stands almost alone. No one can say how long this conflict will last, nor what the outcome will be. But one thing is certain: many Iraqi civilians and US military personnel will die.

We recognize Saddam Hussein as a tyrant who oppresses his own people in unconscionable ways. However, there are compelling reasons to oppose this war.

1. The Bush administration has not made a persuasive case for war. Much of the evidence concerning Iraq�s links to al Qaeda and its possession of WMDs has been proven false. The administration�s record is one of deception, and they lack credibility. If, during the course of this invasion, we are told that such weapons have been found, many will question the legitimacy of the evidence presented.

2. The accusation that Saddam Hussein must be removed because he oppresses his own people ignores the fact that his worst atrocities were committed while he was our ally. Many members of the current administration were business partners and strong supporters of Saddam Hussein�s regime during the 80�s and early 90�s.

3. War with Iraq makes Americans less secure. Attacking Iraq provides those who wish our citizens harm greater justification for their actions. It increases the perception that the US is engaged in a crusade against Muslims.

4. The Bush administration claims to be concerned about the oppression of the Iraqi people, but ignores similar oppression by our closest allies.

5. The accusation that war is justified because of Iraq�s defiance of UN Security Council resolutions is unconvincing, given that our government has condoned Israel�s defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 242 for 35 years.

6. The Bush administration is motivated by a desire to gain access to Iraqi oil. Members of this administration and many of its strongest supporters stand to profit handsomely.

7. This war is being waged to deflect from the administration�s domestic failings: a deteriorating economy, efforts to undermine veteran�s benefits; and a fixation on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

8. Those committed to peace support our military personnel. We honor their commitment and their willingness to sacrifice for their country. There is no greater way to honor those in uniform than to insure that when they put their lives on the line, they are doing so for a just cause. Our deepest fear is that President Bush is gambling with the lives of our troops for political gain. This is unconscionable.

Instead of waging war, the US must seek to achieve its security aims through other means.

1. We want to see Saddam Hussein disarmed, but the administration must make every effort to work through the UN.

2. The best way to ensure our national security is to promote the development of alternative sources of energy, rather than continuing to rely on imported oil.

3. The US must be even-handed in its concern about human rights abuses, including those committed by our allies.

After Sept. 11 the US could have charted a new course dedicated to global justice. Americans were willing to sacrifice and an outpouring of sympathy from nations around globe created new possibilities for a better world. With effective leadership, our nation might have pursued a vision dedicated to environmental stewardship, respect for international law, and meaningful membership among the family of nations. Instead the Bush administration opted for aggressive unilateralism, using the cover of national security to strengthen the perks of privilege. In so doing, President Bush squandered the compassion and goodwill of the world, a feat stunning in its magnitude. Now we face a world that questions our intentions, a country - North Korea - set for nuclear confrontation, and a United Nations whose very existence is threatened.

We believe it is necessary to challenge this approach by promoting a new vision of security. After September 11 our national conversation was dominated by talk about how to be safe from future terrorist attacks by building Fortress America. It is a logic whose only resolution is higher walls, more surveillance, more powerful guns, more police. To think that this will keep us safe is absurd.

Real security can only ever come from justice. Americans will only ever feel safe when our actions as a nation are guided by a vision that recognizes and respects the humanity of others, and that recognizes with humility our own role in perpetuating human suffering. The only safe world is a just world. This is not na�ve nor utopian fantasy, but the most authentic form of realpolitik.

Meanwhile, whenever we are asked to be complicit in acts of violence, as we are today, we have a moral duty to ask how the architects of that violence are framing issues in ways that allow us to avert our eyes from human suffering. Our media have traded truth for access, and have failed to put a face on the human suffering this war is producing. We urge all Americans to take control of the sources of information upon which they make judgments about this war and this administration. Seek out alternative sources on the web and elsewhere.