Joint Statement of Quaker Organizations:
Response to Military Attacks on Afghanistan
October
10, 2001
We
pray at this time for the people of the United States, Afghanistan,
and the rest of the world. We hold in prayer those killed and
wounded in the terrorist attacks of September 11, those being
killed and wounded by the military strikes on Afghanistan that
began on October 7, and all who grieve for them.
We
regret the decision by our nation's leaders to launch military
strikes against Afghanistan, and we call upon them to halt the
bombing and other military attacks.
We
recognize the responsibility of the international community
to apprehend and try, under international law, those responsible
for the recent terrorist attacks. We urge that such efforts
be undertaken as a law enforcement action--not as acts of war--and
with great care to avoid the killing or injuring of innocent
people.
History
teaches us that violence leads to more violence. We expect that
these massive military strikes by missiles and bombers against
this already devastated, starving country will almost certainly
make it easier for the leaders of this terrorist struggle to
recruit more people to their cause. We must break the cycle
of escalating violence.
The
struggle against terrorism will indeed be long. To succeed,
it will have to undermine the ability of those who would use
terrorism to recruit new people to carry out such attacks. This
requires ending, or greatly diminishing, the tremendous anger
and hatred toward the United States and its allies felt, in
particular, by many in the Muslim and Arab world. This can only
be done with prolonged, nonviolent efforts for reconciliation,
justice, and long-term economic development. It cannot be done
through massive bombing and military attacks.
As
executives of organizations of the Religious Society of Friends
(Quakers), we continue to be guided by our historic testimony
concerning God's call to renounce war and seek peace. We commit
ourselves to work and pray for the time of justice and peace
promised by God when "peoples shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks; and nations shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."
(Isaiah 2:4)
Bruce
Birchard
General Secretary, Friends General Conference of the Religious
Society of Friends
Thomas
H. Jeavons
General Secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends
Mary
Ellen McNish
General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee
Joe
Volk
Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation
Reviewed: 8/19/05
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