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.
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
Thomas Jeavons, General Secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
of the
Religious Society of Friends
Joe Volk, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National
Legislation
OTHER
QUAKER STATEMENTS & LETTERS
Reviewed:
09/06/2005
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