Statement
Regarding U.S. Government Plans
to Overthrow the Government of Iraq
Approved by Ann Arbor Friends Meeting for Business on March 17, 2002
In
recent months, the U.S. government has accelerated plans for
military actions against Iraq. The President and members of
his administration are engaged in efforts to persuade the American
public to support these actions, even in the face of widespread
international opposition to them. While a few American citizens
and groups are speaking out against such actions, the U.S. government
is proceeding on the assumption that the majority of the U.S.
public supports increased military action against Iraq.
We
in the Religious Society of Friends continue to uphold our long-standing
religious belief that there is that of God in every person.
Believing thus, we must oppose approaches based on violence,
with its attendant human suffering and perpetuation of cycles
of violence.
War
against Iraq will not bring an end to the threats posed by weapons
of mass destruction. In light of our own huge nuclear weapons
stockpiles, it is insincere for the U.S. government to suggest
that only others would use or threaten to use this class of
weapons. Nor will war against Iraq bring an end to international
terrorist networks. Military actions carried out by the U.S.
against Iraq run the risk of stimulating further terrorist actions
against the United States.
Rather
than threatening to expand the war against Iraq, the U.S. must
pursue other, non-military and more effective means to reduce
the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and terrorism.
There are alternatives to military actions: strengthening the
rule of international law; implementing a plan for Israeli-Palestinian
peace; advancing regional disarmament in the Middle East; dramatically
increasing U.S. investment in education, health care, and nutrition
programs throughout the developing world; ratifying the Rome
Statute to establish the International Criminal Court; supporting
the Biological Weapons Convention; preserving the Anti Ballistic
Missile treaty; and de-alerting and making deep cuts in the
U.S. nuclear arsenal.
We
urge the President and his administration, our elected leaders
in government, and our fellow citizens to turn away from the
plans of intensifying the military campaigns against Iraq; and
to replace those plans with the measures listed above, which
offer the possibility of reducing the threats from weapons of
mass destruction and international terrorism, and of rebuilding
the lives of the Iraqi people.
OTHER QUAKER STATEMENTS & LETTERS
Reviewed:
09/06/2005
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