[Peace] Fwd: {Spam?} War Is Still Not the Answer

Thu Feb 6 16:24:46 CST 2003

>Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 17:02:40 -0500 (EST)
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>FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE - February 6, 2003
>
>The following action items from the Friends Committee on National
>Legislation (FCNL) focus on federal policy issues currently before Congress
>or the Administration.
>
>WAR IS STILL NOT THE ANSWER:  On Feb. 5, in an 80 minute address to the UN
>Security Council, Secretary of State Colin Powell laid out, in greater
>detail than ever before, the Administration's case for war against Iraq.
>The report repeated many of the claims the Administration had already made,
>included some newly declassified material, and concluded that Iraq was in
>"deeper" material breach of UN resolutions and closer to facing "serious
>consequences."
>
>However, the presentation still failed to demonstrate an imminent threat
>from Iraq or make a convincing case for the Administration's rush to war.
>If anything, the report bolstered the case for giving UN weapons inspectors
>more time, more information, and more support to complete their mission.
>The potential consequences of a major bombing campaign and military invasion
>of Iraq would pose a greater risk to peace and security than continuing the
>inspections process,  particularly if any weapons of mass destruction do
>remain hidden in the country.
>
>ACTION:  Please call or write your members of Congress and urge them to
>support continued UN weapons inspections to disarm Iraq.  UN weapons
>inspectors should be given the necessary time, information, resources, and
>political support to investigate any new charges brought against Iraq;
>address already identified problems of noncompliance; and fully verify
>Iraq's disarmament.  Inspections have proven to be a more effective, humane,
>and less costly way of disarming Iraq than military action.  War is not the
>answer.
>
>To make letter writing easy start with the sample letter posted in our
>Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then email or fax your
>message directly from our site.  You can also print it out and mail it.  To
>view the sample letter, click on the link below, then enter your zip code
>and click <Go> in the <Take Action Now> box.  Here is the link:
>http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=1373946&type=CO
>
>
>BACKGROUND:  For months now, the Administration has been struggling to
>convince an uncertain U.S. public, skeptical allies, and an unconvinced UN
>Security Council that war is the only option left for dealing with Iraq.
>Secretary of State Colin Powell's speech to the Security Council on Feb. 5
>does not appear to have created the broad international consensus for war
>that the Administration is seeking. Using newly declassified satellite
>images, intercepted phone conversations, and intelligence gathered from
>defectors, Powell added more detail but little new substance to the
>Administration's repeated claims that Iraq is actively pursuing weapons of
>mass destruction and harboring terrorists.  He continued to press some
>issues, like mobile biological production facilities and aluminum tubes,
>which UN inspectors have already addressed.  He also rehashed a long list of
>documented human rights abuses by Saddam Hussein that date as far back as
>the 1980's (when the U.S. was supporting Iraq).
>
>Few UN officials seemed immediately swayed by the Administration's latest
>presentation.  Statements by other Security Council members following the
>U.S. report demonstrated continued skepticism among many U.S. allies.  The
>UK called for strong action by the Council, while China, France, Germany,
>and Russia urged an extended and strengthened UN weapons inspections process
>and a peaceful political settlement of the crisis.  Some Council members
>asked why the evidence presented was not provided to the inspectors earlier
>so they could investigate and verify any violations.  All members of the
>Council agreed that Iraq must cooperate more actively in the inspections
>process, as called for in the reports of UNMOVIC and the IAEA on Jan. 27.
>However, few have reached the U.S.'s conclusion that war is the proper and
>proportionate response to Iraq's noncompliance.
>
>We share the serious concerns over possible proliferation of chemical,
>biological, and nuclear weapons and believe these issues need to be
>addressed.  However, no matter how compelling one finds Powell's
>presentation, he did not make a case that the threat from Iraq is so
>imminent that it justifies war.  It certainly does not justify a so-called
>preemptive war.  If anything, it validates the proposition that inspections
>should continue.  Inspections in order to follow up on the information
>recently revealed (and other information not mentioned) and to keep the
>Iraqi regime from attempting to improve or expand whatever programs it might
>try to harbor and reactivate.
>
>FCNL will never support war as a means for addressing threats of weapons of
>mass destruction, abusive regimes, terrorism, or violations of international
>law.  However, in the case of Iraq war cannot be justified even under the
>broadly recognized standards of international law or just war theory.  We
>acknowledge that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction represent a threat to
>international peace and security.  However, they do not represent an
>imminent threat to the U.S. or Iraq's neighbors.  Iraq has not attacked the
>U.S. and does not pose a threat to its neighbors today.  Alternatives to
>war, such as expanded and strengthened UN weapons inspections, have not been
>exhausted.  The humanitarian consequences of war would violate international
>law and the rules of proportionality.  Peaceful alternatives do exist and
>should be pursued fully.
>
>For more analysis of Powell's presentation from FCNL's Senior Fellow on
>Military Affairs, click here:
>http://www.fcnl.org/issues/int/sup/iraq_powells_un_presentation.htm
>
>START PLANNING NOW FOR FEB. 17-21 CONGRESSIONAL RECESS ACTION!  From Feb.
>17-21 members of Congress will be in their home districts for the
>President's Day recess.  This is a critical time for demonstrating strong
>public opposition to an expanded war on Iraq.  Begin  organizing now!
>
>(1) Organize a delegation to meet with your members and attend town hall
>events.  Call now to schedule a visit with your local congressional office.
>
>
>(2) Distribute bumper stickers to create a visible presence for peace in
>your neighborhood.  Click here to order bumper stickers
>http://www.fcnl.org/iraq_bumstker_info.php.
>
>(3)Participate in FCNL's nationwide conference call on Feb. 16 at 5:00 pm
>EST.  Watch FCNL's website and email alerts for more details.
>
>CONTACTING LEGISLATORS
>
>Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 or 800-839-5276
>
>Sen. ________
>U.S. Senate
>Washington, DC 20510
>
>Rep. ________
>U.S. House of Representatives
>Washington, DC 20515
>
>Information on your members is available on FCNL's web site:
>http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/directory/directory.dbq?command=congdi
>r
>
>CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION
>
>White House Comment Desk: 202-456-1111
>FAX: 202-456-2461
>E-MAIL: president at whitehouse.gov
>WEB PAGE: http://www.whitehouse.gov
>
>President George W. Bush
>The White House
>Washington, DC 20500
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>We seek a society with equity and justice for all
>We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
>We seek an earth restored...