The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President,

While our mutual focus at this time is the raging Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this letter addresses U.S. policy relative to Iraq.

Churches for Middle East Peace is alarmed about recent statements from the Administration about extending the "war on terrorism" with military action against Iraq for the expressed purpose of toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein. With a full understanding that Mr. Hussein poses a threat to his neighbors and to his own people, we believe it is wrong as well as detrimental to U.S. interests to take such action.

We oppose on moral grounds the United States taking further military action against Iraq now.  The Iraqi people have already suffered enough through more than two decades of war and severe economic sanctions.  Military action against the government of Saddam Hussein and its aftermath could result in a large number of civilians being killed or wounded, as well as increasing the suffering of multitudes of innocent people.

It is detrimental to U.S. interests to take unilateral military action when there continues to be strong multi-lateral support for new weapons inspectors and when governments in Europe and the Middle East resist supporting military action.  It remains important to cooperate with international efforts to control Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, for example, through a regional weapons-of-mass-destruction control initiative. 

The preemptive use of military force by the United States to deal with proliferation problems, as serious as they may be, establishes a dangerous precedent for many nations who feel threatened by their neighbors. Furthermore, unilaterally overthrowing enemy governments heightens concern in other countries about American respect for international law and for their integrity as nations.

U.S. military action at this time has great potential to further destabilize the region.  It is likely that international support for the war on terrorism will erode if the United States attacks Iraq without a UNSC mandate. Militants in Arab and Islamic majority countries would seize the opportunity to incite people against not only the United States, but also against governments which cooperate with the U.S.  An invasion of or intensified military action against Iraq will divert attention away from the need to seek ways to reduce international terrorism and will retard efforts to restore stability in Afghanistan.

Rather than attacking Iraq, we urge your priority in the Middle East be an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and peace settlement. As do many in the world, Churches for Middle East Peace looks to the United States government to set an example for the international community. As U.S. religious institutions composed of millions of citizens we expect U.S. leadership to reflect the morals and values we hold dear – pursuing peace, not war; working with the community of nations, not overthrowing governments by force; respecting international law and treaties while holding in high regard all human life.

Sincerely,