Letter to President Bush on Iraq

~May 21, 2001~

May 21, 2001

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As religious leaders and concerned citizens we seek your support for addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Iraq by quickly ending the comprehensive economic sanctions which have been in place for more than a decade.

We have been deeply concerned over the years by evidence that the current embargo against Iraq is contributing to falling living standards and life expectancy. By almost every measure -- such as malnutrition, child mortality and overall morbidity -- the situation of Iraqi civilians, especially those in rural areas and the poorest, has deteriorated markedly.

A report from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization last year stated that "food rations [under the humanitarian provisions of the current sanctions regime] do not provide a nutritionally adequate and varied diet ...." and that "the supply of drugs is not sufficient to meet the needs of the population: delayed and erratic availability of drugs and supplies aggravate the situation." Another UN report stated in 1999: "The gravity of the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people is indisputable and cannot be overstated."

Therefore, we were encouraged in March when Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he wishes to "eliminate those items in the sanctions regime that really were of civilian use and benefited people, and focus them exclusively on weapons of mass destruction and items that could be directed toward the development of weapons of mass destruction." He noted considerable support for his position among Arab leaders. We believe that a change in the sanctions regime, in addition to its moral necessity, will have other benefits with regard to our relations with many nations in the Middle East. Last week we have been further heartened to learn that the U.S. and the United Kingdom may propose to the United Nations Security Council an end to sanctions against most civilian imports to Iraq.

We know from visits to Iraq by staff of our various organizations that Iraq continues to face a deep social and humanitarian crisis. Reports from colleagues in the region testify to its very personal significance for most Iraqis. Many lack adequate food and clean water. Diseases run rampant for lack of basic medicines. Family structures, education levels and living standards are all deteriorating. The scale of this suffering requires a prompt, effective response.

In recent years Iraq has imported substantial quantities of food and medicine through the oil-for-food program under UN supervision. This is an important but inadequate response to the humanitarian crisis. It was never intended to meet the overall needs of Iraq's people. Even with expanded sales now permitted, this program cannot meet basic needs, much less fund the rebuilding of Iraq's infrastructure and civilian economy, which alone can ensure adequate nutrition and health standards.

We are well aware that the embargo is by no means the sole cause of the continuing suffering of the Iraqi people. Actions of the Iraqi government also contribute to the present situation of mass deprivation and suffering. The Iraqi government's actions, however, do not relieve the international community of its responsibility to end the dreadful suffering caused by the embargo. Continuing to do so effectively punishes the Iraqi people for the misdeeds of an authoritarian regime over which they have no control.

We therefore urge that the economic embargo be ended quickly. Restrictions on normal trade in civilian goods should be lifted. We support the replacement of the current sanctions regime with an arms embargo and other sanctions focused on the Iraqi leadership (e.g. travel restrictions, banking restrictions, etc.). It is time for new approaches and we find Secretary Powell's recent words in this context refreshing and reflective of our own views.

We do not underestimate the challenges posed by the Iraqi government, but the continued effort to prevent Iraq's reacquisition of weapons of mass destruction should be pursued through more focused and morally defensible means. While insisting upon Iraqi disarmament, fresh efforts toward regional disarmament should also be undertaken. In signing UN Security Council Resolution 687 that ended the Gulf War, the United States pledged that disarming Iraq was to be a step toward "the goal of establishing in the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction." Serious efforts to negotiate a regional regime for such weapons, which would improve prospects for success in controlling Iraq's arsenals, should commence as soon as possible. We were gratified to hear of a new initiative by Ambassador Fahmy of Egypt for a regional approach to arms control and encourage the Administration to give it urgent attention.

In closing, we again wish you well and urge that you act promptly to help meet the pressing needs of the people of Iraq. We hope that the new US.-U.K. initiatives reported in the last several days will benefit the Iraqi people. We say with all our strength and conviction: Do not delay in addressing the dire situation of "the least of these" who now suffer in Iraq.

Sincerely,

James H. Matlack
Director, Washington Office
American Friends Service Committee

Rev. Stan DeBoe, OSST
Director of Office for Justice and Peace
Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes

Rev. Gregory Davidson Laszakovits
Coordinator, Washington Office
Church of the Brethren General Board

Thomas H. Hart
Director of Government Relations
Episcopal Church, USA

The Rev. Mark B. Brown
Assistant Director for International Affairs and Human Rights
Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation

Rev. J. Daryl Byler
Director, U.S. Washington Office
Mennonite Central Committee

Ms. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Esq.
Director, Washington Office
National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the USA/Church World Service

Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Eugene P. Heideman
Representative to CMEP
Reformed Church in America

Jack Edmondson
Representative to CMEP
Unitarian Universalist Association

Peter E. Makari
Executive, Middle East and Europe
Common Global Ministries Board of the United Church of Christ and
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Janet Horman
Program Director for Peace with Justice
General Board of Church and Society
United Methodist Church

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