Published on Oct. 3rd & Oct. 10th in the Erie Times-News, Erie, ME Statement Opposing War Against Iraq by the Erie Peace & Justice Center [EPJC]) endorsed by the UU Congregation of Erie, ME

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, are appalled by our Nation's mad rush to war. We cannot, and will not in good conscience, remain silent.

There has been no clear and convincing evidence demonstrating that Iraq or Saddam Hussein were principals in the attack on the World Trade Center.

Even with such evidence, an attack on Iraq is not justified when there are other avenues of redress far short of war. The International Criminal Court is one such vehicle for determination of culpability.

We believe that war is always a last resort in America's self-defense. We categorically reject any notion that America, or any other nation, should adopt a doctrine of "first strike". As we would reject such doctrine for other nations (including India, Pakistan and Israel) -- so too we must refuse it for ourselves.

We ask those who propose WAR or who are asked to give war-making authority to the President of these United States, to carefully consider the following questions:
· Why is there so little support for our action among other nations in the world? Without such support, or UN sanction, we are outlaws from international law.
· How many of our sons and daughters will this WAR require?
· Would not WAR on Iraq remove any inhibition Saddam Hussein may have for using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons?
· Do we not risk the wrath of the entire Arab world by killing Iraqis defending their own country?
· How does this WAR advance democracy? Surely WAR will jeopardize those pro-U.S. governments in the Muslim world and make them more repressive.
· After a war, are we prepared to rebuild a lasting peace?

We believe that Americans cannot abandon moral thinking at home or abroad without losing our moral leadership. We believe a WAR of aggression is without moral foundation.

Unitarian Universalist Association
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