IRAQ: Diplomacy Not Troops

Many of you probably heard the President outline his plan for a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq - specifically his proposal for an increase in U.S. troops in Iraq.  Radio reports this morning noted that the majority of Americans polled disagree with the President's strategy.  The Center of Concern shares many of these concerns and maintains that a military solution to the crisis in Iraq is not feasible, nor desireable. 

Below is a statement issued by concerned Catholic organizations in the U.S., including the Center of Concern, condemning the President's strategy in Iraq and calling for an alternative policy of diplomacy and development.  We invite you to read the statement and your thoughts on U.S. engagement in Iraq.

RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL FOR A CHANGE OF COURSE IN IRAQ
January, 2007

On January 10, 2007, President Bush announced a change in Iraq policy. We, as organizations of Catholics and as individuals, come together to respond to these new Iraq initiatives.

We respond in the context of Jesus' call to us in the beatitudes to be people of peace (Matt 5:9), and to love our enemies (Luke 6:27) as well as the November 2006 statement by the President of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop William S. Skylstad. In that statement, Bishop Skylstad notes that the pain and destruction of the war in Iraq is "measured in lives lost and many more injured, in widespread sectarian strife, civil insurgency and terrorist attacks, and in the daily struggles of Iraqis to build a decent future for their devastated nation." He noted further that the way forward is bleak and stated that "The Holy See and our Conference now support broad and necessary international engagement to promote stability and reconstruction in Iraq."

We are keenly aware that the members of the U.S. military and their families are shouldering the heavy burdens of extended service in Iraq. They risk death and injury of both body and spirit. However, it is crucial to recognize that political and economic concerns, not military issues, are fueling the continuing strife. Therefore, only solutions that combine the political, diplomatic, economic and religious issues Iraqis face will effectively resolve the underlying conflict and bring peace to Iraq. As the last three years have demonstrated, increasing the U.S. troop presence in Iraq will neither address the root causes of civil strife nor quell the violence. Increased U.S. military action will needlessly endanger our troops and detract from effective action to achieve a cease-fire and create peace.  Therefore, the escalation of military presence in Iraq is detrimental to our men and women in the armed forces.

The escalation of military action is far more harmful to Iraqi citizens who are paying the ultimate price in ever-increasing numbers through violence, hunger and lack of ordinary services. Every day, more and more ordinary Iraqis are fleeing their homes and becoming refugees - either within Iraq or in neighboring countries. This dislocation spreads religious, economic and political instability around the region, making it increasingly difficult to handle the influx of those traumatized by this war. The escalation of military action is detrimental to the Iraqi people and the surrounding region.

United States citizens are keenly aware that the military is not an effective tool for bringing peace to Iraq. U.S. citizens understand that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war that requires the engagement of all parties in a peace process in order to resolve the issues. Military action in this context only brings more violence and bloodshed and no end to this conflict. The escalation of military action is detrimental the desires of people of the United States.

Finally, only those in the military and their families are sacrificing for the sake of this war. There has been no effort to finance this war with taxes or other military offsets and the war has been funded without consideration of its impact on the overall federal budget. This fiscal irresponsibility will hamper future generations as they are forced to pay the bills for this generation's war. The escalation of military action is detrimental to the economic future of the United States.

THEREFORE:

• We oppose the proposed escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq noting that prior escalations have not resulted in increased peace and stability. Troop escalations in Baghdad in the late summer and early fall of 2006 resulted in increased violence and death for both U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians.

• We support the President's call for economic development in Iraq, noting that the current unemployment rate is running at 40 to 50%. Additionally, 60% of the population is under the age of 25 and is in dire need of alternatives to imagine a better future. Any economic development should directly benefit the Iraqi people and their communities, not contractors from other corners of the world.

• We urge the President to engage in diplomatic and political negotiations seeking a comprehensive cease fire by all factions in Iraq and the region. The rejection of a comprehensive diplomatic effort is a short-sighted view of American interests. A surge of diplomacy, not an escalation of troops is what is required.

SIMONE CAMPBELL, SSS, Executive Director
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

CAROLE SHINNICK, SSND, Executive Director
Leadership Conference of Women Religious

T. MICHAEL McNULTY, SJ, Justice and Peace Director
Conference of Major Superiors of Men

ALEXIA KELLEY, Executive Director
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good

DAVID A. ROBINSON, Executive Director
Pax Christi USA.

JIM HUG, SJ, President
Center of Concern

MARIE DENNIS, Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

JOE MOLONEY, OSF, President
Franciscan Federation of the United States

AMY WOOLAM ECHEVERRIA
Columban JPIC Office

JANET GOTTSCHALK, MMS, Director
Medical Mission Sisters' Alliance for Justice

FRANK McNEIRNEY, National Coordinator
Catholics Against Capital Punishment (CACP)

SEAMUS FINN, OMI, Director,
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Office

MARY WASKOWIAK, RSM, President
Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

CAROLE SHINNICK, SSND, Executive Director
Leadership Conference of Women Religious

 

Comments

[Sr. Sheila Lemieux, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Congregation Office]

We have experienced the futility of isolation and a military solution to the war in Iraq and in the Middle East. Diplomacy and perservence in the struggle to bring the Leaders to the table is the only way to lasting solutions. No longer can oil and myopic national interests rule the day.

[Joan Felling]

Thanks to all the organizations who signed this statement. Hopefully more will follow your example especially the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

[Mary Kaye Nealen, SP]

This statement summarizes well the steps that our government needs to take and the reasons for them. We need a groundswell of support for this approach. Thank you!

[C.L. Milko]

This statement is so on TARGET! Thank you for the clarity of ideas - it gives us hope!
May it be shared widely in our faith communities -- so the public action will be fortified and we can stop our war pursuits! I pray... Clara Milko- a septuagenarian in NC.

[Mr Diaz]

I admire this initiantive but have to say that in my own community the religiuos leaders are avoiding to speak out on Iraq issue. I will like to see more priests adressing this moral concern about the Iraq War. An official position of Catholic church will be really appreciated.

[Beth McCormick]

I fully support this statement. May it be heeded by those to whom it is addressed.

[Tony Ulasiewicz]

I fully support this statement; however I am not confident in our ability to initiate a “comprehensive cease fire by all factions in Iraq”. I also have doubts about our ability to bring about any meaningful diplomatic discussions, or any new political strategies.

Do we have the political capital in the world to turn this situation around?

Before we answer that, think for a moment of where our reputation and international respect were on September 12, 2001, and then think of where it is today.

It is very obvious to me that a military strategy is not the answer, but do we really have the ability and the clout to engineer and push through a political and diplomatic strategy?

[BJ]

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