Say No to Another War in the Middle East

We urge LPF members to tell President Obama and your members of Congress that you oppose the U.S. engaging in any form of military action in response to the growing conflict in Iraq. The peace community is united around this position, and for good reason. A wide range of experts agree that military action would not be an effective and constructive response to the conflict. In fact, it could easily make a bad situation worse -- "like pouring gasoline on a fire" is how one Peace Action leader put it. So please contact your elected leaders today!

A little background: In the past decade, the US invasion of Iraq, other military action, and taking sides in regional differences (and demonizing others a "terrorist") have played a major role in deepening existing conflicts. Instead, as we have been saying for years, the US needs to join with other nations to use diplomacy and address the roots of these conflict(s) such as poverty and discrimination. At the same time, we need to help ease tensions and move toward reconciliation among the various groups (Shia, Sunni, Kurd, etc.). Such a longer-range approach has its own challenges, but imagine if a decade ago, we had begun spending even a tenth of what the war cost on development aid, supporting democratic initiatives, working with other nations.

We need to put a barrier in front of the push for military action; and move the US toward collaborative action with other nations on strategies that have a chance of success over the long-term. Contact your elected officials today!

Diplomacy Not More Arms Needed in Iraq and Syria
http://davidcortright.net/2014/06/12/diplomacy-not-more-arms-needed-in-iraq-and-syria/

As Obama Considers Drone Strikes in Iraq, Could U.S. Military Action
Worsen Sectarian Conflict?
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/16/as_obama_considers_drone_strikes_in

"5 Principals for Iraq," by Thomas Friedman, NY Times, 6-15-14
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/opinion/sunday/thomas-friedman-5-principles-for-iraq.html?ref=opinion

"Stay Out of Sectarian Civil Wars" -------could be in 2nd section
http://tomhayden.com/home/stay-out-of-sectarian-civil-wars.html

other useful links:
"The Almighty Mess in Iraq"
http://ericmargolis.com/2014/06/the-allmighty-mess-in-iraq/

"7 talking points you need for discussing the Iraq crisis" ---------could be in 1st section
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/06/talking-points-iraq-crisis

"The Iraq Mess: Place Blame Where it Is Deserved, by John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 6-13-14 blog post
www.newyorker.com%2Fonline%2Fblogs%2Fjohncassidy%2F2014%2F06%2Fthe-iraq-mess-place-the-blame-where-it-is-deserved.html

"Report from Iraq: U.S. Invasion in 2003 Helped Set Path for Crisis Pulling Nation Apart"
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/13/report_from_iraq_us_invasion_in

Climate change ‘makes violence likelier’

Scientists say there is a direct link between changing climate and an increase in violence. As the food supply dwindles, the poor will be hit hardest, but we'll all be affected as the world becomes more unstable.

Hundreds of the world’s top climate scientists are in agreement: climate change is happening, we’re already feeling its effects and it’s only going to get worse. The newest report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change gives “the starkest warning yet” of global warming’s impacts that will worsen societal problems that we’re already facing....

learn more:


Climate change ‘makes violence likelier’

Panel’s Warning on Climate Risk: Worst Is Yet to Come

“The polar bear is us”: New U.N. report warns that the effects of global warming are already being felt

GLOBAL WARMING DIALS UP OUR RISKS, UN REPORT SAYS

IPCC report: 5 ways climate change threatens life as we know it

Climate Change is About…Water: A Resource for Teachers, Learners and Activists

Giving up War for Peace, Worship and Nonviolent Action at Beale Air Force Base, CA

Are you "giving anything up" for Lent this year?  A group of Christian peacemakers in California took action in an Ash Wednesday civil disobedience to urge the U.S. to give up drones for peace. To turn away from war to work for peace, justice, and the healing of the earth.

In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“My body is tired but my soul is rested.”

Former LPF Board Chair, retired Lutheran pastor and former U.S. Marine Jerry Pedersen participated in the interfaith worship service and was arrested during the nonviolent direct action against drones at the gate of Beale Air Force Base. Military drones which are remotely controlled by satellite from bases in the US have repeatedly killed and injured scores of civilians abroad.

Actions of faith and conscience are good for the soul.  Rev. Sharon Delgado reports:

"We were quickly detained by Beale officers, taken to the guard station, cited, and released. When entering the station I greeted the officers with the words, 'Peace be with you.' We all treated each other respectfully and with good humor, with the understanding that they were doing their job and we were doing ours." 

"The young guards were impressed with Jerry's military card, which shows that he was part of the Honor Guard on the U.S.S. Missouri during the WWII surrender of the Japanese. As we were arrested, supporters were singing 'I'll be rested when the roll is called,' with the names of people who have worked for peace and justice through the ages. May it be so for all of us. May we find rest for our souls in the midst of the violence of our times."

You can read more about this Ash Wednesday Anti-Drone Protest and Arrest and statements of the issues here: http://sharondelgado.org/tag/beale-air-force-base/, also see KCRA’s coverage of the service here, and a video of the arrests below:



Rev. Sharon Delgado speaks:


see also these resources from LPF:
Resources about Nonviolence
Peace Resource Lists
Peace Links

The Legacy of the War in Iraq

A lot of attention is being given to the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War.  Such a landmark offers an opportunity to help our friends and colleagues and congregations hear some of the less visible stories. Here are a few that are also of vital importance if we are to avoid Iraq's mistakes in Iran and elsewhere.  They appeared in a variety of publications and assembled by our friends at Foreign Policy in Focus, and offer some concise, crucial lessons from the war:

America's Other Dark Legacy In Iraq by Joy Gordon -- Putting aside even Iraq's horrifying descent into sectarian violence, the United States did a spectacularly poor job of governing the country.

Way Worse Than a Dumb War: Iraq Ten Years Later by Phyllis Bennis and others (Nation magazine) -- It didn't take long for the world to recognize that the US invasion and occupation of Iraq was a big mistake. But "dumb war" wasn't the half of it.

Visions: America after Hegemony by Cole Harrison -- The peace movement needs to make it clear not only what we are against, but what we are for.

As Iraq Anniversary Fades, “Strategic Narcissism” Stands Out by Jim Lobe -- Virtually none of the retrospectives or assessments of the war in major U.S. publications have been written by Iraqis. The inability of both voters and policymakers to imagine the world from any perspective other than their own has left tremendous wreckage in its wake. 

Ten Years Later, U.S. Has Left Iraq with Mass Displacement & Epidemic of Birth Defects, Cancers by Democracy Now! How the U.S. invasion of Iraq has left behind a legacy of cancer and birth defects suspected of being caused by the U.S. military’s extensive use of depleted uranium and white phosphorus.

See also LPF resources on Iraq