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University at Buffalo
Faculty and Staff for Peace
Open Letter
February 17, 2003
We the undersigned faculty and
staff of the University at Buffalo strongly oppose another United
States-led war on Iraq for the following reasons:
- Another war on Iraq,
especially one begun with a barrage of missiles designed to avoid
American casualties, will cause the death of numerous innocent
Iraqi men, women, and children and will destroy what remains of the
social fabric and physical infrastructure of that country. The
sustained military operations required to occupy Iraq, especially
those requiring urban combat, will result in extensive casualties
among the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.
- No convincing evidence has
yet been provided that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction
or the capacity or intention to use them against its neighbors or
the United States. If and when such evidence is forthcoming, the
U.S. should cooperate with the United Nations to dismantle such
weapons in a responsible manner, not through extensive bombing
campaigns that will poison the land, water, and air of the region.
- Any preemptive U.S. military
action against Iraq, including enforcement of no-fly zones,
without a Congressional declaration of war and U.N. Security
Council authorization, is unconstitutional and contrary to
international law. It undermines the legitimacy of even worthy
American goals in international affairs and sets back the cause of
the rule of law in the world.
- Another war on Iraq,
especially one lacking the full support of NATO and other allies,
will quickly divide and polarize the American people. It will be
ruinously expensive in a time of growing government deficits and a
weak economy, and set back efforts to deal with domestic social
needs.
- The fundamental problems
leading to endemic tension and continuing violence in the Middle
East can and should be resolved through negotiations among the
parties concerned or through unilateral actions that address the
root causes of conflict. For example, Israel should agree to
terminate settlements in the occupied territories in return for an
end to terrorist attacks and recognition of Israel's right to
exist in peace. The U.S. should withdraw its forces from Saudi
Arabia and the Persian Gulf, removing one major reason for
escalating assaults on U.S. personnel in the region and on the
U.S. people at home.
- U. S. dependence on imported
oil has distorted our foreign policy and put our economy at risk,
while increased exploitation of domestic oil threatens the
environment. The U.S. should radically reduce its oil consumption
through concerted programs of energy conservation, the development
of renewable sources of energy, and the expansion of public
transportation.
The United States stands at a
major turning point, facing imperial overreach and increased
isolation among the nations of the world, on the one hand, and
democratic procedures that can once again make the republic a model
for a more just and peaceful world, on the other. Another war in
Iraq will mean choosing empire over democracy.
[The
names and affiliations of verified petition signers follow on
separate pages] |
