National Council of
Churches urges grassroots campaign
To call on Congress to pass bi-partisan ‘end the war’ resolution
New York, June 16, 2005 – The National Council of Churches USA has
welcomed bi-partisan legislation introduced in Congress today urging
President Bush “to announce a plan for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces
from Iraq by the end of the year.”
Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and
Rep. Neil Abercrombie
(D-Hawaii) introduced the legislation.
NCC
General Secretary Bob Edgar urged churches to participate in a grassroots
campaign to encourage members of Congress to support the resolution.
“The development of an exit strategy for Iraq is long overdue,” Edgar
said. “It is time for the Administration to inform the American people as
to when we will leave this war-torn country. While we are pleased that
this legislation has been introduced, we call on all people of faith to
contact their Members of Congress and urge them to pass it.”
In a recent
op-ed piece sent to U.S. media, Edgar and two other peace activists
stressed the importance of a resolution that clarifies U.S. policy on when
the war will end.
“It is of the utmost importance for the U.S. Congress to make this
official. A declaration would ease growing concerns about U.S. imperial
ambitions in the region and fears that the U.S. desires to secure the
region’s oil fields against the growing energy appetites of China and
India,” the op-ed piece said.
The other
authors of the piece are Joe Volk, Executive Director, Friends Committee
on National Legislation, and Jim Winkler, General Secretary, Board of
Church and Society, United Methodist Church.
According to a
Gallup poll released last week, three-quarters of Americans support a
withdrawal of some or all troops starting immediately.
“The
administration’s policy in Iraq is failing,” said former Congressman Tom
Andrews (D-Maine). “There is no light at the end of the tunnel, only the
lights from oncoming trains in the form of daily suicide bombings and
ambushes. It is time to start bringing our men and women in uniform
home.”
The NCC is
part of a national coalition urging an end to the war. The coalition,
which includes MoveOn.org, True Majority, Sojourners, Working Assets and
the National Organization of Women, is planning a national grassroots
outreach campaign encouraging Members of Congress to sign onto the
bi-partisan resolution.
“Iraq’s future
will be determined by how the political struggle among its factions plays
out. The U.S. military occupation only complicates, and defers resolution
of that struggle,” said Susan Shaer, Executive Director of Women’s Action
for New Directions. “Meanwhile, over 1,700 American soldiers have been
killed in Iraq. Many tens of thousands of Iraqis have also died,” she
said.
“It is a truism that there are no longer any good options in Iraq,”
Andrews added. “The question is how long will U.S. policy makers pursue a
failing policy at an unacceptable cost, human and financial. It is time
the Congress demand a plan for a phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.”
Contact: NCC News, Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2252,
pjenks@ncccusa.org; Leslie Tune, 202-544-2350,
ltune@ncccusa.org
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