Friends, here is the document we promised you in order to help you to prepare for congressional visits in the next few days or weeks, either in your home district or here in Washington.

We look forward to seeing you here for worship, prayer and public witness on Thursday and Friday. Remember to visit www.OliveBranchInterfaith.org for updates and reports on our activities.

Peace to you,

Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership Steering Committee

World Changing Ideas

As communities of faith, we yearn for and seek peace in Iraq. The United States, as the aggressor and occupier, must remove military forces to begin the rebuilding process. Politically, we will engage our government at all levels to end the US war and occupation, support a regional peace, support our troops, support an Iraqi-led peace process, say no to torture, and say yes to justice. We believe that war will never bring about the security we need or the change we seek.

The kind of CHANGE are we looking for

Our Responsibility - Supporting Iraqis in Change
We invaded and destroyed communities in Iraq, but those communities are not ours to rebuild. The US must provide financial not military assistance to the Iraqi people as they heal the wounds of the war. Foreign military occupation is not supporting Iraqis in finding a peaceful resolution to sectarian and nationalist political violence. As long as US soldiers are on the streets, Iraqi energy and resources will be focused on our removal. Heeding the call from the Iraqis, we must begin an orderly withdrawal, returning Iraq to the Iraqis and bringing our troops home.

Short on Change - The Cost of War
The massive American investment in War—$720 Million Dollars a Day—is a bad investment for Iraqis and a bad investment for Americans. For every dollar we spend on the war, we spend 1/16 of a penny on humanitarian assistance—the best way to help Iraq build a lasting peace. At home we continue to neglect social programs that would help heal the communities that are sending the soldiers to fight these wars. We must change our funding priorities addressing Iraq’s humanitarian crisis and our values crisis to provide for economic and political justice.

Change of Perspective - A Humanitarian Crisis
More than four and a half million Iraqis have been forced from their homes since the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. American bombing campaigns, sectarian and political violence, and a rapidly diminishing quality of life have pushed millions out of their hometowns as internal refugees or into neighboring countries. But instead of providing assistance and care, US policy focuses on military escalation—not humanitarian aid. Ending the war requires providing assistance to the four and half million refugees. Other conflicts in the region offer a frightening warning for not adequately responding to refugee crises.

American Rhetoric - Regime Change or Regional Security
The use of military power in the Middle East will not bring about the change we seek. Even among the most hawkish supporters of the war, we are unable to find a legitimate claim that this war has made our nation safer. Rather than solving conflicts in the Middle East, the US-led invasion and occupation will have repercussions in the region for decades. As we know all too well, violence breeds violence. In an age of asymmetrical warfare, true peace can only be found in right relationships. Our myopic strike-first mentality must end if we are to begin the international process of being reconciled with our enemies.

How we can accomplish CHANGE

H.R. 5507, introduced Feb. 27, proposes an attainable peace in Iraq and end to the US occupation. It calls for a “safe and orderly redeployment” of troops and a removal of privatized US security firms. It implements The Iraq Study Group recommendation for a surge in diplomacy with Syria and Iran establishing a working relationship with current adversaries. H.R. 5507 calls for an Iraqi-led peace process by deferring to the Iraqi government to initiate an international stabilization force if it sees fit, as well as to continue the work of the National Council of Reconciliation. The sovereignty of Iraq would further be upheld by transferring all military bases, detention centers, and Iraqi prisoners back to the Iraqi government. H.R. 5507 will help bring about the reconciliation by taxing contractors who were able to profiteer in the midst of Iraqi suffering, due to lack of oversight. This resolution also names the devastating repercussions of torture and defers to international law stating that persons tortured may bring an action in US courts for damages, personal injury, or death. While under this legislation US contractors will be barred from the Iraqi petroleum industry, the US will remain committed to rebuilding infrastructure, public health facilities, and clean up of depleted uranium artillery shells that infect the water supply.

Other legislation to support CHANGE

End Funding, Remove US Forces
Sometime in March, April or May, President Bush will ask Congress to again authorize spending for the Iraq War. The funding will permit military actions to continue for several more years. So far, about 100 congress members have committed to vote against the bill. Building a lasting peace in Iraq must begin with Congress enacting its constitutionally-granted authority to end war - that begins with ending its funding. With existing funding, the US can execute a safe withdrawal. The military does not require additional funding. See Senator Russell Feingold’s bill on redeployment (S.2633).

No American Bases in Iraq
As long as the US remains in Iraq, many Iraqi political groups will oppose the US-supported government and challenge its legitimacy. The majority of Iraqis want us out and consider us a disruptive force preventing lasting peace. Long term US military establishments in Iraq, therefore, will be seen as a continuation of an American occupation and will breed further resentment of American intervention. President Bush says that he can establish bases in Iraq without consulting Congress. Two bills before Congress, H.R. 4959 and H.R. 5128, would require Bush to include Congress in all negotiations about the status of US forces in Iraq. H.R. 5128 goes further and requires the US to include the Iraqi Parliament in the discussions.

Regional Security through Dialogue
Three bills before congress deal specifically with engaging Iraq’s neighbors in a new diplomacy: H.R. 3797, H.R. 288, and H.R. 5056. These bills are based on the findings of The Iraq Study Group, an independent bipartisan research team. H.R. 3797 pushes the US towards envisioning a lasting peace and real security for the Middle East by collaborating with Syria and Iran for a lasting peace. The US presence in Iraq is greatly complicated by our lack of dialogue with Iran. Stability in the region hinges on long term relationships of good will, not sanctions and seclusion. The new diplomacy recommendations are proactive peacemaking measures that will prevent future intractable conflicts.