D.C. Dear Bill Clinton, On behalf of the American Friends Service Committee I write to you profoundly concerned that the United States and some of its allies are preparing to launch a massive air strike against Iraq. As Quakers we totally oppose all forms of violence. We call upon you now, even at this late hour, to refrain from this military attack. We laud the efforts to resolve this current crisis with Iraq by diplomatic means and encourage you to give your full support to these efforts.
Diplomacy can work if given enough time, support and creativity.
We recognize the importance of Iraq's compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions and we too are deeply troubled about Iraq's manufacturing and previous use of weapons of mass destruction. This is consistent with our work over the years in support of a regime of disarmament and arms control that would include all nations in the Middle East. Sadly, since the Gulf War the region has seen an unprecedented growth in weapons purchases instead of pursuing a course of regional disarmament. The U.S. leads the way in arms exports to the region. It is the militarization of the region as a whole, and not that of one country, that is the most significant threat to long term regional peace.