We recognize the seriousness of the situation and share the concern that Iraq may be manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. We oppose the possession and use of weapons of mass destruction by any and all countries. Releasing chemical or biological weapons would be an act of war which we absolutely condemn. In this difficult situation, the diplomatic or creative solution is not always easy to find. We point to Canada's leadership resulting in the international treaty banning landmines as an excellent example of the potential for diplomacy, not violence, to bring about change.
Violence tends to lead to further violence.
A military strike on Iraq might well mean the end of UN weapons inspections, increased support for Saddam Hussein in the region, military escalation involving several countries and an undoubtedly heavy loss of life. We know from the Gulf War of 1991 that over 200,000 people were killed and that high civilian casualties must be assumed in a future attack. Canada ought to seize this opportunity to work for peace, rather than support war. We appreciate the difficulty of these decisions, and assure you of our continuing prayers as you seek to lead Canada to an appropriate response to the US request for support. Yours sincerely, Dr. Helmut Harder General Secretary Mennonite Church Canada Dr. Robert J. Suderman Executive Secretary Resources Commission Jeremy Bergen Director Peace and Justice Ministries cc.