Approved by the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States.
September 19, 2002
The Green Party of the United States is adamantly opposed to President George W. Bush’s plans to continue and expand military operations against Iraq. The Bush administration claims the invasion of Iraq would improve the security of citizens of the United States, but it would do just the opposite. A U.S. war on Iraq would undo decades of progress in international conflict resolution and make the world a more dangerous place for everyone.
The United States should not undertake military operations against Iraq for the following reasons:
An attack on Iraq would be illegal. The United States must hold to the highest standards and abide by international law if it expects other nations to do so. The United Nations Security Council has not authorized any military attacks on Iraq for its failure to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. In fact, no UN Security Council resolutions concerning Iraq, including SC Resolution 688 of 1991, have ever authorized the “no-fly zones” over Iraq, declared unilaterally by the U.S. and Britain. Yet these two countries have bombed Iraq in these zones nearly daily for a decade.
Peaceful means for addressing the possibility that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction have hardly been exhausted. The threat posed by Iraq must be confronted through multilateral action by the United Nations, and not by the U.S. acting alone.
Allies in the region of Iraq are opposed to the U.S. plans for an invasion. Anti-Americanism would be fueled further by U.S. military action. Terrorist activity against U.S. citizens would increase. Islamic countries would be less likely to cooperate with the U.S. in anti-terrorism strategies.
The overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime through a U.S. invasion is unlikely to lead to a democratic government there. Iraqis, already suffering for a decade from the effects of UN sanctions, would be likely to suffer more in the ensuing chaos.
There is no evidence that the security and safety of the United States are directly threatened by Iraq. Iraq has not been linked to Al Qaeda or other currently active anti-American terrorists. Even if such evidence were to be presented, unilateral attacks by the U.S. on Iraq would not be the most effective, legal or moral option available.
A war against Iraq would be immensely costly at a time when resources are desperately needed for the eradication of poverty both domestically and globally.
We therefore urge our fellow citizens of the United States to raise their voices against the U.S. invasion of Iraq. We must encourage the President and Congress to build a true foundation for peace and security in these ways:
– Act in concert with the United Nations to address any potential security risks posed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Support arms control initiatives in the entire Persian Gulf region, as already specified in UN Security Council Resolution 687.
– Take substantial steps to free our foreign policy from distortion by U.S. economic dependency on energy from non-renewable fossil fuels. Encourage energy conservation and invest heavily in the development of renewable energy.
– Shift investment from military spending to address the basic needs of humanity, both within the United States and around the globe: clean air and water, access to education and health care, adequate housing and transportation, and civil liberties.
In sum, the Green Party’s key value of non-violence implies that war is neither an effective nor justifiable means for resolving disputes between nations. The United States is in a position of unprecedented economic and military power in the global scene. We should use that power to work towards security and peace through justice, rather than through intimidation and military destruction.