The staff of the 8th Day Center for Justice is absolutely opposed to any military action against Iraq.

We believe such actions are morally unjustified for the following reasons:

1. Military action cannot be isolated to, so called, military targets, as we learned from the Gulf War, despite recent claims that today‚s weapons are „smarter.‰ For example, during the Gulf War the U.S. killed over 400 women and children in the Ameriya bomb shelter which the U.S. identified as a command center. Additionally, the Pentagon admitted 40% of U.S. smart weapons missed their target. Now we learn that the Pentagon is considering the use of penetrating munitions with a nuclear warhead to destroy Iraqi munitions bunkers. (Madison Capital Times, 1/28/98)

2. The civilian population, already devastated by over seven years of comprehensive sanctions, will be the ultimate victims of any attack.

3. Diplomacy has degenerated to a conflict of egos at the expense of innumerable human lives and the environment on which they depend.

4. The hope for fair negotiations has been undermined repeatedly by irresponsible remarks regarding Iraq‚s intentions and weapons programs. Most recently chief UN inspector Richard Butler said that Iraq has enough biological material, such as anthrax or botulin toxin, „to blow away Tel Aviv.‰ Later Butler admitted: „I was not saying that I could take you today to a place in Iraq and say. OEThere‚s the missile that could do that thing.‚‰ UN envoys from Russia, China and France were reportedly furious Butler had spoken to the press about matters on which he had not yet briefed the U.N. Security council. Such statements lend credibility to Iraq‚s refusal to allow the participation of certain inspectors.

5. The total demonization of President Hussein undermines any hope for fair negotiations. Thus, all Iraqi government offers and actions are read with evil intent. The U.S. has used such demonizing to justify a CIA effort to overthrow the Iraqi government, even advocating the assassination of President Hussein.

6. Ongoing claims of non-compliance with U.N. resolutions--after the U.N. confirmed Iraq complied with most of the U.N.‚s requirements for the destruction of weapons, and after more than seven years of the most comprehensive sanctions in history which has caused the death of over 1.2 million Iraqis-- provides little incentive for Iraq‚s cooperation. In addition, there is the irresponsible behavior of the inspection team‚s ransacking of a Baghdad convent, digging up grave yards, and burning high school chemistry books.

7. The U.S. belies „rogue states‰ but announces that it will act unilaterally if needed. Madeleine Albright: „I am not going anywhere to seek support. I am going to explain our position.‰ Meanwhile, the Arab League, as well as France, China and Russia have spoken against the use of force and urge diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the dispute. Secretary of Defense Cohen admits that military action will not resolve questions of Iraq‚s weapons programs, nor remove President Hussein. Weakening support for Iraq sanctions among U.S. allies seems to be a motive for the rush to military action.

8. The ultimate reason for conflict in the region--the distribution of the region‚s oil and oil revenues--has not been part of the present negotiations.

9. The U.S. opposes Iraq‚s weapons programs but maintains the largest arsenal in the world (including nuclear and chemical weapons), and is the largest weapons merchant to the Middle East and the world.

10. The U.S. justifies the use of comprehensive sanctions, which have taken over 1 million lives, because it suspects that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction. Yet, Pope John Paul II has „unequivocally condemned‰ the sanctions. Additionally, 54 U.S. bishops have found the sanctions to be in violation of the moral teaching of the Catholic Church and a violation of the human rights of the Iraqi people. They have also called on the US to refrain from the use of force in the current conflict.

2. We call for the end of sanctions which have driven Iraq into a no-win situation: mass death from preventable disease or attack by the US.

3. We call for an international forum to negotiate a binding treaty for the equitable distribution of the world‚s oil.

4. We call upon all people of good will to resist attempts by the US government or media to demonize the people of Iraq. Hatred and bigotry blind us to human suffering and foster a callous acceptance of violence and war.

5. As part of our response, 8th Day Center will conduct a vigil in opposition to the use of military force at 4:30-5:30 PM, Tuesday, February 3, 1998, at the Federal Building, Jackson and State, Chicago.

The 8th Day Center for Justice is a coalition of 28 Catholic congregations of women and men religious who work to create a more just and harmonious world.