No new military action in Iraq

The United States must not fire a bullet, launch a missile or drop a bomb in Iraq.

To do so would be an act of war. To do so not only would be illegal, it would be tragically counterproductive for Iraqi and U.S. citizens.

By what stretch of imagination can our military actions in Iraq accomplish now that eight years of war, 160,000 U.S. troops and $1.5 trillion failed to accomplish? Our invasion and occupation, preceded by a decade of debilitating sanctions, have left Iraq in a much worse condition than it had been. Iraqis are not stupid; they know that. Our military action ultimately would be welcomed by no one and would incite further sectarian violence.

Rep. Barbara Lee. D-Calif., and Scott Rigell, R-Va., have circulated a letter to President Barack Obama insisting that there can be no new U.S. war in Iraq without the approval of Congress. Eighty members of Congress have signed that letter. None of the Iowa congressional delegation has signed that letter. Why not? Please tell them to do that.

Obama is being pressured by prophets such as Dick Cheney ('My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators” March, 2003) to give war in Iraq another go, as he lays the blame for Iraq's ills at Obama's feet.

The people of the United States did not approve of our Iraq War in 2003 and we don't approve of another now. But we must not be silent.

Submitted on behalf of 20 members of the Veterans For Peace Chapter 161.

Ed Flaherty

Iowa City