WILPF-US on the War and "Post-War" Situation in Iraq
               
PHILADELPHIA - April 22 2003.

We, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, U.S. Section, reject the recently announced "victory" in Iraq, and accompanying "liberation" of the people after the demise of their government. The U.S./U.K. military invasion and takeover of Iraq has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Iraqi civilians and military, a death toll that may never be reported.
            

We know there is a severe humanitarian crisis in Iraq, with lack of food, water, medical supplies, hospitals and doctors to care for the wounded. Over half of the 24 million Iraqis are children whose lives are permanently damaged by this invasion; many are orphaned. The major cities of Iraq, and their infrastructures, have been devastated, if not destroyed. We support a plan that would ensure the UN administration of humanitarian aid and reconstruction by civilian authorities, not the U.S. military.

It is costing the U.S. taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars to destroy Iraq, and it will cost billions more to pay favoured U.S. corporations to rebuild it. In the process, the Bush administration manufactures a false sense of economic scarcity as communities all over the United States are forced to make massive cuts in education, health care, and job creation.

We condemn the U.S. military occupation of Iraq, which is illegal, immoral and unjust. We support a form of government in Iraq duly chosen by the Iraqi people. Ownership of Iraqi oil should remain with the Iraqi people, not U.S. oil companies. The Iraqi people need to lead the reconstruction of their economy and their society.

We call upon WILPF members to continue our resistance to the occupation and militarization of Iraq and any expanded war in the Middle East. Secretary of Defence (War) Rumsfeld justifies and alludes to the possibility of military attacks on Syria and Iran. We will be asked to believe a continuing series of lies as this next military phase moves forward.

The U.S. has committed war crimes - crimes against humanity - in Iraq, and must be held accountable at the International Criminal Court. These crimes have been committed in our names. As an anti-war movement, we must join with others in bringing these crimes to court under international law.

We condemn the Bush Administration's drive for military domination worldwide that threatens to wage permanent war against countries considered strategically important. We join the global movement in opposition to war and in strategizing to build a world of peace with justice.

CONTACT:  Women's International League for Peace and Freedom US Jen Geiger jengeiger@wilpf.org