NOW does not endorse any of the views expressed here — they should serve merely as examples of a dialogue on the issue of war with Iraq.

We also suggest that you take a look at the resources we've gathered on the current debate. These speeches, writings and organizations might make you shake your head or make you nod in agreement — regardless they'll get you thinking.

Voices from the Boards

		Senator Kerry gave a very good speech on just how badly the entire subject has been handled because there is so much that everyone does agree upon with respect to Iraq. In President Bush's favor, he has listened to a lot of the criticism and begun to limit his demands, but as I said before, he has been ill-advised and there is a lot to undo in the overall perception of US policy. I think they should take as much time as they can to lay everything on the table before they vote, or it will not look good in the perception of many who oppose war. --Juliania While I'm all for going over there and kicking some serious butt, I want to know the goal. Do we simply remove Saddam, eliminate any weapons of mass destruction, and go home? I have to admit the only goal worthwhile in fighting an offensive war such as this is if the outcome is of benefit to the U.S. I feel that if we are to risk our soldiers lives fighting a war, then the only way we win is if the land where the war is fought becomes American soil. --Steve I only see and hear fear, that will strike with the potential that we must be the police of the world. Does the current administration have some information that is so well hidden, that even the politicians are not being told the truth? I do not trust fear of the unknown. --farmctn Let's improve the CIA and the FBI so we can fight the terrorists. President Bush has told us this a war like no other. Why is he turning it into a conventional war? --Judith I personally don't want war. I also think that Saddam understands only force - or the threat of force - and sees any accommodation by an opponent as a sign of weakness. He is Stalin, writ small - but not so small he can do no damage. --TonyWalk Bush wants to strike Iraq, yes. That is because Iraq may pose a threat to us tomorrow. It has nothing to do with Islamic fundamentalism, when this war should have something to do with combating the spread of Islamic fundamentalism. I don't understand why intelligent people cannot make that distinction. My prediction is this: once we have "liberated" Iraq, there will be a re-emergence of Islamic fundamentalism there and we will have a bigger demon to deal with. If you want war, why aren't you clamoring to attack Saudi Arabia, the real breeding ground of all terrorism. Let's go clean that country up once and for all. --anindo We must have PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS with GLOBAL (United Nations)SUPPORT. I love the United States of America. However the USA is part of the world. What would we be showing the world by attacking Iraq without any real justification?? IT IS 2002 --- It is time to find ways other than military action to resolve serious issues. --winifredmary While the gas-bagging goes on in Congress I'll keep my eye on center stage - the U.N. France and Russia have forwarded the idea of a two part Security Council resolution. The first resolution would be to send in the inspectors and remove or destroy any of the purported WMD's. If Saddam cooperates and the inspectors report that all is safe that ends the issue. If the inspectors are frustrated then the second resolution will be considered in which force will be mandated in dealing with Saddam. --Al Get a backbone democrats and take a war stand. Gee let one election go the other way and the democrats scream murder at any chance. Lets not forget that the democrats got us into Viet-Nam knee deep and then forgot all about it. But this is different this is WWII all over again not a policing action. --S.Rustie I live in the "Heartland." Actually, I have always called it the midwest. At a time when 74% of us supposedly approved of war with Iraq, a local television poll came up with 38%. On Monday, October 7th, the daily paper published three anti-war articles on the editorial page. Why is this significant to me? I live in a very Republican town. Many times the Republican candidate goes unopposed. One article was written by a minister who quoted Matthew 21:43. "The story is told as a warning to the people of God in every age that their lives must bear the fruit of faith, the fruit of peace, or the gift of salvation shall be taken from them." My friends believe that the purpose of the war is to keep the price of oil from going down. They also believe that if a war is fought for these despicable reasons, that it will backfire on those who seek to make a profit. --c.i. "Imagine a world in which the United States was stricken by a successful series of nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks. Putting aside the appalling loss of American lives this would involve, the global consequences would be horrifying. The world would be plunged into the deepest depression in its history. There would be no power-of-last-resort to uphold international order. Wolf and jackal states would quickly emerge to prey on their neighbors. It would be a world as described by Thomas Hobbes in his Leviathan (1651), in which, deprived of a giant authority figure 'to keep them all in awe,' civilization would break down, and life, for most of mankind, would be 'nasty, brutish and short.' Hence, we do well to look at the crisis not as solely or even primarily an American problem, but as a global one. We need a Leviathan figure now much more than in the 17th century, when the range of a cannon was a maximum of two miles and its throw-weight was measured in pounds. America is the only constitutional Leviathan we have, which is precisely why the terrorists are striving to do him mortal injury, and the opponents of order throughout the world -- in the media, on the campus, and among the flat-earthers -- are so noisily opposed to Leviathan's protecting himself." --Jennifer quoting Paul Johnson

	Iraq Debate Resources: Pro-Intervention Arguments The American Center for Law and Justice Founded by Pat Robertson, The American Center for Law and Justice issued this statement in support of President Bush's stance on Iraq, encouraging the President "to take whatever action is necessary to protect the United States." President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat President Bush's October 7th Presidential Address to the Nation where he outlined his concern about the threat to national security posed by Iraq and need to avert crisis by preemptively striking Iraq if diplomatic disarmament efforts fail. Center for Security Policy: Iraq "Promoting strength through peace," the Center for Security Policy's focus on Iraq Web page contains articles and analyses advocating regime change in Iraq. Interesting articles include a Christian ethicist's argument that Iraq fulfills the "just war" criteria and a CIA Report detailing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs. Vice President Cheney's Speech on Pre-emptive Military Action Against Iraq Vice President Cheney's speech, given in front of Veterans of Foreign Wars, argues that a preemptive strike against Iraq is necessary for U.S. national security and international security. Unless the U.S. takes preemptive action today, Vice President Cheney warns, "[a]rmed with an arsenal of weapons of terror, and seated atop ten percent of the world's oil reserves, Saddam Hussein could then be expected to seek domination of the entire Middle East, take control of a great portion of the world's energy supplies, directly threaten America's friends throughout the region, and subject the United States or any other nation to nuclear blackmail." Democrats for Regime Change Stephen Hayes of THE WEEKLY STANDARD, cross-examines the Democratic party's opposition to wage war on Iraq by probing Clinton's decision to bomb Iraq in 1998. The Heritage Foundation In its Middle East Research Web page, the Heritage Foundation provides articles and analyses supporting the Administration's preemptive strike on Iraq in the interests of U.S. homeland security and Middle East stability. Senator Joe Lieberman: Floor Statement on Introduction of Resolution Authorizing Use of Military Force Against Iraq Senator Joe Lieberman's (D-CN) Web site provides a transcript of his floor statement introducing a bi-partisan resolution authorizing military force against Iraq. In Sen. Lieberman's opinion "this is the last chance for Saddam Hussein but also the chance for the international community to come together to prove that resolutions of the United Nations mean more or have more weight than the paper they are written on." Project for the New American Century The Project for the New American Century (PNAC) is a non-profit research and analysis organization that promotes U.S. defense readiness and global leadership. In this Web focus on Iraq, PNAC provides articles and analysis arguing the need for a U.S. led "regime change" in Iraq. THE THREATENING STORM Written by Kenneth M. Pollack, director for Gulf affairs at the National Security Council during the Clinton Administration and former Director of National Security Studies for the Council on Foreign Relations, is subtitled "The Case for Invading Iraq." A Council on Foreign Relations book. Anti Intervention Arguments American Friends Service Committee The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that stands for peace, justice, and humanitarian service. The AFSC Web site features an extensive array of resources on Iraqi history, the Gulf War, U.N./U.S. economic sanctions and their toll as well as the latest news reports and activist information. Damu Smith: Black Voices for Peace Damu Smith, founder and coordinator of Black Voices for Peace, describes his new groups as a vehicle to "mobilize the black community in concert with other people of goodwill of all races and nationalities to work towards peace with justice here and abroad." In this statement, Mr. Smith confines his commentary to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Senator Robert C. Byrd Believing the Bush Administration's decision to attack Iraq to be "blind and improvident," Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) argues that a presidential blank check to wage war is "unconstitutional," sets the wrong precedent in international relations, and is motivated by partisan political gain. Foreign Policy in Focus Foreign Policy in Focus (FPIF) provides scholarly analysis primarily directed toward the activist community. In a special Web section devoted to Iraq, FPIF provides articles, essays, and speeches analyzing the various risks a preemptive strike on Iraq will impose on American citizens and the international community. Senator Ted Kennedy: Eliminating the Threat In his speech to the School of Advanced International Studies, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) argues a preemptive U.S. strike on Iraq is unjustified. Unless striking new evidence is presented, Kennedy urges war advocates to respect global opinion and the American people by committing itself to democratic argument and diplomacy first. Representative Dennis J. Kucinich: A Second Renaissance In this anti-war speech, Congressman Kucinich (D-OH) states there is no justifiable reason to preemptively strike Iraq. Kucinich pleads for the U.S. to turn away from war, work for disarmament, and provide the requisite aid to rebuild Iraq. With the savings from an averted war, Kucinich argues the U.S. can build a harmonious society through progressive politics and economics, revitalizing the American Dream. Representative Jim McDermott In response to President Bush's September 12th address to the UN, Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) released this statement applauding the Administration's decision to include the international community in the discussion about war while asserting the need for a full Congressional discussion on Iraq before action is taken. The National Council of Churches The National Council of Churches (NCC), an inter-faith Christian non-profit organization, challenges the U.S.'s "rush to war" with Iraq. The NCC believe a pre-emptive war violates the Christian doctrine of "just war," which states that war must be defensive in nature. On their Web site, the NCC calls for "a season of peacemaking." Other Web features include education, justice, public witness, and unity resources to "enhance and foster spiritual formation[s]." Not in Our Name Not in Our Name (NION) is a coalition of activist organizations that coordinated the various protests that swept the nation on October 6th and 7th. The NOIN Web site is a hub for activists protesting the proposed U.S. preemptive strike on Iraq and the curtailment of civil liberties since September 11th. The Web site includes organizing materials, the NOIN "Statement of Conscience," the NOIN "Pledge of Resistance," as well as history, reports, and news centered around the organization. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Letter to President Bush on Iraq The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' letter to President Bush seriously questions the "moral legitimacy" of a war with Iraq and respectfully urges President Bush to "step back from the brink of war." Veterans for Peace Veterans for Peace is a non-profit organization committed to sharing information about the horrors of war. In a special Web section, Veterans for Peace provides the reasons for their protest against war with Iraq. Voices in the Wilderness Voices in the Wilderness (VITW) is a joint collaboration of non-violent activists from the U.S. and U.K. that call attention to the humanitarian crisis caused by U.N./U.S. economic sanctions on Iraq. The VITW Web site acts as a center for current news, statistics, and information concerning the toll economic sanctions have exacted on Iraq. WAR ON IRAQ: WHAT TEAM BUSH DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW Written by William Rivers Pitt after extensive interviews with former U.N weapons inspector Scott Ritter Scott Ritter. This NewsHour interview with Scott Ritter touches on many of the arguments made in the book. Wellstone's Beliefs May Imperil His Political Career This article from THE LOS ANGELES TIMES describes how Senator Paul Wellstone's (D-MN) decision to oppose war in Iraq may hand the election to his Republican opponent. Znet Iraq Watch An independent magazine committed to social change, Znet provides readers with the writers and scholars rarely encountered in mainstream media. In a special Iraq section, Znet provides a radical critique of U.S./U.K. foreign policy in the Mid-East generally, and in Iraq specifically. Related Stories: Select One The Case for Coercive Inspections Reviewing WMD Evidence Rep. Ron Paul Full Archive Previous Page