| The preparations for the United States'
| |
| | Christians' holy book. For that reason,
|
| planned military operation against Iraq
| |
| | we believe that he, and all religious
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| are moving full-speed ahead. It seems
| |
| | people in the administration, will
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| that unless something happens to reduce
| |
| | carefully consider those passages from
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| the tension between the United States and
| |
| | the Bible that command peace amongst men.
|
| Iraq, there will be war in the Middle
| |
| | For instance, the Gospel according to St.
|
| East. Inevitably, that war will cost the
| |
| | Matthew says, "Blessed are the
|
| lives of tens of thousands of people and
| |
| | peacemakers." (Matthew, 5: 9)
|
| will lead to the deaths of innocent
| |
| | The following quotations command all
|
| civilians. Many soldiers from the U.S.
| |
| | Christians to love their enemies, pray
|
| and Iraqi armies will be killed, and
| |
| | for their improvement, to be forgiving
|
| their families will suffer terribly.
| |
| | and not to seek revenge:
|
| Unless war is prevented, great harm will
| |
| | Love your enemies and pray for those who
|
| be wreaked on the economies of the
| |
| | persecute you. (Matthew, 5: 44)
|
| countries in the region, of which Turkey
| |
| | If possible, so far as it depends upon
|
| is a part, and particularly that of Iraq.
| |
| | you, live peaceably with all. Beloved,
|
| Poverty and all the difficulties that
| |
| | never avenge yourselves… If your enemy
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| stem from it will increase.
| |
| | is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty,
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| There is no doubt that the prevention of
| |
| | give him drink. (Romans, 12: 18-20)
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| this approaching disaster, the avoidance
| |
| | There are also passages in the Old
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| of war and the finding of a peaceful
| |
| | Testament, the guide for both Christians
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| solution, is the hope and desire of every
| |
| | and Jews, that command peace amongst men.
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| person of good conscience. In fact, many
| |
| | One such passage reads, "by the fear of
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| individuals and civil society
| |
| | the LORD a man avoids evil. 7 When a
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| organizations all over the world are
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| | man's ways please the LORD, he makes even
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| today saying "No to war" and encouraging
| |
| | his enemies to be at peace with him."
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| their own governments to take initiatives
| |
| | (Proverbs, 16: 6-7) In other words, he
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| to prevent such a clash. A wide community
| |
| | who follows God's path forgives his
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| and many opinion formers within the
| |
| | enemies.
|
| United States maintain that the problem
| |
| | President Bush is sincerely devoted to
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| needs to be resolved by peaceful means.
| |
| | the moral values of the Holy Book. His
|
| Yet all these demands for peace need to
| |
| | words in his address to the nation on
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| be backed up by a concrete solution. Let
| |
| | September 11, 2002, "Our deepest national
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| us first briefly examine the present
| |
| | conviction is that every life is
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| situation with a view to finding such a
| |
| | precious, because every life is the gift
|
| solution.
| |
| | of a Creator who intended us to live in
|
| 1. It is clear that following the
| |
| | liberty and equality." are a clear
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| September 11 terrorist attacks, the
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| | statement of this. The entire world hopes
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| United States entered a state of alarm,
| |
| | that he will bring his common sense and
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| declared war on terrorism and those
| |
| | conscience to bear on the subject of the
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| administrations it perceived as being
| |
| | Iraq in the most effective manner.
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| connected to it, and is totally
| |
| | If there is war between Iraq and the
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| determined on the issue.
| |
| | United States, many innocent people will
|
| 2. After the Taliban regime in
| |
| | die. Innocent Iraqi children, women and
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| Afghanistan, the main target in this war
| |
| | old people will die under the bombs, or
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| was set out as Saddam Hussein's regime in
| |
| | be crippled and suffer, and a whole
|
| Iraq. Even if there is room for debate
| |
| | nation will drown in pain. The Iraqi Army
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| whether Saddam Hussein really has built
| |
| | will suffer terrible casualties, and
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| nuclear or chemical weapons, that regime
| |
| | those dead soldiers will leave orphans
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| is now firmly on the U.S.
| |
| | and widows behind them. The American Army
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| administration's black list, and it does
| |
| | will also suffer casualties, leaving
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| not appear possible that this can change.
| |
| | weeping families in their wake, and
|
| 3. Unless there is a radical change in
| |
| | American servicemen will be condemned to
|
| the present situation, the United States
| |
| | all sorts of sorrows, thousands of miles
|
| will strike at Iraq. The decision has
| |
| | from home, in a land they do not know.
|
| long since been taken.
| |
| | How and why should anyone choose disaster
|
| What is noteworthy here is the fact that
| |
| | when there is a peaceful way?
|
| the United States has gone on the
| |
| | No to a War of Pride
|
| offensive not against Iraq but against
| |
| | The element that needs to be observed if
|
| Saddam Hussein's regime in that country.
| |
| | peace is to be established is the
|
| As President Bush and other officials
| |
| | positive, rather than negative use of
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| have repeatedly stressed, Saddam's
| |
| | psychological factors. If, for example,
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| administration has to come to an end. For
| |
| | America uses language that provokes
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| that reason, the most realistic formula
| |
| | Saddam Hussein and causes Iraqi
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| to preventing war is for Saddam's
| |
| | disarmament to become a matter of pride
|
| administration to end before the war
| |
| | for Saddam Hussein, the problem will
|
| starts. The only way for that to happen
| |
| | continue to escalate. Many wars of pride
|
| is for Saddam Hussein to step down before
| |
| | have broken out in the past. There must
|
| the onset of war.
| |
| | not be another.
|
| Saddam Hussein Must Step Down From Power
| |
| | On the other hand, it is a terrible
|
| In order for this formula to come about,
| |
| | mistake for certain circles to use the
|
| the United States and the international
| |
| | kind of language that will provoke
|
| community have to put forward a plan that
| |
| | president Bush and the U.S.
|
| is acceptable to Saddam Hussein. There is
| |
| | administration and thus prepare the
|
| one point in particular that must not be
| |
| | groundwork for a question of pride.
|
| ignored: that is the fact that Saddam
| |
| | Neither President Bush, nor the current
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| Hussein has a wife and children, a
| |
| | administration nor the American state
|
| family. In all probability he is not at
| |
| | have any need to engage in a show of
|
| all happy with the situation facing his
| |
| | power or determination. The calming down
|
| country and people. Yet he may be unable
| |
| | of emotions heightened by the mutual use
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| to arrive at a healthy decision on
| |
| | of provocative statements and the
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| account of concerns for his own and his
| |
| | adoption of a rational approach by both
|
| family's safety. For that reason, if that
| |
| | sides are of great importance to a
|
| safety is guaranteed, then it is clear
| |
| | solution.
|
| that Saddam Hussein will have no wish to
| |
| | The Baghdad regime, on the other hand,
|
| see a terrible slaughter that will cost
| |
| | must understand and respect the United
|
| tens of thousands of Arab lives. In that
| |
| | States' sensitivities. America was
|
| light, the following elements must be
| |
| | subjected to the world's worst ever
|
| included in the plan that needs to be put
| |
| | terrorist attack on September 11, 2001,
|
| to Saddam Hussein:
| |
| | in which thousands of innocent Americans
|
| 1. Saddam Hussein must be allowed to
| |
| | lost their lives. America is perfectly
|
| leave Iraq and settle in a friendly Arab
| |
| | justified in finding the perpetrators of
|
| country, in security and with certain
| |
| | this attack, bringing them to justice,
|
| assets. It must be guaranteed that he
| |
| | and preventing any repetition of similar
|
| will be able to spend the rest of his
| |
| | terrorist incidents. For that reason, no
|
| life in comfort in that Arab country
| |
| | government must take any action that
|
| 2. Following Saddam Hussein's abdication,
| |
| | provokes alarm in the United States, but
|
| a technocratic government consisting of
| |
| | must wholeheartedly help eliminate
|
| moderate and independent figures must be
| |
| | existing concerns. If the United States
|
| set up in Iraq. That government must
| |
| | is concerned that Iraq might support
|
| react positively to the international
| |
| | various terrorist actions in the near
|
| community's demands for disarmament, and
| |
| | future or pose a threat to the United
|
| must seek a solution to the urgent
| |
| | States and its allies in the region by
|
| problems facing the country. The embargo
| |
| | producing chemical and nuclear weapons,
|
| and sanctions against Iraq must be
| |
| | then Iraq needs to do all in its power to
|
| lifted, and with assistance from the
| |
| | do away with those concerns. Iraq will
|
| international community a regeneration
| |
| | not be diminished by proving it is not
|
| programme must quickly be initiated. The
| |
| | involved in a threatening activity. Quite
|
| suffering of the Iraqi people, who have
| |
| | the opposite. It will earn the
|
| lived in terrible misery and poverty ever
| |
| | appreciation and confidence of the
|
| since the 1980s, must be brought to an
| |
| | international community and its
|
| end as a matter of urgency.
| |
| | neighbors.
|
| 3. The necessary legal and institutional
| |
| | What Will Happen if War Cannot Be
|
| changes must be brought in to allow Iraq
| |
| | Prevented?
|
| to become a democratic state of law. A
| |
| | If war cannot be prevented by means of
|
| constitutional order that respects the
| |
| | the formula we have put forward here or
|
| rights of all ethnic and religious groups
| |
| | by some other means, then the ensuing
|
| living in the country, and that allows
| |
| | developments will be most unfortunate:
|
| them to live together under one roof in
| |
| | 1) Deaths: If a wide-ranging operation
|
| peace in security must be established.
| |
| | begins as planned, this will inevitably
|
| Later still, free elections must be held,
| |
| | lead to a great many deaths. Iraqi
|
| and Iraq must take its place in the world
| |
| | troops, Iraqi civilians and American
|
| as a respected member of the community of
| |
| | troops will die, and others will be
|
| nations.
| |
| | crippled.
|
| If Saddam Hussein takes the common sense
| |
| | 2) The Destruction of Iraq: It appears
|
| approach and prevents war by stepping
| |
| | inescapable that a land and air operation
|
| down, then he will have done the people
| |
| | against Baghdad will result in serious
|
| of Iraq one of the greatest services
| |
| | physical damage to the city and other
|
| possible, and will go down in history as
| |
| | settlements of strategic importance. The
|
| a hero. We need to be aware that
| |
| | Iraqi economy is already in collapse, and
|
| according to Islam, the greatest heroism
| |
| | a strike against the capital and
|
| lies in winning the "Great Jihad" (Jihad
| |
| | important facilities will wreak the kind
|
| al-Nafs), in other words in conquering
| |
| | of damage it will take decades to put
|
| one's own desires. Power is a desire that
| |
| | right.
|
| is hard for many people to forsake. A
| |
| | 3) The Danger of Civil War: If the
|
| leader who foregoes power for the sake of
| |
| | Baghdad regime is overthrown, a struggle
|
| the safety and happiness of his people
| |
| | for power will begin between the
|
| thus wins that "Great Jihad" and behaves
| |
| | different religious and ethnic minorities
|
| in the most honorable manner possible.
| |
| | in the country, and that might lead, in
|
| For this reason:
| |
| | turn, to a bloody civil war. The
|
| We Call on Saddam Hussein:
| |
| | repetition in Iraq of the civil war in
|
| If you step down from power and leave
| |
| | Lebanon during the 1970s and '80s, which
|
| Iraq, you will have prevented a war that
| |
| | caused so much bloodshed, is a disaster
|
| would cost the lives of thousands, tens
| |
| | that looks likely to be repeated.
|
| of thousands of Iraqis. Babies and
| |
| | 4) The Fragmentation of Iraq: Another
|
| defenseless women and old people who
| |
| | likely development after the war is the
|
| would otherwise have died under the bombs
| |
| | fragmentation of Iraq in a framework of
|
| will be saved. Your cities will not be
| |
| | ethnic and religious minorities. Such a
|
| razed and your country will not be
| |
| | fragmentation would lead to fighting
|
| ruined. You will prevent the people of
| |
| | between those minorities and also give
|
| Iraq from suffering a terrible disaster
| |
| | rise to exceedingly powerless, poor and
|
| for the sake of a war that cannot
| |
| | uncontrolled tiny states, which would
|
| possibly be won.
| |
| | inevitably fall into anarchy and chaos.
|
| Please make that sacrifice... Then the
| |
| | Furthermore, these tiny states that would
|
| world will regard you not as a leader who
| |
| | probably emerge could also have the
|
| led his people to death and suffering,
| |
| | effect of destabilizing Iraq's neighbors.
|
| but as one who gave up everything for
| |
| | This is what gives rise to Turkey's
|
| their sake.
| |
| | justified concern in the face of the
|
| Even more importantly, there is no doubt
| |
| | danger represented by a Kurdish state in
|
| that such behavior will please God. In
| |
| | Northern Iraq. Not just Turkey, but other
|
| the Qur'an, God reveals that saving just
| |
| | neighboring and Gulf states, such as
|
| one person from death is as much a good
| |
| | Iran, Syria and Jordan would also be
|
| deed as saving all of mankind:
| |
| | harmed by the confusion in Iraq.
|
| ...If someone kills another person-unless
| |
| | 5) Economic Difficulties in the Region:
|
| it is in retaliation for someone else or
| |
| | It is estimated that in the 11 years
|
| for causing corruption in the earth-it is
| |
| | since the 1991 Gulf War, Turkey has
|
| as if he had murdered all mankind. And if
| |
| | suffered an economic loss of more than
|
| anyone gives life to another person, it
| |
| | $100 billion. A new war would put an end
|
| is as if he had given life to all
| |
| | to commercial life in the region and deal
|
| mankind... (Qur'an, 5:32)
| |
| | a deadly blow to tourism, and there would
|
| If you allow the war to be prevented, you
| |
| | be recession and losses in all other
|
| will have saved not one life but
| |
| | sectors of the economy.
|
| thousands.
| |
| | 6) Increased Danger of a "Clash of
|
| We must not forget that the outbreak of
| |
| | Civilizations." A potential war between
|
| war on earth is displeasing to God. We
| |
| | Iraq and the United States would
|
| are told in the Qur'an that war is a
| |
| | represent an opportunity for those who
|
| great evil, that it represents
| |
| | wish to encourage a bloody conflict
|
| corruption, and that God does not love
| |
| | between the Western and Islamic
|
| corruption. (Qur'an, 5:64) In another
| |
| | civilizations. Protests against the war
|
| verse, God calls all people to peace:
| |
| | will come from all over the Islamic
|
| O You who believe! Enter absolutely into
| |
| | world, and that will serve the purposes
|
| peace (Islam). Do not follow in the
| |
| | of the scenario aimed at bringing the
|
| footsteps of Satan. He is an outright
| |
| | United States against the Islamic world.
|
| enemy to you. (Qur'an, 2:208)
| |
| | A peaceful solution in the face of this
|
| In short, supporting peace and bringing
| |
| | problem will lead the way to the world
|
| it about is a great duty of all Muslims.
| |
| | peace and security necessary for the
|
| We Call on the U.S. Administration
| |
| | "Peace of Civilizations."
|
| The divine principles that should guide
| |
| | Our hope is the prevention of a war in
|
| the Iraqi administration must do the same
| |
| | Iraq, a solution to the problem without
|
| for the U.S. administration.
| |
| | bloodshed, and the Middle East becoming a
|
| President Bush is a religious man. He has
| |
| | region where peace and friendship prevail
|
| frequently and sincerely stated his
| |
| | over conflict.
|
| belief in God and the Bible, the
| |
| |
|
