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COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO WAR ON IRAQ
We are opposed to an invasion of Iraq because of the loss of life, the economic costs to American citizens, lack of international support, further de-stabilization of the Middle East and disintegration of the region with no justification on the grounds of self defense.
We believe there are alternatives to war that will achieve greater security for America and lessen the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and terrorism to our country.
We believe that an invasion will increase, not decrease, the threat of terrorist attacks by:
- helping Al Qaeda and other terrorists recruit members by portraying America as an aggressive country at war with all Muslims.
- portraying America as a country that cannot understand anything but force and violence.
- occupying sites in Iraq holy to Muslims, which will be taken as a great insult and provocation.
We think that these alternatives can lessen American vulnerability to attack and should be pursued instead of war with Iraq.
- End the economic sanctions on Iraq which have killed an estimated 1+ million Iraqi children since 1991. These sanctions have provided justification to people like Osama bin Laden for carrying out terrorist attacks against us.
- Deal effectively with the greatest source of nuclear weapons and materials, the poorly guarded nuclear stockpiles of the former Soviet Union. Currently, U.S. funding for the destruction of stored Russian nuclear weapons and materials is being reduced.
- Strengthen international agreements to monitor biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. The U.S. has not participated in recent talks on the biological weapons convention and other agreements that could keep track of dangerous materials and prevent their getting into the wrong hands.
- Iraq, Iran and Israel would submit to international inspections and negotiate a Middle East nuclear-free zone. The U.S. and any other world powers would remove nuclear weapons out of the region.
- Negotiate a similar agreement for the Middle East on the development of ballistic and cruise missiles.
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