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The War Against Iraq: KAIROS Assesses the Damage One Year Later
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"Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more: but they shall all sit under their own vines
and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid." |
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This vision of peace is at the heart of KAIROS’ stand last year against war in Iraq. KAIROS and its networks prayed, wrote letters and joined massive mobilizations against the war.
However, on March 19, 2003, the United States, supported by Britain and several other countries, unleashed fierce air and ground attacks in Iraq. An estimated 10,000 Iraqi civilians have already died in the war and occupation, as well as 5,000 – 10,000 Iraqi soldiers and 650 U.S.- led coalition troops.
The military occupation of Iraq triggered further chaos, lawlessness, and violence that has caused further trauma and suffering. Many Iraqis are scarred for life by the loss of family and friends, by injuries, hunger, unclean water and poor medical care resulting from the war.
KAIROS opposed the war, claiming it was unjustified and immoral given the death and destruction that would ensue. “We in the West will be judged, by future generations and by the Creator of all, for the damage we have been willing to inflict in the name of security,” Canadian church leaders said in a letter to the Canadian Prime Minister in September 2002.
The U.S.-British pretext for war—that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and was prepared to use them to attack other countries—was seen as dubious and influenced by unstated interests relating to resource control and military dominance over the Middle East. The war was widely considered illegal, as it did not meet any criteria outlined in the United Nations Charter justifying such an attack.
The Canadian government finally refused to support the war. One year later, the wisdom of this decision is clear. We applaud former Prime Minister Chrétien for this principled position.
A changing rationale for war
After massive searches by the United Nations and the United States, no WMDs were ever found in Iraq. Intelligence reports on which the case for war was based were either wildly inaccurate or misconstrued.
Now the war is being re-framed as a defense of the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein. War defenders claim, “the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein.” The world is not a better place without the 10,000 Iraqi mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, sisters and brothers who died as a result of the war.
People’s democratic and human rights must be protected but within the framework of existing laws and agreements. The great loss of life in Iraq, as well as the whole process and nature of the U.S. led bombings contradict attempts to justify the war as a struggle to protect the Iraqi people.
What is the way forward now?
The war and occupation of Iraq are related to a broader U.S. strategy to achieve military, political and economic dominance. The “war against terrorism” furthers this strategy, and is being carried out at the expense of human rights and the curtailment of civil liberties. Since September 11, 2001, the Canadian government has undertaken initiatives to support the war on terror and has directly participated in other theaters of the war, such as Afghanistan. KAIROS is deeply concerned that some of these initiatives, including anti-terrorism Bill C-7 (previously known as C-17) and Bill C-36 undermine the basic freedoms that are fundamental to human security.
Now, a year later, we come together to proclaim again, in hope, what Micah tells us can be ours: a world freed from violence, poverty, and fear. KAIROS calls on the Canadian government to be a part of building that world by following these directions and principles:
In Iraq
The principal objective in Iraq now must be to create a society based on self-determination and respect for the full range of human rights. We call on Canada to support the following steps in order to achieve this:
1. End the U.S. led occupation as soon as possible, removing all
troops not under the command of the U.N. Until the occupation is
ended, the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention (governing
the conduct of occupations) must be strictly applied by the occupying
powers.
2. Provide a clear mandate, authority and sufficient funding to the U.N. to govern Iraq until Iraqi sovereignty is restored. The mandate would include humanitarian and reconstruction aid, security, and election assistance.
3. Cancel Iraq’s odious debts (estimated at US$120 billion, including C$750 million owed to Canada) contracted by the Saddam Hussein dictatorship without the consent of the people but with the full awareness of creditors. No conditions should be attached to this cancellation, which should set a precedent for wiping out the odious debts incurred by brutal dictatorships.
4. Establish a plan to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure and economy devastated by two decades of war, political repression and sanctions. International aid will be needed for many years.
In Canada
5. Ensure that the human rights of our citizens are not jeopardized by “security” concerns such as detentions without recourse to the normal protections of the law.
6. Continue Canada’s commitment to multilateralism through the United Nations.
7. Maintain an independent Canadian stance on security and defense arrangements.
KAIROS’ Biblical Vision Of Justice
The prophet Micah envisioned a world free from fear where every one would feel secure. The war against Iraq was broadly justified as combating terrorism and making the world a safer place. World events point to an opposite result. The world is less safe. Terrorism has increased, both in Iraq and globally. Around the world, people feel more insecure and threatened.
We call on Canada and all nations to re-examine the course for global security and prosperity. The roots of insecurity have not changed: poverty, ecological degradation, self-interested foreign intervention, and religious and cultural intolerance, to name a few.
KAIROS recently launched an Agenda for Just Peace. It calls on leaders in Canada and elsewhere to govern in a spirit of peace and take concrete steps to build true security: to respect human rights, nurture social security and civil liberties, control arms exports, cancel debts, and increase the quantity and quality of foreign aid.
This agenda is rooted in a biblical vision of justice, called for by the prophets, and demonstrated in the life and teachings of Jesus. It is a path not yet fully tried. It will require a fundamental shift in thinking about the foundations of peace.
It can be done.
KAIROS unites churches and religious organizations in a faithful ecumenical response to the call to "do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). We deliberate on issues of common concern, advocate for social change and join with people of faith and goodwill in action for social transformation.