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What should peacemakers be doing?

by Carol Wolman, April 14, 2004

Dear Friends,

The US is committing very evil deeds in Iraq. The current atrocities are but the latest in a long litany of assaults on this ancient, proud people, who have the misfortune of living on top of a much coveted asset.

The CIA inflicted Saddam Hussein upon the Iraqi people in the 80's, and the Nixon government, Rumsfeld in particular, supported him in full knowledge of his gassing of the Kurds. When Saddam asserted his independence, he was seduced into invading Kuwait, then brutally crushed. Iraq was dusted with uranium powder, and then treated to 10 years of cruel sanctions.

Last year, under false pretenses, the US again invaded Iraq, this time occupying it and expropriating its assets. Another uranium dusting, ten times worse, will be bearing strange fruit forever. While preaching democracy, the US has filled the prisons, rigged the ruling council, and wrapped villages in barbed wire. When Bremer closed down a newspaper, it was the last straw.

Now we are witnessing a bloodbath, massive retaliation by US military personnel against Iraqi civilians. Eyewitnesses are telling us that ambulances are fired upon, unarmed children are shot in the back, pictures of Grand Ayatollah Sistani and holy Qu'rans are being shredded by soldiers with the stars and stripes on their sleeves. They are poised to slaughter the publisher and cleric, al-Sadr, who has become the Iraqi people's hero, unifying Shia and Sunni against the foreign oppressor. Vietnam will look like a picnic by comparison.

What has America become? All the commandments are being broken here- coveting one's neighbor's oil, bearing false witness against Saddam- he truly had no WMD's, killing innocents with abandon, stealing oil, land, and honor. Above all, God's name is being taken in vain, as all these sins are being committed by a man who claims that God apppointed him to lead America, and told him to invade Iraq.

We peacemakers have received God's blessing. His commandments, and His word "Love your neighbor as yourself" must be our guide.

Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Psalm 105: 4
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/041404.htm

Ephesians 6: 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We each have a job to do. Some people will go to Iraq. Some will circulate reports on conditions there, so that the world will know the truth, to counter the propaganda of the American press. Some will lobby. Some will look to Kerry for leadership. Others will continue to support Kucinich. We need to fulfill God's plan to bring about peace on earth through us, the peacemakers, and must pray to be shown our individual tasks.

In the name of the Prince of Peace, Carol Wolman