To the Editor:

Stop the war with Iraq before it starts.  The corporate media and
government propaganda drums are beating loud and clear: war with Iraq is
coming, war with Iraq is inevitable.  War with Iraq is not inevitable,
and all citizens of good conscience must take a stand and say, ³No, no
more war, not in my name!²

No justification exists for war with Iraq.  The country has not attacked
or threatened the United States.  According to international law, one
country can attack another only when it is under attack or about to be
under attack.  President Bushıs claim that Iraq harbors weapons of mass
destruction is not true.  Former UNSCOM member and U.S. marine, Scott
Ritter, has reported that UNSCOM inspectors successfully eradicated
Iraqıs weapons of mass destruction.  Even if such weapons did exist,
they could be effectively contained as they have been for the last ten
years.

An invasion and war with Iraq would set a terrible precedent of
preemptive attack that violates the charter of the United Nations and
destroys the core of international law.  The Bush doctrine of preemption
is nothing more than imperial arrogance ­ a signal to the world that the
United States is above the law.  War is easy, peace is hard.  An early
twentieth century humorist once wrote, ³The less a statesman amounts to,
the more he loves the flag.²  Donıt let our flag fly for an illegal and
immoral war.

The war is not an action in defense of freedom and democracy.  A great
deal of evidence exists to support the argument that this will be a war
to secure multinational corporate control over oil resources in the
Middle East and Asia.  The United States currently supports numerous
repressive dictatorships and authoritarian regimes with little concern
for the negative consequences for democracy and human rights.  Are we to
assume we will soon invade all those countries?

As citizens of a democracy, we have an obligation to remain informed and
to hold our elected representatives accountable for their actions.  Not
one innocent Iraqi child must die for this criminal war against Iraq. 
Join your fellow citizens for an organizational meeting of the Citizens
Opposed to War with Iraq, Wednesday, August 21, at 7pm in the Shiras
Room of the Peter White Public Library.

No more war!

Marcus C. Robyns 
Coordinator, Citizens Opposed to War with Iraq 
436Stone Quarry Dr 
Marquette, MI 49855 
226-1926