Inciting Peace

We are against the war. But how do we translate this pro-peace sentiment into viable political action? This is a fundamental question facing the peace movement right now.

Polls indicate that the majority of Americans agree that America is on the wrong tack when it comes to the war in Iraq, and President Bush is now losing support from his own party Peace advocates now have more potent fuel for calling for a complete troop withdrawal from Iraq, but this alternative by itself is not politically viable. People of good conscience feel an obligation to the people of Iraq to do something to help fix their nation as a result of our invasion. What would be the result of a complete troop pull out? Can the majority of Americans support such a move without a real solution to the political and economic instability the country now faces?

Vietnam era Pentagon whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg makes a case for why a pull-out is the first step, and must be demanded. His speech also provides a great comparison between Iraq and Vietnam.

However, even if no grand “Marshall Plan” for peace can be formulated at this time, calls for peace must also be accompanied by specific political action on the part of our leaders. Sojourners, the Christian social justice magazine, is seeking petition signatures to support the Jones-Abercrombie resolution, which calls upon the president to articulate a specific plan for troop withdrawal and a plan to win the peace as soon as possible.

This is at least a first step toward withdrawal that middle-of-the-road Americans might get behind.— Gary