February 26, 2003
The Honorable George W. Bush
President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Re:
War in Iraq
Dear President Bush:
The
undersigned national environmental organizations wish to request a meeting with
you concerning the possible war with Iraq.
We would like to discuss the public health and environmental
ramifications of such a war. Some of
the undersigned organizations have special expertise on this subject. One has recently carried out public health
inspections in Iraq and issued authoritative studies on the humanitarian,
medical, and environmental situation in Iraq.
Others sent scientific missions to the Persian Gulf in 1991 following
the Gulf War and have special expertise on the environmental consequences of
that war.
We are particularly concerned that some of
the catastrophic pollution unleashed on the people of the Middle East and the
ecosystems supporting them might be repeated should there be a war with
Iraq. The Gulf War of 1991 resulted in
the largest oil spills ever on the land, on the sea, and in the air. The massive air pollution from over 600
burning oil wells spread oily air pollution as far away as India.
Evidence from the first Gulf War indicates
that a far higher percentage of veterans had government-doctor certified health
problems (28%) than in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
There are many health and environmental
impacts that must clearly be examined. A war could result in the devastation of
non-combatants and the land and water resources on which they depend on for
survival. We would like to discuss
these crucial matters with you.
Sincerely,
Brent Blackwelder Dr. Robert K. Musil
President Executive
Director
Friends of the Earth U.S. Physicians for Social Responsibility
John Passacantando Randall Hayes
Executive Director President
Greenpeace USA Rainforest Action
Network
John A. Knox
David Phillips
Executive Directors
Earth Island Institute