Dear Senator:

As citizen groups from around the country, we join together to urge you to co-sponsor S. Resolution 32, initially introduced by Senators Robert Byrd and Edward Kennedy.

This resolution calls on the president to support the UN weapons inspectors in their disarmament work, and it urges him to obtain approval by Congress of new legislation authorizing the use of force in Iraq.

The Constitution explicitly charges the Congress (Article I, Section 8) with responsibility for declaring war. Before the United States proceeds to commence a war, the Congress must affirmatively exercise its constitutional duty and choose whether or not to declare war.

In October, Congress passed the legislation that President Bush signed into law as Public Law 107-243. PL 107-243 authorized the President to use military force, if necessary, to defend the United States from the threat posed by Iraq. However, that legislation was a delegation of war-making authority, not a Congressional declaration of war, as is constitutionally required.

As importantly, conditions have changed since last Fall, making it imperative that Congress reconsider the use of force. It is now clear that Iraq, though ruled by a brutal dictator, poses no realistic threat to the United States, and, as many former military and intelligence officials have elaborated, that war with Iraq will serve to lessen, not enhance, U.S. security. Congress should act so that its earlier, conditional authorization of force is not misapplied in a situation where there is no threat to the United States.

With the UN inspections well underway, and some significant though not sufficient cooperation by Iraq, there is no evidence that Iraq possesses nuclear weapons or is anywhere near that capability.

There is no evidence nor reason to believe that Iraq has any method of delivering chemical and biological weapons against the United States, or any intent to do so.

With many months to have garnered such information, the Administration has not provided compelling evidence to suggest meaningful links between Iraq and al-Qaeda -- which have been at odds with one another.

Although Iraq poses no threat to the United States, the launch of a war would endanger our nation. The CIA has concluded that while Iraq currently poses no terrorist threat against the United States, that a U.S. invasion would change the equation. Notably, if in fact Iraq does retain a chemical and biological warfare capacity, the CIA assesses that it would be a U.S. attack that would most likely spur Iraq to use such weaponry in terrorist actions against the United States. "Baghdad for now appears to be drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks with conventional or CBW [Chemical & Biological Weapons] against the United States," CIA Director George Tenet wrote in an October letter to Congress. "Should Saddam conclude that a U.S.-led attack could no longer be deterred, he probably would become much less constrained in adopting terrorist actions."

Similarly, a U.S. war with Iraq may serve as an inspiration for terrorist groups to launch new attacks on the United States, and a recruiting vehicle for terrorist organizations. These concerns are particularly sharp in light of new al-Qaeda activity in the time since passage of PL 107-243.

We certainly hope that terrorist threats from a cornered Iraqi regime or an inspired al-Qaeda, or others, are not realized. But these threats truly imperil homeland security.

Finally, we note the near-certainty that a war against Iraq will kill thousands of Iraqi civilians -- and likely many more. This, for a so-called preventative war against a nation that poses no risk to our security, in an operation that would make the nation less secure.

We want no part of such a war.

S. Resolution 32 would enable you to stop the administration's dangerous rush to war and support the UN inspection process to disarm Iraq.

Whatever your perspective on the use of military force, however, we urge you to co-sponsor S. Resolution 32.

It is most important to respect our constitutional allocation of responsibilities at the time of the nation's gravest decisions, and when it seems convenient to surrender them. Before the United States commences a war against Iraq, it is Congress's constitutional duty to deliberate and vote on a declaration of war. S. Resolution 32 would enable you to fulfill this solemn obligation established by the framers of the Constitution.

Sincerely,

Greenpeace
National Organization for Women (NOW)
Veterans Against the Iraq War
Veterans for Peace
Peace Action
The Alliance for Democracy
Global Exchange
War Resisters League
Code Pink
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Democracy Rising
Rainbow Push Coalition
Iraq Pledge of Resistance
Black Voices for Peace
Citizen Works
Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee
Essential Action
Americans for Social Justice
Citizens Nuclear Disarmament Caucus
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Call to Action New England (CTA New England)
US Peace Council
New Yorkers Say No to War
Educators for Social Responsibility
Washington Peace Center
People of Hope
Peace and Justice Task Force, Rocky Mountain Conference, United Church of Christ
Women Against War
San Mateo County LULAC (Chapter 3068)
Promoting Enduring Peace
Worcester Peace Works
Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment
Citizens for Participation in Political Action (CPPAX)
Psychologists for Social Responsibility
IWAC (International Women's Anthropology Conference)