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Marlon Millner had authored a letter to the President from a Pentecostal perspective requesting that the USA not invade Iraq. You can also read the story about what motivated Marlon.
Here is the letter of support for the war from the National Association of Evangelicals.
Letter of Support for the Democracy to President Bush
February 25, 2003
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write because we share the view that it is essential to bring
Saddam Hussein's dictatorship in Iraq to an early end. Broad and
bi-partisan support at home -- not simply passive assent -- must be
sought for this objective. It is a deeply serious undertaking, with
great risks, heavy costs and long-lasting responsibilities. Steps are
also needed to respond to misconceptions abroad about the underlying
causes of this conflict and your purposes that feed an ugly
anti-Americanism. We must act alone if that proves necessary, but first
we must do all we can to win allies.
We believe you can now alter the course of this debate by
making a clear and specific statement about your plans for helping to
lay a foundation for representative government, freedom of speech,
human rights and the rule of law in Iraq. Time and again, the
commitment to human rights and democracy has been the saving grace of
American foreign policy.
The legal and procedural issues now before the United Nations
are immensely important. The threat Iraq and its weapons pose to us and
to others is truly grave. But attention to these matters must not allow
us to lose sight of the vast and continuing cruelty of Saddam Hussein's
rule, or the possibilities that will be created by his departure.
Inadequate concern for the plight of the people of Iraq and for their
future has diminished debate about Iraq here and, even more so, abroad.
Many here and abroad who question the wisdom of going to war
nevertheless acknowledge that the Iraqi dictator is among the most
oppressive and vicious rulers of our time. A Special Rapporteur for the
United Nations Human Rights Commission has described his abuses as "the
worst since World War II." For many years Freedom House has rated
Saddam Hussein's regime as among "the worst of the worst" violators of
political and civil rights, and Human Rights Watch has called for his
trial for crimes against humanity. After the Balkan catastrophes, it is
widely acknowledged that war criminals should not be granted the
immunities traditionally enjoyed by heads of sovereign states.
Many in your Administration are clearly committed to helping
establish democracy in Iraq. But some at times have questioned the
value of such "nation building," have shown reluctance to make
far-reaching international commitments, or have been hesitant about
steps that may unsettle traditional allies. So far, your
Administration's plans for American political and humanitarian
assistance to post-war Iraq leave some significant uncertainties. The
budget just passed by Congress includes little money for the
substantial reconstruction effort that will almost surely be needed.
Nor is it likely that such costs will be paid unless those asked to
shoulder them can see that they are fairly shared.
There are those who fear that "regime change" in Iraq may not
mean that a new regime will necessarily be a free and democratic one.
There are those who fear that once we have satisfied our own security
concerns, we will become indifferent to the security needs of those in
Iraq and elsewhere in the region who have helped us. You can challenge
these doubts and appeal to those who abhor Saddam Hussein by announcing
a plan to help establish freedom and democratic self-government in
Iraq.
In our view, such a strategy should commit the United States to:
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Maintaining substantial U.S. military forces in Iraq for as
long as may be required to ensure a stable, representative regime is in
place and functioning.
Insisting that genuine democracy must be based on the free
choice of all Iraqis who reside in the country. During a transition
period, U.S. military authority and the efforts of pro-democracy Iraqis
should be supplemented by the presence of monitors and technical
experts drawn from societies that have been through the difficulties of
change from authoritarian to democratic rule, especially those who are
adherents of Islam.
Insisting that democracy must be much more than the election
of a government. It will require guarantees of civil and political
rights, freedom of the media, freedom of religion, the impartial
administration of justice, and the other bedrock practices and
institutions of democratic governance. It will require the development
of institutions of civil society as well as those of politics and
government.
Recognizing the legitimate concerns of distinct ethnic and
religious groups within Iraq, and assisting in the creation of a
federal system that sustains Iraq's integrity while permitting latitude
for local administration.
Guaranteeing that Iraq's oil wealth will be used for the
benefit of the Iraqi people, and explaining how this will be
accomplished.
Assuring that adequate resources will be available for this
undertaking, even if many among our traditional allies shirk their
responsibilities.
We believe that a significant body of opinion can be persuaded of
the view argued by Prime Minister Tony Blair: "Ridding the world of
Saddam would be an act of humanity." A clear statement of your plan for
supporting democracy and human rights in Iraq and elsewhere in the
Middle East will help us all reach out to those who are open to this
truth.
Sincerely,
Bernard Aronson, Former Assistant Secretary of State
Ronald Asmus, German Marshall Fund of the United States
Robert Benne, Roanoke College Center for Religion and Democracy
Hyman Bookbinder
J. Budziszewski, Professor, Government and Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin
Bruce Chapman, President, Discovery Institute; Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Organizations, Vienna
Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals
Joie Delugah, Volunteer Long Term Care Ombudsman, State of California
Thomas R. Donahue
Charles H. Fairbanks, Jr. Director, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University
Mark Falcoff, American Enterprise Institute
John J. Flynn, President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, AFL-CIO
David Forte, Professor of Law, Cleveland State University
Hillel Fradkin, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Deborah A. Harding
Nat Hentoff, Columnist, Village Voice, Washington Times
Allen Hertzke, Presidential Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Oklahoma
Rachelle Horowitz, Former Political Action Director, American Federation of Teachers
Bruce P. Jackson, President, Program on Transitional Democracies
Robert Kagan, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Max M. Kampelman
Adrian Karatnycky
Penn Kemble, Social Democrats, USA
Irena Kirkland
Diane Knippers, President, Institute on Religion and Democracy
Robert S. Leiken, The Nixon Center
Sarah Lohmann, Fulbright Scholar
Herbert Magidson, Vice President, American Federation of Teachers
Will Marshall, President, Progressive Policy Institute
Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow, Freedom House
Clifford D. May, President, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
Gerald R. McDermott, Professor of Religion, Roanoke College
Faith McDonnell, Religious Liberty Program Director, Institute on Religion and Democracy
Constantine Menges, Hudson Institute; former Special Assistant for National Security Affairs to President Reagan
Joshua Muravchik, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
David Novak, J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair of Jewish Studies, University of Toronto
Michael Novak, George Frederick Jewett Scholar in Religion, Philosophy and Public Policy, American Enterprise Institute
James Nuechterlein, Editor, First Things
Thomas Oden, Professor of Theology and Ethics, Drew University
Mark Palmer, Former United States Ambassador to Hungary
Martin Peretz, Editor-in-Chief, The New Republic
Juliana Geran Pilon, Institute of World Politics
Diane Ravitch, New York University
Richard Schifter, Former Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights
Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Freedom House
Fred Siegel, Senior Fellow, Progressive Policy Institute; Professor, Cooper Union for Science and Art
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Editor-in-Chief, American Spectator; Adjunct Fellow, Hudson Institute
Ben Wattenberg, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
The Very Rev. George L.W. Werner, President, House of Deputies, The Episcopal Church, U.S.A.
Leon Wieseltier, Literary Editor, The New Republic
Jennifer Windsor
Morely Winograd
R. James Woolsey, Former Director of Central Intelligence
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