> Chère famille et chers amis, > > Mes cousins d'Amérique m'ont transmis une lettre ouverte au président des > Etats-Unis qui émane de la faculté de théologie de l'Université Drew > (Madison New-Jersey). L'argumentation me paraît très solide. > Je vous la transmets à mon tour. > Avec mes affectueuses ou amicales pensées, > > Edgar S. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael Nausner" > To: "Nausner Helmut" ; "Bessin Rolf & Mireille" > > Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 9:09 AM > Subject: Open Letter from Drew Theological School Faculty > > > > February 14, 2003 > > > > President George W. Bush > > The White House > > Washington, DC 20510 > > > > > > Dear Mr. President: > > > > Only rarely do we, the Faculty of the Theological School of Drew > > University, make a collective > > statement about a public issue. In the past we have spoken out about > > the Selma March, the > > bombing of Cambodia, disinvestment to oppose apartheid in South Africa, > > and September 11. Once > > again we are moved to speak, this time about the threat of the United > > States starting a war > > against Iraq. > > > > You and your administration have talked openly about attacking Iraq for > > over a year. We have > > listened to the speeches and read the documents. You have not persuaded > > us that making war is > > the proper course of action. And we are not alone. Opposition to the > > war is growing. > > > > We join with our colleagues at the Candler School of Theology of Emory > > University, who wrote > > to you last October challenging your war policy because it goes against > > international > > conventions, the just war tradition, and our own best values. > > Specifically, they reject (1) > > the use of military force unless in response to attack; (2) an attack > > which will surely kill > > and injure many non-combatants; (3) the use of force to remove leaders > > of other nations; and > > (4) the doctrine of pre-emptive first strike. > > > > Policies such as these may seem attractive and plausible at this time > > when the US momentarily > > has overwhelming military superiority. But they can turn against us, > > and history shows that > > they will. The dangers of your policies escalate when you invoke God > > and theological language > > in their support. As persons of faith we firmly reject the claim that > > the United States is > > specially favored among the nations. God is the God of all people. > > > > Now it is February, not October. You have brought us to the very brink > > of war. We implore you > > to step back and reconsider. We have seen twelve years of unrelenting > > pressure on President Saddam Hussein through embargo, isolation, and > > inspections. He has not launched an attack during those twelve years. > > We make no defense of him, but we question whether he is as dangerous as > > you have claimed. On the other hand, if he is even close to how you see > > him, is it wise to attack him and provoke him into acting his worst? Do > > we want to give him an excuse for doing the worst that you have > > imagined? > > > > Together, we face many serious problems: terrorism, environmental > > degradation, economic > > disparity, lack of universal good health care and education, to name > > only a few. Let us use > > our minds, hearts, and resources to tackle those problems and build > > rather than destroy. > > > > A war on Iraq is not the right target, not the right time, nor by the > > right means. We pray > > that you will find the courage and wisdom to keep us from a terrible > > catastrophe. > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > > > > Maxine Clarke Beach > > Vice President and Dean of the Theological School > > (For the Faculty)