January 12, 2007

Representative Maurice Hinchey
2431 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: (202) 226-077

 

We, the members and supporters of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, would like to express our strong support for your opposition to the plans for escalating the Iraq war recently announced by President Bush.   We are a diverse group of interfaith and secular members who support strong progressive moral values in our Hudson Valley communities and in our country.   We believe that responding to the increasing crisis in Iraq by sending in even more troops and escalating the violence is both a strategic error and a moral travesty.

We support the view that the only practical and ethical course for peace and stability in Iraq is through diplomacy.  This means supporting intense negotiation efforts with all  groups within Iraq involved in that country’s internal conflicts, as well as with neighboring countries including Iran and Syria. 

Further, we support a substantial increase in peaceful foreign aid efforts in the region aimed at reducing poverty and despair, encouraging the growth of democratic institutions, and increasing the level of education in the general population.   Ultimately this is the only real way to reduce the long term appeal of militant terrorism. 

And finally we urge you and your fellow members of Congress, in the strongest terms possible, to take effective steps to prevent a further escalation of the military conflicts to Iran and Syria.  This would truly be a disaster of unimaginable proportions for the region with serious consequences for stability effecting the rest of the world.   Please make sure that under no circumstances can funding for the effort in Iraq be used for military operations against Iran and Syria.  Further, please help make it abundantly clear that past authorizations on the use of force in Iraq do not, under any circumstances, authorize the use of force against countries other than Iraq, and that violating such limitations this will be considered an impeachable offense.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can help in any way with additional expressions of support.

Michael Ignatowski     &     David Belden

 
Local chapter Web site:            www.spiritualprogressiveshv.org
National Web site:                    www.spiritualprogressives.org
Contact email:                           info@spiritualprogressiveshv.org