We, concerned Faculty and Staff at Penn, continue to oppose the war on Iraq. This war was unprovoked, unnecessary, unjustified, and unwise. It violated international law. The primary justification for the war (imminent danger from Weapons of Mass Destruction) was without foundation. Prosecuting this war undermined the moral credibility of the United States.
In the fall of 2002, hundreds of us in the Penn Community joined millions worldwide in protesting the impending war in Iraq. Everything we said then was true: Iraq did not pose a threat to its neighbors or to the US and a unilateral invasion would violate international law; Iraq had been decimated by sanctions; UN Weapons Inspectors found no evidence of WMD's; Iraq had no role whatsoever in the attacks on 9/11; a U.S. invasion and occupation would ignite factional conflict in Iraq and not magically lead to peace or democracy in the Middle East. Penn faculty, staff and students continue to express our moral opposition to the occupation of Iraq.
The fall of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime does not undercut principled opposition to either the invasion or the occupation, both of which violate international law and the U.N. charter and have created social chaos and humanitarian crises.
Opposition to this war has created an unprecedented network of peace activists. We will oppose other unnecessary wars; we will oppose the governmental doctrines, policies, and projects that spawn unnecessary war; and we will oppose the curtailment of constitutional and human rights.
If you're not sure what the issues are, check out "60 Reasons to Protest George W. Bush's Planned Invasion of Iraq", the summary of our teach-in, Prof. Robert Vitalis's speech of November 1, 2002, our "Top 10 Reasons to Leave Iraq", and some of the other resources listed below. To keep informed, sign up for our mailing list.
See Roy Eidelson's 9-minute YouTube video, "Resisting the Drums of War". It describes how the Bush administration promoted the misguided and destructive war in Iraq by targeting our core concerns about vulnerability, injustice, distrust, superiority, and helplessness. Looking ahead, the continued occupation of Iraq — or an attack on Iran — will likely be sold to us in much the same way.
1) Since 2003, at least 89,523 Iraqi civilians have been killed.
An accurate count is impossible, because the Administration decided not to keep track of Iraqi casualties. Estimates of citizen casualities range from 89,523 to over 1 million. According to a study published by the British polling group, Opinion Research Business in September of 2007, more than 1,000,000 Iraqi citizens have been killed since the invasion in 2003. A previous study published in the Lancet in October 2006, estimated the number as 654,965. The study ("The Human Cost of the War in Iraq A Mortality Study, 2002-2006" from MIT Center for International Studies) concludes that "approximately 600,000 people have died violently above the normal mortality rate. Including non-violent deaths that are nevertheless linked to the war, the total is estimated to be more than 650,000."
See also Iraq Body Count and Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
2) Since 2003, at least 4,207 US soldiers have been killed; over 30,826 injured.
The figures are current as of November 28, 2008. See Iraq Coalition Casualty Count
3) Since 2003, over 8,760 Iraqi soldiers and police officers have been killed.
See Iraq Coalition Casualty Count: Iraqi Deaths
4) 50% of Iraqi children suffer from some form of malnourishment and 1 child in 10 is also suffering from chronic disease or illness.
See "Iraq -- Middle East: Street children face hunger and abuse", UN Integrated Regional Information Network, 26 December 2005; and "News Digest" MEED: Middle East Economic Digest April 1, 2005, Vol. 49 Issue 13, p3-3, 1/2p
5) Iraq's cancer and birth defects rates have skyrocketed since the invasion.
See "After the War Comes Cancer", Deutsche Welle, March 9, 2005.
6) Over 30% of returning US soldiers need mental health treatment.
See "One Third Of Iraq Veterans With Mental Health Problems", Medical News Today, March 1, 2006.
7) 72% of all returning solders want the US out of Iraq.
See LeMoyne College/Zogby Poll, summarized in "U.S. Troops in Iraq: 72% Say End War in 2006", Zogby International, Feb. 28, 2006.
8) 85% of Iraqis want the US out of Iraq.
See "WPO Poll: Iraqi Public Wants Timetable for US Withdrawal, But Thinks US Plans Permanent Bases in Iraq", World Public Opinion, Jan. 31, 2006.
For a more recent poll, see "Poll: Most Iraqis favor U.S. pullout in a year", CNN, Sept. 27, 20069) The Bush administration lied repeatedly before, during and after the war.
See, for example, the most recent revelation of duplicity: "Lacking Biolabs, Trailers Carried Case for War: Administration Pushed Notion of Banned Iraqi Weapons Despite Evidence to Contrary", Washington Post, April 12, 2006.
10) Over 3,000 tons of depleted uranium have been fired on Iraq. DU will cause cancer and birth defects for centuries.
See "Iraq Veterans Poisoned by Depleted Uranium", Ecologist, Oct. 2005, Vol. 35 Issue 8, p 9-9, 3/8p, 1c; "In Fact... Depleted Uranium Toll in Iraq", The Nation; Aug. 1, 2005, Vol. 281 Issue 4, p 10-10, 1/2p; and "Before the Dust Settles," New Scientist, April 19, 2003, Vol. 178 Issue 2391, p3, 1/2p. Cf. State to study depleted uranium: Battlefield residue from U.S. weapons spurs cancer fears, The Olympian, March 15, 2006.
See also the AFSC's "10 Reasons Why the US Must Leave Iraq".
The current cost of the Iraq war is: (JavaScript Error).
For more details, see Cost of War from nationalpriorities.org.
Visit alternative sources of news and commentary to find out what's happening. To keep informed on the local level, sign up for the Penn-FSAWI mailing list (tinyurl.com/ghjwr). (The same link can be used to unsubscribe. Tell your colleagues to come to this page to join our mailing list.)
Speak out! Let people know you don't support unilateral wars of aggression. Write indignant letters to the media and to our legislative representatives. Vote.
Join one of the local or national groups that work to prevent imperial adventures in the future.