The following statement was issued to the press just prior to the action outside the White House on September 21, 2006.
For three and half years the US occupation of Iraq has wreaked havoc and death upon our sisters and brothers, leading to disintegration and now nearly 3000 civilian deaths each month. This sinful war, prosecuted on a foundation of lies and manipulations, has taken the lives and limbs of thousands of US soldiers and rendered our nation a pariah in the international community. This must end and it must end now.
Today I join with other leaders in the quest for peace with justice as we attempt to deliver an unequivocal message to President George Bush—Bring the Troops Home Now and Leave No Bases Behind!
The violence in Iraq continues without any sign of hope despite the distorted assessments and outright deceptions that continually flow from this Administration. Even as the violence grows, the Bush Administration moves inexorably forward with construction of large scale permanent military bases in Iraq, clearly indicating that the US intends to remain in control of that nation, its people and particularly its rich resources for decades to come. We reject this colonization of Iraq and we reject any claim that a long-term US military presence will offer anything but more of the same death, destruction, dehumanization and domination that the presence of US forces have resulted in to date.
As a person of faith and a follower of the Nonviolent Christ, I am compelled to offer my humble witness against the sinfulness of this war. Sadly, the time has come to place ourselves at risk of arrest and imprisonment. Pax Christi USA has a long history of support for and participation in, civil resistance to evil. Today I will offer my witness against this evil being prosecuted in our names and in doing so, make clear that I stand outside that circle of deceit, rejecting its underlining assumption that violence can bring anything other than more violence.
