Military Strike Against Iraq

February 10, 1998
The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A OA6
Fax. (613) 941-6900

Dear Prime Minister Chrétien,

The Mennonite Church Canada, a Christian denomination of over 36,000 adult members across the country, is profoundly concerned about the possibility of a military strike against Iraq. We call upon Canada to refrain from providing any military, logistical or moral support to a military attack. We call instead for Canada to use its influence to discourage the United States, Great Britain and other countries from engaging in such an attack. Canadian initiative in the United Nations to debate alternatives to military intervention is needed.

We address this appeal to you based upon the foundation of the historic understanding of our faith, the integrity of our life as citizens of this country and our tradition of obediance to our Lord. Our Confession of Faith, reflecting our tradition, our understanding of faith, and our integrity as citizens, states:

Led by the Spirit, and beginning in the church, we witness to all people that violence is not the will of God. We witness against all forms of violence, including war among nations… (Article 22)

On February 8, 1991, a letter to then Prime Minister Mulroney was signed by Conference leaders which pleaded for Canada’s withdrawal from the Gulf War. At the annual delegate sessions in July 1993, a resolution was passed unanimously affirming our commitment to nonviolence and expressing "dismay to the Government of Canada for its response to the recent bombing of Baghdad by the United States."

We recognize the seriousness of the situation and share the concern that Iraq may be manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. We oppose the possession and use of weapons of mass destruction by any and all countries. Releasing chemical or biological weapons would be an act of war which we absolutely condemn.

In this difficult situation, the diplomatic or creative solution is not always easy to find. We point to Canada’s leadership resulting in the international treaty banning landmines as an excellent example of the potential for diplomacy, not violence, to bring about change. Violence tends to lead to further violence. A military strike on Iraq might well mean the end of UN weapons inspections, increased support for Saddam Hussein in the region, military escalation involving several countries and an undoubtedly heavy loss of life. We know from the Gulf War of 1991 that over 200,000 people were killed and that high civilian casualties must be assumed in a future attack. Canada ought to seize this opportunity to work for peace, rather than support war.

We appreciate the difficulty of these decisions, and assure you of our continuing prayers as you seek to lead Canada to an appropriate response to the US request for support.

Yours sincerely,

cc. Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Art Eggleton, Minister of National Defense
Hon. Jean Charest, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party
Mr. Preston Manning, Leader of the Reform Party
Ms. Alexa McDonough, Leader of the New Democratic Party
Mr. Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Ottawa Office