The following 10 points were put forth by Jim Wallis shortly after the war with Iraq began and are included in his book, God's Politics, on pages 120-123. If these things make you mad because you think Bush is infallible then I recommend you read the whole book. If you are still mad for the same reason, I suggest you read the Gospels--pay special attention to the red parts. If you will read them with an open mind you will see that they have proven to be quite prophetic.
1. Nobody should be surprised that a vastly superior American fighting force will vanquish a vastly inferior Iraqi army. But one of America's worst characteristics is hoping that success wipes away all the moral questions. In the long run, it won't. War is always ugly, and this one was too.
2. There are many more civilian casualties in modern warfare than military casualties. Smart bombs are never as perfect as boasted, and not all Iraqis may want to be "liberated" by an American occupation. Above all, we must remember that "collateral damage" is never collateral to the families and loved ones of those killed in war. Don't accept the first reports on casualties from governments (on either side) or "embedded" journalists--many of whom now sound more like cheerleaders than reporters. Be sure that technology does not ultimately usurp theology or morality. Find alternative sources for information. Watch and wait for the real story.
3. Humanitarian aid must never be co-opted by the military. Instead it is the painful task to be taken on after the destruction caused by war. Many predict that the aftermath of this war could be far more dangerous and costly, in human terms, than the military campaign. Listen to the non-governmental relief organizations as we move forward.
4. If an evil, dangerous and unpopular regime does collapse quickly, that is not an endorsement of war as the answer, but a sign that a better way to resolve the threat might well have been possible. The best wisdom of most church leaders, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and a majority of international political figures and diplomats around the world was that alternatives to a full-scale military assault on Iraq were not adequately tested. This was not a war of last resort.
5. A preemptive war of choice, rather than of necessity, fought against over-whelming world opinion and without approval by the United Nations, will not create an atmosphere of cooperation for postwar reconstruction or, most significantly, for the crucial international collaboration needed to defeat the real threats of terrorism.
6. A new world order based on unilateral rather than multilateral action, military power rather than international law, and the sole decisions of the world's last remaining superpower over the deliberations of the community of nations will not create a framework the world can or should trust for peace.
7. Unresolved injustice--such as the Israeli-Pakistanian conflict, feudal Arab regimes protected by oil and globalization policies that systematically give advantage to wealthy nations over poor countries and people--remains a root cause of violence and will not be overcome by the imposition of American military superiority.
8. Dissent in a time of war is not only Christian, it is also patriotic. A long and honorable record of opposition to war in church tradition and American history puts dissent in the mainstream of Christian life and American citizenship. Rather than acquiesce to war, prayerful and thoughtful dissent is more important than ever.
9. The churches have demonstrated the most remarkable unity in our history in opposition to war, even before the war with Iraq started. The American churches didn't just say not to war, but offered compelling and credible alternatives. These alternatives were seriously considered by many political leaders around the world, but not by our own government. An American president who increasingly uses the language of Christian faith refused even to meet with American church leaders for discussion and prayer as he made momentous decisions to go to war. The American churches are now in deep solidarity with the worldwide body of Christ and may have to choose between their Christian alliances and the demands and policies of their own government. We must learn to be Christians first and Americans second.
10. The onset of war with Iraq does not demonstrate the failure of the peace movement, but rather the failure of democracy. Tens of millions of people around the world have become engaged in active citizenship against the policies of preemptive war for resolving the greatest threats to peace and security. It is time to build on that movement, rather than withdraw from collective action. We must learn the differences between grief and despair, between lamenting and languishing, between hope and hostility. We are stronger now, not weaker. Our action has just begun.
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