Open Letter Urges Congress to Take Path of Diplomacy, Not War
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 27, 2015
Contact:
Angela Miller, Win Without War
(608) 354-6269, angela@winwithoutwar.org
Today, over 70 national organizations, representing tens of millions of Americans from across the spectrum of community institutions, are imploring Congress to support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — known as the “Iran deal.” For the first time in recent memory, organizations of all stripes have written to Congress to advance a common message: Support a diplomatic path forward on one of the most pressing foreign policy challenges of our time.
The letter itself urges Members of Congress to vote in favor of the Iran deal and to vote to uphold a Presidential veto, should Congress vote against the agreement.
“The choices are stark and clear – either Congress supports the Iran Deal, or there will be a war,” stated Retired Major General Paul D Eaton, Senior Advisor to VoteVets.org. “We cannot, again, capitulate to the same crowd that said there was no choice but to go to war with Iraq. The best way to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is to support this deal.”
“The Iran nuclear deal shows us that complicated international disagreements can be resolved peacefully and without resorting to war,” said Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches. “I stand with faith leaders from across the country in support of this agreement and I urge Congress to allow its implementation.”
“Whenever we respond to situations of conflict, seeking peace must always be our starting point,” said Jim Wallis, the President and Founder of Sojourners. “We must start with the question, ‘What can we best do to make peace?’ After a careful review of the agreement, I believe that supporting the agreement and praying for its success is the best we can do to make peace.”
The full text of the letter and list of signers is available online here.
###
Letter: 70+ Organizations Urge Congress to Support the JCPOA
August 27, 2015
Dear Members of Congress,
As organizations representing millions of Americans, we urge Congress to support the nuclear agreement recently reached between the United States, our partners in the so-called P5+1, and Iran. Congress is now in the midst of a 60 day review period for the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and is expected to vote on the deal in the coming weeks. We strongly urge you to support this deal.
This historic agreement is a victory for national security, for the American people, and people around the world. This agreement blocks any potential pathway for Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. It accomplishes this not through trust or hope, but through ironclad, verifiable mechanisms, including an unprecedented inspections regime. And importantly, it resolves this pressing national security concern without resorting to military force and another devastating war in the Middle East.
This agreement was carefully negotiated by not just the United States and Iran, but also by the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China. Rejecting a deal agreed to by these leading global powers – and now endorsed by the entire United Nations Security Council – would be a disastrous act of self-sabotage by Congress. It is unthinkable that Congress would decide to eliminate the constraints and verification measures established for Iran’s nuclear program and unravel the multilateral efforts led by the U.S. to resolve the nuclear dispute. Further, rejecting the deal would put the United States and Iran back on the path to war, threatening to further destabilize the entire Middle East.
We strongly support the commendable leadership of the President and his administration, and many members of the House and Senate who have worked to support these negotiations and make this deal possible. We strongly urge all Members of Congress to now fully support this deal and reject any congressional effort to undermine its implementation.
Sincerely,
Adorers of the Blood of Christ
Adrian Dominican Sisters
American Friends Service Committee
American Values Network
Americans for Peace Now
Arab American Institute
Brave New Films
Campaign for America’s Future
CASA
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Center for International Policy
Citizens for Global Solutions
Church World Service
CODEPINK
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Congregation of Notre Dame USA Peace and Justice Office
Council for a Livable World
CREDO
Daily Kos
Demand Progress
Democrats.com
Franciscan Sisters of the Poor JPIC
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Global Exchange
Global Zero
Historians Against the War
Institute for Policy Studies, New Internationalism Project
Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
J Street
Jewish Voice for Peace
Just Foreign Policy
Justice and Peace Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Justice Team – Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Medical Mission Sisters
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
MoveOn.org
NIAC Action
National Council of Churches
National Organization for Women
National Security Network
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
The Network of Spiritual Progressives
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi USA
Peace Action
Peace Action West
People Demanding Action
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Progressive Democrats of America
Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)
The Shalom Center
Sinsinawa Dominicans
Sisters of Charity, BVM
Sisters of the Holy Cross – Congregation Justice Committee
Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary
Society of Helpers – US Province
Sojourners
U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW)
Unitarian Universalist Association
United for Peace and Justice
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
United States Student Association
USAction
Veterans For Peace
VoteVets.org
Win Without War
Women’s Action for New Directions