THE PETITON LETTER
TO: President Bush
SUBJECT: Artists Say Win Without War
__________
War talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary.
We are patriotic Americans who share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous UN weapons inspections to assure Iraq's effective disarmament.
However, a pre-emptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests . Such a war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world. It will make us less, not more, secure.
We reject the doctrine--a reversal of long-held American tradition--that our country, alone, has the right to launch first-strike attacks.
The valid U.S. and UN objective of disarming Saddam Hussein can be achieved through legal diplomatic means. There is no need for war. Let us instead devote our resources to improving the security and well-being of people here at home and around the world.
Signed,
Artists for Winning Without War
| Mike Farrell, Co-Chair Robert Greenwald, Co-Chair Gillian Anderson Edward Asner Rene Auberjonois David Bale Kim Basinger Ed Begley, Jr. Theo Bikel Barbara Bosson Jackson Browne Peter Buck (REM) Diahann Carroll Eugene J. Carroll, Jr., Rear Adm. U.S. Navy (Ret.) Kathleen Chalfant Don Cheadle Jill Clayburgh David Clennon Jack Coleman Peter Coyote Lindsay Crouse Suzanne Cryer Matt Damon Dana Daurey Ambassador Jonathan Dean (U.S. Rep. to NATO Warsaw Pact) Vincent D’Onofrio David Duchovny Olympia Dukakis Charles S. Dutton Hector Elizondo Cary Elwes Shelley Fabares Mike Farrell Mia Farrow Laurence Fishburne Sean Patrick Flanery |
Bonnie Franklin John Fugelsang Jeananne Garafalo Larry Gelbart Melissa Gilbert Danny Glover Elliott Gould Samaria Graham Robert Greenwald Robert Guillaume Paul Haggis Robert David Hall Ethan Hawke Ken Howard Helen Hunt Anjelica Huston LaTanya Richardson Jackson Samuel L. Jackson Jane Kaczmarek Melina Kanakaredes Casey Kasem Mimi Kennedy Jessica Lange Tea Leoni Wendie Malick Camryn Manheim Marsha Mason Richard Masur Dave Matthews Kent McCord Robert Duncan McNeill Mike Mills (REM) Janel Moloney Esai Morales Ed O’Neill Chris Noth Peter Onorati Alexandra Paul |
Ambassador Edward Peck (former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq) Seth Peterson CCH Pounder David Rabe Alan Rachins Bonnie Raitt Carl Reiner Tim Robbins Steve Robinson, Sgt., U.S. Army (Ret.) Mitch Ryan Susan Sarandon Tony Shalhoub Jack Shanahan, Vice Adm. U.S. Navy (Ret.) William Schallert Martin Sheen Armin Shimerman Gloria Steinem Marcia Strassman Michael Stipe (REM) Susan Sullivan Loretta Swit Studs Terkel Lily Tomlin Blair Underwood Dennis Weaver Bradley Whitford James Whitmore James Whitmore, Jr. Alfre Woodard Noah Wyle Peter Yarrow Howard Zinn |