Church Leaders Propose Antiwar Plan

Washington Post ^ | 3/8/03

[areafiftyone]

The Episcopal bishop of Washington and national leaders of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches yesterday proposed a six-point plan "to defeat Saddam Hussein without war."

In a significant shift for the religious antiwar movement, the church leaders said they feared that a U.S. invasion of Iraq was imminent and that the only way to stop it was to put forward concrete alternatives.

"We're not just saying 'No' to war. We're not just saying, 'Do nothing.' We're saying, 'Here's a third way,' " said Jim Wallis, editor of the evangelical journal Sojourners and a member of the group.

In recent weeks, many antiwar protesters have called for intensified U.N. weapons inspections rather than military force to disarm Iraq. But the religious leaders' plan goes further. It advocates Hussein's removal, putting leading figures in the antiwar movement on record in favor of many of the Bush administration's policy goals, if not its methods.

The first point in the group's plan is establishing a U.N. tribunal to indict Hussein for crimes against humanity, with the aim of removing the Iraqi president and his Baath Party from power.

[Polybius]

The first point in the group's plan is establishing a U.N. tribunal to indict Hussein for crimes against humanity, with the aim of removing the Iraqi president and his Baath Party from power...

And they will accomplish this without military force......How?

[Numbers Guy]

And they will accomplish this without military force......How?

They'll ask very nicely. Then they'll send a subpoena. After that they'll unleash Johnnie Cochran on him.

[concerned about politics]

But the religious leaders' plan goes further. It advocates Hussein's removal

DUH! Gee, why didn't anyone else think of that?
They should stick to their Sunday jobs, and leave national security to Bush.

[Southack]

"The first point in the group's plan is establishing a U.N. tribunal to indict Hussein for crimes against humanity, with the aim of removing the Iraqi president and his Baath Party from power."

Nice try, but it is still going to take force to carry out such an indictment...

[Gordian Blade]

If GW Bush accepts their plan, can he write their sermons for them for the next year?

[nmh]

What a sad day ... First you have the pope calling this an immoral war, now you have these other ignorant people saying almost the same thing. Have ANY of the people knowledge of the Bible? God doesn't have a problem fighting evil through war. It's ALL over the Bible! Evil is often defeaqted through war. This is just another scenario when evil needs to be defeated through war.

I suppose they do not tolerate sound doctrine either. Churches are falling away ... left and right ... .

[stands2reason]

Wallis acknowledged that the plan does not explain how Hussein is to be removed from power. "When [Yugoslav President Slobodan] Milosevic was indicted for war crimes, we didn't know how he would be removed, either," he said.

Oooooo-kay....

[freepersup]

Wallis acknowledged that the plan does not explain how Hussein is to be removed from power. "When [Yugoslav President Slobodan] Milosevic was indicted for war crimes, we didn't know how he would be removed, either," he said.

Here's an idea: Have a cup of shut the **** up.

All of you pious (hypocrites) take care of your churches... and the President will take care of our nation's defense, which IS by the way, part of HIS job description, not any of yours.

[areafiftyone]

Oh they assume Saddam will happily offer himself up to the local authorities - Idiots!

[stands2reason]

I have a plan:

1. Become rich.

2. Retire wealthy.

Sounds good, huh? I'm not quite sure how I'm going to accomplish point one, but hey, that's not important right now.

[nmh]

"If GW Bush accepts their plan, can he write their sermons for them for the next year?"

GWB will need those sermons as we ecpereeince more terrorism and chose to do nothing. These people want to KILL us. Sadaam Insane is a pathological liar. Tweleve years he lied ... oh what's the point, you already know the reasons WHY we must go to war. These "religious leaders" refuse to use their God given brain or pay attention to the Word of God. They disgust me.

[nmh]

This kind of crap give credence to the saying that you need to "park your brain at the door as you go to church."

Excuse my french but these "religious leaders" have *hit for brains.

[xzins]

The other five points in the plan: "coercive disarmament" through more aggressive U.N. weapons inspections; planning for a post-Hussein government run temporarily by the United Nations rather than by the U.S military; immediate humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people, with U.N. forces protecting deliveries; recommitment to a "roadmap" for establishing a Palestinian state by 2005; and reinvigorating the U.S.-led campaign against al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. ..... Wallis acknowledged that the plan does not explain how Hussein is to be removed from power. "When [Yugoslav President Slobodan] Milosevic was indicted for war crimes, we didn't know how he would be removed, either," he said.

This is midway between farce and folly.....they simply cannot be serious, right? It is so astoundingly, intellectually inadequate that one can only be sad that such ignorant people actually have a voice at ANY level.

They want a "coercive disarmament" but don't have any idea who the "coercive force" will be.

This is not pacifist at all and is so stupidly hypocritical that you can only wonder why these folks hate their own country so much.

Saddam did NOTHING until the US and Britain but 250,000 troops on his borders. From the above, you can see they recognize that, but are ideologically unable to admit it.

[Interesting Times]

Once again, enforcement would seem to be a bit of a problem.

Interesting that these leftist church leaders don't care if Saddam goes or stays, as long as the U.N. is calling the shots instead of the Great Satan.

[pollywog]

You are SO RIGHT nmh!!! From Genesis to Revelation!! They do not have any knowledge of the scripture or they turn it all around to fit their desires.!!! Sad sad, but in those very SCRIPTURES, God warned us of this, that "there would be a falling away from the truth".... Guess they are fulfilling scripture without even knowing it!!!

[over3Owithabrain]

These churches can go to hell. I'm sick of mealy-mouth play Christians who sit around all full of themselves and shit, refusing to take a stand for what's right.

[concerned about politics]

I suppose they do not tolerate sound doctrine either. Churches are falling away ... left and right ... .

And the Bible warned us they would do it, too. They have their roots in the collection plate.

[areafiftyone]

I am shocked to see how much the anti-american peacniks and DUers still want Saddam to remain in Power. For some reason its okay for a leader of a country to kill, rape and torture people (especially women). All this crap about giving peace a chance yada yada yada. Apprarently these people who demonstrate for peace are really pro-killing and raping of women and children. Anyone who thinks that Saddam should remain in power just because they hate BUSH's policies and Americas is as good as being murderer themselves!

[concerned about politics]

Apprarently these people who demonstrate for peace are really pro-killing and raping of women and children. Anyone who thinks that Saddam should remain in power just because they hate BUSH's policies and Americas is as good as being murderer themselves!

And they support the dismemberment of infants from the womb while still alive.
Nice group of "people", aren't they?