The Issues
Ending the war in Iraq must be a top priority for peace-minded citizens in 2006. The ostensible purpose of the pre-emptive invasion of Iraq was to "protect" Americans by advancing the goals of the global fight against terrorism. Using this benchmark, the war in Iraq has been a colossal failure — a disaster which has cost us more than $300 billion and the lives of over 2,300 American soldiers.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies notes that the occupation has “galvanized” al-Qaeda and become a “potent global recruitment pretext” for the group, whose ranks have swelled to 18,000 militants in response to the U.S. occupation, which foreign policy experts agree directly contributes to the growing strength of the insurgency. For these reasons alone, an end to the occupation would be a powerful step forward for American national security and the future of Iraq. As Republican Congressman Walter Jones (NC-3) states, "We are now an army of occupation and (our troops) will be the object of the wrath of the insurgency."

Peace Action supports foreign policies in Iraq that will bring our troops home, fully end the occupation, and support the humanitarian needs and political empowerment of the Iraqi people. Find out where your Member of Congress stands on current anti-war legislation.

Beyond the current war in Iraq, U.S. foreign policy has a far-reaching effect on global security and the safety of all American citizens. The U.S. should be a global leader, but our focus should be on meeting existing challenges by cooperating with the world community to promote:
• Human Rights and Democracy
• Nuclear Disarmament & Nonproliferation
• International Cooperation

Find out how your Member of Congress voted on these issues in 2005.

U.S. arms sales and military aid bolster human rights abusers and backfire on Americans.
The US leads the world in arms sales and military training to countries that abuse human rights. Recently US arms sales and military assistance to countries like Tajikistan and Uzbekistan was expanded. Both countries have histories of torturing their own citizens, suppressing political opposition and the media, and of religious persecution. While our own State Department has found military and police forces in the Philippines guilty of human rights violations, US arms sales and military aid to the Philippines continue to rise.

As a result of a “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” mentality, the US has armed and/or trained Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and Manuel Noriega. The war on Iraq marks the seventh consecutive time that US troops have been sent into battle against opposition armed with US weapons. Prior to war and/or military intervention, the US provided arms to Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Haiti, Somalia, and Panama.

Human rights abuses committed by US soldiers and contractors in Iraq are inflaming anti-US sentiment.

We need a foreign policy that supports human rights and democracy.

U.S. policies increase the danger posed by nuclear weapons.
In March of 2002, the details of the “Nuclear Posture Review” –a policy statement that outlines radical changes for US nuclear policy – were leaked to the press. The Review calls for targeting China, Russia, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya and Syria for a potential nuclear first strike. It outlines plans for a new generation of nuclear weapons and expands the circumstances under which the US will consider using nuclear weapons.

These dangerous plans lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons and encourage nuclear proliferation. In the views of other countries, the best way to avoid attack by the US is to build their own nuclear weapons. With every country —like North Korea— that “goes nuclear,” the pace of proliferation increases. North Korea’s nuclear program could lead to similar programs in Japan and South Korea.

Our country should lead meaningful nonproliferation efforts to ensure that terrorists aren’t able to get a hold of nuclear materials. We should work to reduce our own nuclear stockpiles along Russian stockpiles and should strengthen international efforts to control weapons of mass destruction.

U.S. unilateralism is increasing anti-American sentiment while weakening international law.

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, the world was nearly united in its support for the United States and grief at our loss. Now, the opposite is true: anti-American sentiment has grown dramatically worldwide, even in allied countries. This hostility toward the US poses a long term threat to our security. Dealing with fanatics like al Qaeda will require global cooperation, not global resentment.

While all treaties are imperfect, international lawlessness and an ethos of “might makes right” will prove far more dangerous. America will be far better off if we devote our creative and economic energies to solving problems that the rest of the world recognizes as long term threat. Cooperating with the world community makes all of us stronger.

Use our questionnaire to learn the positions of candidates in your area.

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