General Richard B. Myers, Chairman, USAF;
General Peter Pace, Vice Chairman, USMC
Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations
General Michael W. Hagee, Commandant USMC
General John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff, USAF
General Erick Shineski, Chief of Staff, USA
_________________________________________
United States Unified Combatant Commanders:
General James L. Jones, USMC, US European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen,Germany
Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN, US Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii
Admiral E.P. Giambastiani, USN, US Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, VA
General James T. Hill. USA, U Southern Command, Miami, Florida
General Tommy R. Franks, USA, US Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base,Florida
General Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF, US Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base,
Colorado
General Charles R. Holland, USAF, US Special Operations Command, MacDill Air
Force Base, Florida
General John W. Handy, USAF, US Transportation Command Scot Air Force Base,
Illinois
Admiral James O. Ellis, Jr., USN, US Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base,
Nebraska
February 13, 2003
Dear Gentlemen,
Veterans For Peace is an organization whose members have served with honor in
the armed forces of the United States of America. Among our members we count
decorated veterans of WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.
Many served during two, and in several instances, three of these wars. Two of
our members are recipients of the Medal of Honor, dozens received Silver and
Bronze Stars for valor in combat, and hundreds were awarded the Purple Heart for
wounds received in action. One of our members was a POW for over seven years in
the Hanoi Hilton.
We learned the horrors of war through our military experience and we want the
killing stopped. We believe it is not just enough to be against war, we must
also work against war and that is the purpose of our organization.
We, like you, know the world is a dangerous place and that our military forces
are necessary for our defense. We realize that you too have seen and do not want
war. War must only be the option of last resort.
We believe the war against Iraq that the US government is planning and preparing
for is in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and customary
international law. The judgment of the International Military Tribunal at
Nuremberg noted, "Resort to war of aggression is not merely illegal, but is
criminal."
The principle of renunciation of the use or threat of force is now one of the
fundamental principles of international law and, as such, is stated with the
utmost clarity in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which imposes definite
obligations on states participating in international affairs. States are bound
in their international relations to renounce "the threat or use of
force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,
or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the UN".
The US seeks to justify a pre-emptive strike on Iraq on the basis of
self-defense. Article 51of the UN Charter permits the use of force by a state to
repel an armed attack or a substantial and immediate threat to the national
security of the state until the Security Council exercises jurisdiction. The
threat which permits the use of force is somewhat elastic but it must be an
immediate, specific threat to US national security and not a general threat to
the Gulf region or a possible future threat. The legality of pre-emptive
self-defense has been rejected on the basis that use of force to deter future
use of force constitutes punitive rather than defensive action. If the US fails
to gain Security Council approval for war, the US is bound by Article 51 and may
not lawfully, unilaterally take military action.
It is clear that the planned massive attack on Iraq is not based upon
self-defense. Iraq has not attacked the US nor does Iraq constitute an immediate
and specific threat to US national security. We are not apologists for Saddam
Hussein but we believe there are ways to deal with his regime without the resort
to a war of aggression. Other countries and many Americans have suggested
reasonable and safe alternatives.
We members of VFP remember well our military service. We swore to support and
defend the Constitution of the United States. We were informed of the Nuremberg
Tribunal and the conviction and punishment of soldiers for following illegal
orders. We were taught that we must not follow an illegal order. US military
leadership must not only know and teach the obligations of
international law but must respect and follow them.
You are in high military positions and you have awesome responsibilities under
our Constitution and international law. We believe you are honorable men. We
respectfully and urgently urge that you do the right thing in this terribly
difficult situation. Clearly your duty is to not engage in the political
leaderships' illegal war. Many veterans will support you if you
refuse to participate in an illegal war and we believe that you can successfully
use your high positions to warn the American people and you will be supported.
If you fail your sworn duty to the Constitution and international law by
engaging in an illegal war against Iraq, we fear the US will become a rogue
nation that will believe in and act on the principle that might is right to the
great dishonor of all our professed values and to the great discredit of all who
served in the armed services of the US so that their children and
future generations could live in peace and freedom.
With great urgency,
David Cline
National President
Veterans For Peace