A Call to withdraw all U.S. Military forces from Iraq
 

On this third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Agate Passage Friends Meeting (Quaker) following the deep pacifist convictions of The Religious Society of Friends, calls for withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from Iraq.

Day by day conditions in Iraq worsen, with many thousands of innocent Iraqis dead and wounded, more than 2,300 U.S. troops dead and 17,000 wounded. Throughout Iraq cities and villages are suffering collapsing infrastructures and widespread devastation. We are witnessing a major calamity brought on by this war, and in consequence, around the world U.S. friendship and credibility have suffered immensely.

We pledge our full support of the proposal for a “Sensible Transition to Enduring Peace” (STEP) put forth by Friends Committee on National Legislation. This statement calls on Congress to make a clear declaration that the U.S. will withdraw all its troops and military bases from Iraq and has no designs on Iraq or its resources.

The FCNL ”STEP” plan presents a sensible, compassionate way for the U.S. to regain world respect and to do justice to the long-suffering Iraqi people.

This statement was unanimously approved on March 19, 2006 by the monthly Business Meeting of Agate Passage Friends Monthly Meeting (Quaker), Bainbridge Island, Washington.