To add your name to the Statement of Conscience, please email Bob Bossie

NO ATTACK ON IRAN: A STATEMENT OF CONSCIENCE

The Bush administration is moving toward an illegal and immoral attack against Iran using the same game of deception, lies and half truths that it used to gain support for its illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq.

This administration promotes totally unsubstantiated claims that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. On October 28, 2007, chief UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei said he had no evidence Iran was building nuclear weapons and accused US leaders of adding fuel to the fire” with recent bellicose rhetoric.

This administration, and numerous members of the US Congress, play the victim of of Iran’s alleged aggression in Iraq which covers up US war crimes against Iraq and prepares public opinion for a “defensive” attack against Iran.

On October 25, 2007, this administration imposed new unilateral sanctions against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps charging it as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction, and it designated the Guard’s Quds forces as a supporter of terrorism. These new sanctions financially isolate part of Iran’s military and anyone inside or outside Iran who does business with it.

This administration’s has surrounded Iran with military forces: in Azerbaijan on the North, Afghanistan on the East, Iraq on the West, and with two (soon to be three) aircraft carrier battlegroups on the South in the Persian Gulf.

The Bush administration has announced that all military options are on the table to attack Iran, including nuclear weapons.

This administration feigns diplomatic efforts in order to further lure well intentioned persons into a state of complicity.

The Israel lobby in Washington, DC falsely promotes Iran as enemy number one.

Seventy million Iranians, 70% of whom are under 30 years of age, struggle for freedom and democracy on their own terms. Any attack by the US or another country would derail their effort.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media beats the war drum incessantly as it did in preparation for the invasion of Iraq, an invasion which has cost the lives of over 1 million Iraqis, over 4,000 US forces and over $1.3 Trillion desperately needed to compensate Iraq and for life sustaining programs in the US.

The world holds its breath awaiting the unleashing of yet another crime of cataclysmic proportions, a crime which will raise oil prices disastrously and disrupt economies worldwide, further destabilize the Middle East, deepen the rift between Eastern and Western cultures, and poison the air and destroy the land of another ancient culture.

In conscience, we hold ourselves responsible for this crime about to be committed in our name. We will not remain silent. We will resist this machinery of aggression and terror and rally others to do everything possible to stop any attack against Iran.

We call upon all people of good will to join us in this commitment.

SIGNATORIES:
The No War on Iran Coalition has enlisted the following people in support:

Andy Thayer, Gay Liberation Network and Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism

Janet M. Moon

Rev. Karen Ingvoldstad

Koshin Bob Hanson

Paul E. Sjordal, Lt. Col., USAFRet. and member of US Central Command when it was created in 1983, Naperville IL

Sara Paretsky, writer

Monica Buckley

Michael Lynn

Virginia Warren, Program Manager, Asian Health Coalition of Illinois

Judge R. Eugene Pincham
former judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, and justice of the Appellate Court of Illinois

Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton,
Zen Buddhist priest and Dharma teacher in the Suzuki Roshi lineage

Leadership Team of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana: Paula Damiano, SP; Marie McCarthy, SP; Jane Marie Osterholt, SP; Nancy Reynolds, SP; Marsha Speth, SP; Denise Wilkinson, SP

Fr. Bob Bossie, SCJ

Mary Lou Ruck, SP

Marilyn Neuman, SP Associate

Beth Wright, SP

Adele Beacham, SP

Jackie Rivet-River, Film Maker

Louis P. River, III, M.D

The Leadership Team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas of the New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community: Nancy Hoff, RSM, Patricia Prinzing, RSM, JoAnne Courneen, RSM, Guadalupe Lumantas, RSM, Geraldine Rosinski, RSM

Kathleen Desautels, SP

Rev. Gregory Dell, retired, United Methodist Clergy

Helen Gourlay, BVM

Gail T. Smith, Attorney at Law

Rose Mary Meyer, BVM

Kathy Thoma & Steve Casillas

Sr. Dorothy Pagosa, SSJ-TOSF

Br. Michael Gosch, CSV

Leadership Team of the Sisters of Charity, BVM Dubuque, Iowa - Joellen  McCarthy, BVM,            Peggy Nolan, BVM, Mary Ann Zollmann, BVM

Rosalie Riegle, Evanston IL

Renny Golden, Professor Emerita Northeastern Illinois University

Mary Jane Hahner CSFN

Mary Jo Weaver Larson

Elizabeth Konkol, ssj-tosf

Fr. Jack Farry, Chicago IL

Rosette M. Bagley, Naperville IL

Edward L. Osowski

Mary Brett O'Donnell

Maria-Pilar Chamorro, CCV

Carol Coston, OP and Elise D. García, OP, Co-Directors, Santuario Sisterfarm, Boerne TX

Sr. Joan Zlogar, SP, Manager of Planned Giving, Sisters of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Wood, IN

Edwina Gateley, writer / speaker

Fran Lombaer, OP

Mary Ann Luby, OP, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Washington DC

Maria Friedman, FSPA

Joanne Peters, OP

Ellen Swan, CSA associate

Helen Banta, Clinical Family Services Specialist, Chicago IL

Rick Heiser – Bloomington IL

Susan Heiser - Bloomington IL

Elizabeth-Anne Stewart

Jane and Ron Stavoe

Teri Hadro, BVM

Jean Krieter, SLW

Rose Ann Kaiser,OLVM

Edward J. Dries

Rosemary Lynch, IBVM, US Provincial, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Julie Sass

Pat M. Magee

Melinda Power

Sarah A. Fahy, SNDdeN

Terri Grasso, SP

Ginny King, OP

Rev. Gregory Dell, retired, United Methodist Clergy

Peg O'Herron

Ann Lindamood

Sister Ann Rozalia Szabo, OP, Adrian Dominican Sister

Sister Annette M. Sinagra, OP, Corporate Responsibility Analyst, Portfolio Advisory Board, Adrian Dominican Sisters, Adrian, MI

James E. Michaletz, CSV

Carol Spiegel, BVM

Fr. Ted Cirone, C.M.F.

Norine Burns, OP

Carolyn R. Gray

James J Gray

Harry L. Campbell and Mary E. Campbell

Fran Baumgartner, Arlington Heights IL

Marie O'Brien, Chicago IL

Elizabeth Smoyer, SNDdeN, Mishawaka IN

(Rev. Dr). Terry Cain, Bloomington IL

Sue Cain, Bloomingto, IL

Sr. Mary Elise Leiker, CSA

Mary Ann Zrust, SLW

Sr. Elizabeth Myers, OP

Sr. Joan Zlogar, SP

Ronan Newbold, CP

Darrel Ruppiper, OMI

Joe and Maureen Ruane

Mary Jo Matheny

Sr. Lou Marie Fideler, BVM

Rita Clare Gerardot, SP

Sr. Helen, Carey, OSB, Rock Island IL

Sr. Janet Hughes, SNDdeN

Sr. Rosemary Ward, SP

Elizabeth I. Benson

Cynthia Serjak, RSM

Anne Buckley, BVM

Sister Ruth Battaglia CSA

Jean Phelan, SSND

Rev. Su McLain, Madison, MS

Brian McLauchlin, SVD

Michael Drohan, Pittsburgh, Pa

Rev. Daniel Dayle, Wellington Ave. United Church of Christ

Sr. Dolores Becker, BVM

Jean Hughes, OP

Janet Korn, RSM

Reneta Webb, SSJ-TOSF Associate

Sisters of the Living Word

Social Concerns Committee, Sisters of Charity, BVM

Barbara L Edwards, Mercy Associate

M. Gratia L'Esperance, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Jim Dworschack, Soldiers Grove WI

Bob O'Donnell

Lt. Michael Lukes (USNR)

Joseph Buckley, Sr. and Natalie M. Buckley

Joan Mary, OP

Kathleen Quinn, PHJC, Gary IN

Eileen Moran

Susan M. Garrett and David M. Greenhaw, Cotton, Minnesota

Margaret D. Garrett, St. Bede's Episcopal Church, Santa Fe NM

Marilyn Freese

Rev. Su McLain, Madison MS

Josette Gocella, SSJ, Louisville KY

Mary Sullivan, a founder of 8th Day Center, member of first board, Hilton Head Island SC

Christine Dobrowolski IHM

Tony Hintze

Francilla Kirby, Chicago IL

Joan Mary, OP

Mary A. Healey, Chicago IL

Emily Schug, CSA

Tess M. Malumphy

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bossie

Betty Voss, BVM

Fran Therese Woznicki, ssj/tosf

Rev. Jan Niemeyer, Presbyterian Church (USA)

Susan M. Kute, justice activist, Louisville, KY

Mary Martens, BVM

Br. Mike Decker, SVD, Chicago

Jim & Geri Ryan - Directors of the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers

Fr. Terry Johnson

Susan M. Seeby, CSA

Joanne Davis, BVM Associate

Sr. Cecila Ann Miller, SP

Helen Wilson, O.P.

Elizabeth Demirgian, O.P., Adrian Dominican Sisters

Helen Ortmann, Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi

Evelyn I. Montez, OP Dominican of Adrian, MI

Carol Bartlett, BVM

Helen Thompson, BVM

Stephanie Mertens, ASC

Peter Buck, Parishioner, Sacred Heart Parish, Roslindale, Massachusetts

Noel Marra O.S.U.

Rita Clare Gerardot, S.P.

Dick & Ann Heidkamp

Marjorie Delaplane, O.P.

Sister Teresita Poulin, BVM

Ann Koerner

Mary M. Crimmin

Mary Kay Dum, BVM

Pat DaCosta

Sheila Kathleen Donis, Ed.D, Jasonville IN

Miriam Todoroff, BVM Associate

Virginia Piecuch, BVM Associate

Jack and Elizabeth Pinter

Marie Corr, BVM

H. M. Gabel

Lissa Perrin

Sister Gayle Brabec, BVM

Helen Maher Garvey, BVM

Mary Therese Freymann, BVM

Mary Nolan, BVM

Kay Lynn Goldner

Mary Ann Krems, BVM Associate, Justice and Peace Chair, Stevens Point WI

Linda K. Jewett, Buffalo, NY

Mary Ann Zollmann, BVM, Dubuque IA

Mary Catherine Nolan, OP

Mary Sotir

Jacquelyn Hoffman, SP

Patricia Stark, op

Marianne Supan, OP

Mary Whitely, OSU

Bede Baldry, FSC

MaryAnn Falbe, OSF

Sr. Jane Abell, O.P.

Marie Romejko, SND

Dorothy L. Berg, O.P.

Anna Marie Sciaraffa, 8th Day Center supporter

Barbara Mass, SLW, Sisters of the Living Word, Arlington Heights, IL

Sister Cathy Campbell, SP, Campus Minister

Jim Hoffman OFM

Elaine Osborne, OP

Karen J. Hartman, S.F.P. Franciscan Sisters of the Poor

Susan Nevens, Northridge CA

Carol Peres Segura

Fr. Daniel Antle, Original Blessing Catholic Community, Tampa FL