Letter: Duke community members fasting for peace in Iraq

From midnight Monday night to midnight Wednesday night, over 25 students, faculty and staff will fast to protest the U.S. government's policies toward Iraq.

We believe that the imminent war against Iraq is contrary to America's interests. The CIA and British intelligence have admitted that there is no connection between Iraq and Sept. 11 or any other form of terrorism. In addition, CIA Director George Tenet has said that Iraq will only use weapons of mass destruction if attacked first; right now, Iraq does not present a significant threat. An unprovoked American attack on Iraq will also increase anti-American sentiment internationally and generate future acts of violence against America. Thus, it is not surprising that a Gallup poll shows 40 percent of Americans do not support going to war. The U.S. is far from a position of last resort, and alternatives supported by many other nations are not being given attention by the administration.

Thus, to bring awareness to the issue and develop our own sincerity to work to end the suffering, we are fasting for two days. One of our reasons for fasting is the serious potential for famine in Iraq should the U.S. government decide to go to war. Currently, 16 million Iraqis are surviving on food rations. A war in Iraq would end the rations and clearly lead to an even greater crisis of poverty and hunger that has already been brought on by years of American-led sanctions.

We believe that this war is dangerous to lasting peace in the region and here at home. For these reasons, and numerous others supported by individuals around the globe, we are fasting until Wednesday night. If you would like more information on the issue or simply want to talk, fasters will be wearing white armbands to identify themselves and a table will be set up in the Bryan Center to distribute information.