In May 2008, Gaia and I went to Iran with a delegation from the Fellowship of Reconciliation. On this
page we will gradually add reflections, links, editorials, and paintings inspired by that trip.
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i r a n
click for iran paintings
Dear Senator Bingaman,
By the time you receive this letter we will be in Iran. We are traveling with a civilian diplomacy delegation organized by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a non-denominational group that has been working for peace and social justice for the last 90 years. The purpose of the delegation is to build relationships between Iranians and Americans while their governments refuse to talk. Our heartbreak about the horrible war in Iraq, and our desire to prevent any armed conflict with Iran motivated us to join the delegation.
We are sincerely grateful for your efforts in opposing the occupation of Iraq. It was a lonely voice. Now, with a great sense of urgency, we are asking you again to stop the mad rush to war, this time an even more disastrous one.
We have become increasingly concerned since the resignation of General Fallon, Vice President Cheney’s recent trip to the Middle East, and the appointment of General Petraeus to the Mid East command, that the Bush Administration is moving toward attacking Iran. Accusations that distort the complexity of the situation in Iraq and the Middle East as a whole will apparently be used as justification. The wishes of the people are being ignored again.
In Targeting Iran, Scott Ritter outlines the likely dire consequences of a war with Iran. Setting aside the immorality of a preemptive attack on Iran, the consequences include the following: U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan would be subject to a full scale attack; the U.S. access to Mid East oil would be seriously limited or cut off; Persians and Arabs would unite against the U.S.; the already weakened economy of the U.S. would be broken.
The Iranian people have made it clear that change will take place slowly in Iran, and that any U.S. intervention will destroy their hopes of achieving a more just society. As we are learning, the majority of Iranians oppose their government. An attack on Iran would unite them in opposition to the U.S. and silence any internal opposition. Like in Iraq, the citizens of Iran are victims of the bellicose actions of their leaders. U.S. citizens are in the same situation.
There are signs of a collective insanity that has gripped our leadership and seriously undermined our relationship with the world community. But many of us know that an attack on Iran would be morally outrageous and tactically incredibly stupid.
CLICK FOR IRAN PHOTOS
