Members of CCDS and many other progressives have spent our adult lives opposing United States foreign policy, economic sanctions, covert operations, and wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere. Often, we have critiqued military spending, offering a vision of a different kind of society.
Despite the historic stances of the peace movement against war and interventions, it has tried not to disrespect the personnel who for many reasons have made the military a career. The peace movement has recognized that military personnel have been trained to act in a professional manner. Despite many media narratives the peace movement did not wish to disrespect those who fought in Vietnam but rather were critics of the policy but not those who, often against their will, carried out the policy.
Also, CCDS, as part of the peace movement, knows that United States military behavior is circumscribed by numerous traditions, documents, international institutions, the US Constitution, and the values of religious institutions.
Today, in reference to the wars against the peoples of Iran and others in the Middle East, it is clear that many, if not all, documents and traditions, indicate that US war against Iran and support for Israel’s war are acts of international illegality. Also, US actions violate the US Constitution and most importantly the humane values embedded in the US culture.
Therefore, we in CCDS wish to express our respect for US military personnel who are raising objections to US aggression and violations of international law in Iran. CCDS respects those military personnel who criticize and/or refuse orders by politicians to continue and escalate the war on the Iranian people.
CCDS also stands in support of efforts to improve international institutions such as the United Nations system, international law, and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.
NO TO WAR!