Peace Action: Keeping the Peace with Iran

According to Peace Action...

For nearly three years, Peace Action has been a leader in preventing the Bush Administration from attacking Iran. In 2006, we coordinated a meeting of key nonprofit leaders and founded the Iran Policy Working Group - a group of over 100 leaders that share information and strategy. Additionally, three Peace Action members, including myself, traveled with delegations to Iran to practice citizen to citizen diplomacy.

Peace Action spearheaded the grassroots effort for peace with our petition demanding a diplomatic solution. Almost 100,000 of you joined our campaign and our strength has made an impact. The signatures on this petition helped our members lobby against the now controversial H.Con.Res. 362, a saber-rattling resolution that reiterates the threat of a U.S.strike on Iran.

Will you help me keep this issue in front of voters in the final weeks to Election Day?

Because of this work, the Fellowship of Reconciliation invited Peace Action to join over 100 leaders to meet with the President of Iran yesterday, September 24, 2008. When I went to Iran I got to meet with one of the eleven Vice Presidents. I learned then that Iranian politicians like to talk in religious platitudes. President Ahmadinejad is no different.

Once he started answering questions, he reiterated many things I've heard before. It is under reported that Iran has a religious fatwa against nuclear weapons. In other words, it is against Islamic law to possess nuclear weapons. On the issue of war, he stated, "Iran will not seek war with anyone." This is not surprising as Iran has not attacked another country in hundreds years. The President also echoed our call to bring on the troops home from Iraq.

Ahmadinejad promised to push for more talks and exchanges between our two countries as well as making it easier for Americans to get visas in hopes that the U.S. will make it easier for Iranians. We in the American peace movement need to stay on top of the situation, now, and especially after Bush leaves office.

Today I'm asking you to stick with Peace Action as we make war and peace an issue for voters in the final push before the election and for the next administration.

Our work, here and abroad, is only possible with your support. Even as we make final preparation for Election Day, we're outlining a set of demands for the next President.

If you'd like to donate or sign-up for emails that will keep you in the know:

http://www.peace-action.org/joinpa.html