FCNL Thanks Senator Lugar for Strong Statements on Libya

Mar 15, 2011

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March 14, 2011

Senator Richard Lugar
306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Lugar:

I write to express deep gratitude and appreciation for your March 8 statement on the proposed no-fly zone in Libya. It took courage and leadership on your part to speak out against precipitous U.S. involvement in a war in Libya, especially when other key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are calling for U.S. military action.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation concurs with your belief that imposing a no-fly zone in Libya would be an act of war. As Secretary Gates said, “Let’s call a spade a spade” -- a no-fly zone is an “act of war.”

In addition, a decision to invade another Muslim country, as you state, could have grave, unintended consequences. Our nation is at a sensitive point when it comes to interfaith relations. The United States should continue efforts to improve our standing with the Muslim world rather than taking steps that risk a further fracturing of already-troubled relations.

We share your concerns over the growing humanitarian crisis. The fact that humanitarian issues do not have military solutions must be acknowledged. A U.S. military intervention in Libya would very likely worsen, not improve, the humanitarian crisis. The lessons learned from U.S. military experiences in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, which you highlight, are well placed. There is no reason to expect that a military intervention would yield better results in Libya.

For these and other reasons – including the potentially enormous financial costs -- we believe the public would not support a declaration of war against Libya by the United States Congress.

In sum, I again thank you for taking this timely and important position. FCNL, along with many of our constituents in Indiana, concurs that the United States cannot afford another war— neither fiscally nor morally – and that we must prevent the U.S. from making a colossal, irreversible mistake in Libya.

Sincerely,

Diane E. Randall
Executive Secretary