Letter to Congress for an Immediate End to the U.S. War in Libya

Mar 23, 2011

March 23, 2011

Dear Member of Congress:

We at the Friends Committee on National Legislation are deeply concerned that our country has gone to war in Libya. We also believe President Obama has set a dangerous precedent by initiating U.S. military intervention in Libya without seeking Congressional approval and a robust, meaningful debate by Congress on the objectives, risks and costs (financial and non-financial) of going to war.

We urge you to:

1. contact President Obama and request an immediate end to all U.S. military operations in Libya;
2. call for a full congressional debate of U.S. military intervention and overall policy objectives in Libya; and
3. state publicly that you have taken these important actions.

We support and are inspired by the aspirations of people across the Arab world who are employing nonviolent means to demand more open, responsive governments and an end to authoritarian rule. We join others in denouncing the injustices and atrocities committed by the Libyan government against the Libyan people.

Yet as we have seen in the last few days, there are no easy solutions to the crisis in Libya and cruise missile strikes are not going to produce a long-term resolution to the problems in Libya. We are convinced that U.S. military intervention and the escalation of the violence will worsen the complicated situation in Libya rather than improve it. There is no military solution to what is at heart a political and humanitarian problem.

Sincerely,

Diane E. Randall
Executive Secretary