Religious Leaders Warn Congress: Don’t Let President Mislead with Iran as he did with Iraq
Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Leaders Agree: Direct Talks are Needed
Monday, September 25, 2006
*** Telephone News Conference Call Tuesday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m.***
Over one hundred religious leaders will call on Congress this week to assert its oversight function to prevent a preemptive attack on Iran. Religious leaders are encouraging Congress to pursue unconditional negotiations with Iran.
Evangelical Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders, including Dr. Brian McLaren, Dr. Susannah Heschel, and Reverend Jim Wallis will hold a telephone news briefing Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the call to action.
The leaders, alarmed at parallels between the White House’s public relations campaign and trumped-up intelligence that led to war with Iraq and the administration’s current maneuvering on Iran, will urge Congress to assert its oversight function.
Specifically, the religious leaders cite four causes for concern:
1) As reported by the Los Angeles Times and NPR, the administration is repeating the same tactic to justify a military strike against Iran as it used against Iraq. The creation in March of the Iranian Directorate in the Defense Department is staffed with the same objective and the same stove-piping of intelligence as the Office of Special Plans. Douglas Feith ran the Office of Special Plans while Abraham Shulsky, a senior Iranian policy advisor to Vice President Cheney, directs the new Iranian Directorate.
2) The administration is using Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK), an Iranian terrorist organization on the State Department’s List of terror groups, to destabilize the southern region of Iran. Some intelligence officials believe that the administration is outsourcing to the MEK in an effort to pave the way for United States military action.
3) Time magazine reported September 17th, the U.S. Navy has communicated “Prepare to Deploy” orders and are revising long-standing plans to blockade two Iranian oil ports on the Persian Gulf.
4) Currently, the EU states have given diplomacy a boost and are reaching an agreement with the Iranians on the details of a suspension that would enable full negotiations to take place. Secretary Rice even agreed to give the Europeans a bit more time to reach a deal. For the White House to go behind the back of the Security Council and its EU allies – in the midst of the talks with Iran – and take significant steps towards military action, makes the conduct of the Bush Administration on Iran even worse than it was on Iraq.
WHEN: Tuesday 10:00 a.m. EST
HOW: Dial 1 (800) 795.1259, Conference ID: “Talk to Iran”
WHO: Jim Wallis is the leading figure at the crossroads of religion and politics in America today. He is a public theologian, nationally renowned preacher, faith-based activist, author of seven books, including the best-selling God’s Politics, and the founder of Sojourners, a nationwide network of progressive Christians working for justice and peace.
Brian McLaren: Listed as one of America’s 25 most influential evangelicals, Brian McLaren is the founder and pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church, an innovative multi-denominational church in Spencerville, Maryland. He holds a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Carey Theological Seminary. McLaren is a frequent guest on television, radio, and news media programs, and has appeared on many broadcasts including Larry King Live, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, and Nightline.
Dr. Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, holds the Eli Black Chair in Jewish Studies in the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College. Dr. Heschel has written and lectured frequently on Jewish issues, served for several years as the co-chair of Tikkun, with Michael Lerner and Cornel West, and sits on the advisory board of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom.
To attend the telephone press conference please dial:
1(800) 795.1259, Conference ID “Talk to Iran”
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CONTACT: Trevor FitzGibbon, 202.246.5303 or Alex Howe, 202.822.5200
