FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact: Former Sen. Jim Abourezk,
SD 605-334-8402
A bipartisan group of former
In a statement released by the former
lawmakers, the group said that, among other problems a war will cause, the
already struggling American economy will fall into a recession. The
statement continues:
"We are concerned with the expenditure of
American lives in a war that need not be undertaken at this time. Not only
will our sons and daughters be put in harm's way, but this is a war that will
dramatically increase the terrorist threat to Americans both at home, as well as
the more than one million Americans who live
abroad."
"We favor multiplying U.N. inspectors in
"The nation's almost- forgotten "war on
terrorism" has been seriously neglected because of the Administration's
preoccupation with
"We are all concerned that serious damage
that can be done to the
"As well, all Americans should be concerned
that an invasion when carried to
"A first strike is not authorized under
international law, because
"We believe that the principles of the
United Nations' Charter will be violated if we attack another nation when we are
not threatened. Such an attack will seriously undermine our ability to
represent a moral standard to the world. We will be prevented from
objecting should
"We successfully contained the
The group of former lawmakers includes Former United
States Senators George McGovern of South Dakota, John Culver of Iowa, Paul Simon
of Illinois, Adlai Stevenson III of Illinois, Fred Harris of Oklahoma, Dale
Bumpers of Arkansas, Charles Mac Mathias of Maryland, Bill Hathaway of Maine,
John Tunney of California, Gary Hart of Colorado, Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio, and
James Abourezk of South Dakota.