This is the first of what we intend to be regular updates on matters on which the Church of Scotland's Committee on Church and Nation is working. The normal pattern is intended to be that we will cover several topics in each edition. However, given the urgency of the threat of war in Iraq, this edition is given over entirely to that subject.

The newsletter will be sent by email to presbytery clerks for them to distribute within their presbytery as they see fit. We hope, however, that at the very least those who make up the presbytery's committee on these areas of the church's concern will receive a copy either by email or on paper.

Iraq

In August 2002 the Moderator of the General Assembly wrote to the Prime Minister:

Dear Prime Minister

I write to add my voice to the growing chorus, political, military and religious, calling for restraint in relation to Iraq.

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has acknowledged the significant role you played personally in "helping to strengthen the international coalition against terrorism and in successfully arguing against a swift American response in the early days after September 11." The Assembly also noted, on the report of the Church and Nation Committee, that "there is little doubt that the good relationship enjoyed between the US and the UK put the British Government in a stronger position to argue for restraint and the importance of countries acting together."

In view of the signals now coming out of Washington it is all the more vital that you use your position of influence there in relation to Iraq.

In particular I would make the following comments:

I fully support Tam Dalyell's call for Parliament to be recalled to discuss the situation. If there is any question of committing British troops to a war in Iraq the elected representatives of the people must be fully involved in such a decision.

It seems to many of us that the real crisis in the Middle East is the continuing failure to facilitate any meaningful political process between Israelis and Palestinians. The energy being expended in relation to Iraq would be better directed towards resolving the current middle-east conflict. It is quite unthinkable to ignite a further conflagration the consequences of which are unimaginable.

In considering issues arising from the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States the General Assembly "affirmed that the United Nations should have the central role in resolving international disputes." That principle applies in relation to Iraq and there should be no question of the United Kingdom becoming involved in military action against Iraq that does not have the support of the United Nations. It is good to know of your reassurances to the House of Commons in this regard.

Last, but by no means least, there is the question of the Iraqi people and their continuing suffering. There is no denying the brutal nature of the Iraqi regime. However, it is the people who have borne the brunt of ten years of sanctions in terms of infant mortality, chronic malnutrition, lack of regular access to clean water and crumbling health and educational provision. How can we contemplate inflicting yet more misery upon them without the clearest evidence that the Iraqi regime is the threat that it is claimed to be and that there is no other way of dealing with the situation? It is precisely this evidence which remains unforthcoming.

While I write in these terms, please be assured that I pray for you and the very heavy burden of responsibility which you carry. President Bush has included Iraq within the compass of the phrase "axis of evil". My prayer is that and he and you will bear in mind the words of Scripture: "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. "(Romans 12:21)

With best wishes

Rt Rev Finlay AJ Macdonald

Moderator

The Threat Of War In Iraq

In September, the convener of the Church and Nation Committee wrote to Scottish MPs the day before the first parliamentary debate on Iraq:

Dear Member of Parliament,

I am very glad that parliament is at last to debate the looming crisis in Iraq. The Moderator of the general assembly wrote to the Prime Minister on August 5^th, urging the recall of parliament so that this debate might take place. It is to be hoped that the occasion will not pass without an assurance being given that no troops will be committed to a military campaign in Iraq in the absence of the express approval of the house of commons.

Before that approval could be given, however, I hope you will agree with me that there ought to be a renewed and specific mandate from the United Nations. The Prime Minister, speaking to the TUC conference, stressed the importance of respect for the UN, and it is surely inconceivable that such respect would not be carried into the debate on whether or not war is necessary. It is for the UN to decide if and when its Resolutions are being ignored or disobeyed and for the UN to decide what action is necessary as a result of that decision - otherwise, what is to prevent some other nation deciding to enforce compliance with Resolution 242? To act without instruction from the UN would be illegal.

It will be important also that the debate in Parliament and at the United Nations takes in to account related questions concerning Afghanistan and Israel-Palestine. Is the task of rebuilding Afghanistan complete - and if not, why has attention so quickly moved away? Is the West not walking away yet again from Afghanistan, even though specific promises to the contrary have repeatedly been made in the last twelve months? And can the problems of the Middle East be solved without addressing and solving the plight of the Palestinian people under a continuing and indisputably illegal occupation by Israel, whose security is damaged rather than safeguarded by the policies of its government?

There is no doubt of the evil nature of the regime in Baghdad, but I urge you to consider whether a military campaign against it is really going to help the people of Iraq, the stability of the region, or the peace of the world. Is it not just possible that such a war would further alienate the people of the Middle East, further destabilise the economy of the world, and store up even more trouble for the years ahead? Now that weapons inspectors have the permission of the Iraqi regime to enter without restrictions or conditions, it is imperative that they be given the chance to do their work. To go to war when alternatives exist is not only foolhardy, it is immoral.

I wish you well for the parliamentary debate and my thoughts and prayers are with you as you shoulder the weight of responsibility that such a debate brings.

Yours faithfully,

Alan D McDonald

Convener

In November both the moderator and the convener backed calls for a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the effects on Scotland and its citizens of any war in Iraq. A comparable debate has already taken place in the National Assembly for Wales.

In December, representatives of the Church and Nation Committee met with Scottish MPs at Westminster where it was reiterated that, in the opinion of the Committee, war with Iraq could only be contemplated:

As a last resort
When it would not make matters worse
When it was sanctioned by an explicit mandate from the United Nations, and
When the UK parliament had been given the chance to debate the commitment of British troops.

All those with whom we spoke agreed with us that Resolution 1441, under which the current inspections are taking place, gives no mandate for war; and that, when the inspectors report, the UN will need once again to debate the matter and another resolution will be needed before military action can be taken.

It was also acknowledged that, should the UN agree that military action is necessary to disarm the current Iraqi regime, legitimacy under international law will have been achieved.

After that meeting the Church and Nation Committee met and expressed particular concern over three matters which were current then - and whose implications are still with us:

The takeover by the USA of the document presented by Iraq. This was at the very least extreme discourtesy to the United Nations and possibly grounds to distrust the entire process. That the British government had not objected in the strongest terms was viewed with grave disquiet.
The refusal by the USA to rule out the use of nuclear weapons.
The stockpiling by the USA of anti-personnel landmines for use in Iraq.

Further Resources

Pax Christi have produced a prayer card on Iraq and the Middle East. If you would like to view it and order copies, you can do this on their website.

The World Council of Churches has been producing bulletins of background information ever since September 11 2001. These, including an issue dealing specifically with Iraq, can be found at Behind the News. This is a good route to many other websites from all around the world and its churches.

In Britain, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland can be found by clicking here.

Our partner church in the United States, the Presbyterian Church (USA), has much to say on these issues.

And of course our own website, including this newsletter (soon), is at: http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/.