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Why Iraq?

Traveling to Iraq: Dec. 2001 Delegation

What about a humanitarian crisis?

Why should we care? The role of the US.

What can I do? What can we do?

The first Church of the Brethren delegation went to Iraq in December 2001 as a Faith Expedition to: 1.) deliver Christmas and Ramadan greetings to Christians and Muslims in Iraq, 2.) see and understand the impact of US-led UN sanctions on the people of Iraq and 3.) widen bridges of understanding between our communities in the US and Iraq.

The delegation was organized after years of accumulating, horrific reports from UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other international organizations that the US-led UN sanctions were largely responsible for the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children between 1991-1998. Describing the situation as "an ongoing humanitarian emergency," the much-touted UN "oil for food" program and the new "streamlined sanctions" have not fundamentally reversed this collapse of the most basic systems of Iraqi society: public health care, education, water treatment, sewage and electricity generation.

Iraq remains in a state of crisis as a result of the political stalemate between the governments of Iraq and the United States. And the vulnerable in Iraq have suffered the most - innocent children, pregnant women and the poor.

Following September 11, 2001 and subsequent frights of biological weapons, the US Administration renewed calls of aggression toward the Iraqi regime, prompting an escalation of tensions between the two countries. With the threats of all-out war looming larger and the economic embargo continuing to levy an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Iraq, the Church of the Brethren Witness Office went ahead with its delegation to Iraq.

Photo: Alan Pogue Children cross a ditch filled with raw sewage in a housing complex for internally displaced people in Southern Iraq.

As followers of Jesus Christ, many of us have also been called "to take up our crosses and follow" (Matthew 16:24), "preaching good news to the poor... proclaiming release to the captives... recovering sight of the blind and freeing those who are oppressed." (Luke 4:18-19) This call invites us to look beyond our borders and examine carefully: "who are our neighbors?" Who are our enemies? (Luke 10:29) Should we accept our government's definition of the Iraqi people as our enemies? Can we be faithful believers and also be complicit in violent acts against them?

Ultimately, as Christians we must wrestle with Jesus' commandment to "love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us." (Matthew 5:43-44) What does it mean for us today?

While our government spoke of embargoing, bombing and invading Iraq, the Church of the Brethren delegation found that the people of Iraq showed no enmity toward us. Instead Iraqi Muslims and Christians alike welcomed us at every turn as neighbors. "You are not your government," they said, just we increasingly understand, they are not their government.

We invite you to learn more through this website about the Church of the Brethren delegation to Iraq and the crucial context behind which this trip of goodwill took place. "Insha'Allah" - God willing (as many often say in Iraq), we pray that it will continue to widen bridges of God's peace between our communities.