Citing Cost in Lives and Resources, NCJW Urges End to War in Iraq

December 2, 2007, New York, NY -- Citing the enormous cost in lives and resources of the war in Iraq, as well as its impact on domestic programs for years to come, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) has called on the Bush Administration to act quickly to draw down the troops and end the country's military involvement there. At its meeting held December 2, the NCJW board of directors adopted the following statement:

"The National Council of Jewish Women believes that all individuals have the right to live in a world at peace and free from the threat of terrorism. We believe that continuing or expanding our country's military presence in Iraq does not promote peace nor does it provide freedom from terrorism.

"Over the past four years, the enormous cost in lives and resources to the people of the United States and Iraq lead us to question the wisdom of continuing US involvement in the war. More than 3800 American lives have been lost, and many more individuals and their families have had their lives irreparably altered by war injuries, both physical and psychological. In addition, the estimates of Iraqi dead, the majority of whom are noncombatants, run into the hundreds of thousands.

"The financial cost of the war -- estimated to be as high as $470 billion -- has resulted in a mounting debt that takes its toll on critical human needs programs at home. The impact will continue to be felt by succeeding generations of American taxpayers and will saddle the federal budget with burdensome interest payments for years to come. The war in Iraq has also diverted our government's attention from urgent domestic concerns such as the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, the unmet needs of our public schools, and the growing number of individuals who have no access to health care.

"For these reasons, we oppose any further expansion of US troops in Iraq and urge the creation of a timetable for withdrawal. NCJW believes that peace in Iraq depends on political solutions. We urge the President to refocus on those political solutions and to act quickly to draw down the troops and end our military involvement in Iraq."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.

Contact:
Emily Alfano
202 296 2588 x5; emily@ncjwdc.org