May 7, 2013
President Barack Obama
The White House
District of Columbia 20500
Dear President Obama,
On
behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I write to express grave concern
over recent developments in Syria. Recent Israeli air
attacks may provoke Syria and Hezbollah into widening this already tragic
conflict. How the United States and the international
community respond to reports of chemical weapons use, currently under
investigation by the United Nations, is critically important. The potential for
widening the conflict is reason for exercising caution and wisdom.
At
this fragile time, I wish to repeat the call of the 220th General
Assembly (2012) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that urges our government:
• to support a mediated process of cessation of
violence by all perpetrators, including the Assad regime and armed opposition
groups;
• to call for all outside parties to cease all
forms of intervention in Syria;
• to support a strong and necessary role for
the United Nations, possibly including observers and peacekeeping forces; and
• to refrain from military intervention in
Syria.
The
General Assembly also expressed its support for “full, public congressional
debate of any potential U.S. military intervention, including cyber war,
weapons supply, training (as is already reported), and drone warfare, to
examine carefully the possible humanitarian benefits, costs, and outcomes of
such intervention, including its impacts on the Syrian people, and to support
review of the impacts of sanctions and other pressure on both Syrian society
and the regime.” Our General Assemblies have consistently warned of the dangers
of U.S. military intervention in conflicts, particularly when there is a lack
of clarity about how that intervention would end. That warning seems
particularly appropriate in relation to Syria.
Without
excusing the nature of the Syrian regime, we ask you to use the influence of
the United States to call upon nations and all other outside parties to end all
forms of military intervention in Syria. U.S. policy should discourage all
efforts to make the conflict in Syria a proxy war; encourage nations and other
outside parties to respect the territorial integrity of Syria; and lead the international
efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and to support peace initiatives. The U.S.
should also provide generous support for the humanitarian needs of refugees and
others already impacted by this conflict.
The
future of Syria – and perhaps the entire Middle East – is uncertain if the
bloodletting continues. The international community should act immediately to
end the conflict, not to take steps that exacerbate this tragedy.
Sincerely,
Rev. Gradye Parsons
Stated
Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)
