The reluctance or refusal of our national institutions to offer an apology or admission of wrongdoing for sins of commission and omission in the initiation or support of a war of aggression against Iraq and the continued occupation of that country requires that an apology be made on their behalf.

On behalf of an administration that manipulated information to lead our nation into an avoidable, preemptive war of aggression and domination.

On behalf of a Congress that set aside its constitutional responsibility to provide a check on the executive branch, and in so doing failed to debate, question or demand accountability for the decision to conduct a war of aggression.

On behalf of the national media which failed to question or analyze government policy and instead served as “cheerleaders” for a war of domination.

On behalf of people of faith who failed to criticize a war that violated nearly every tenet of the “just war” theory.

And finally an apology on behalf of the American people who, under misguided nationalism, failed to oppose a war of aggression that violated both national and international values.

Specifically, such an apology would be given:

To our military whose bodies, minds and souls have been placed in harm’s way: for the extensive harm done to the nation of Iraq and its people; to the poor of our nation who have been asked to sacrifice unequally with the loss of critical services while our national resources have been squandered in war; to the future generations who will be paying our war debts; to the world for our arrogance and our failures in moral leadership; and for violating international law and our own Constitution.

An apology includes a vow to stop wrongdoing. Therefore, our government should stop the war and commence immediately with a responsible withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq.

Dick Hall

Coupeville