wfn.org | Church of the Brethren member reports on Iraq

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: Sept. 15, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com)

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NEWSLINE
Sept. 15, 2005

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN MEMBER REPORTS ON SITUATION IN IRAQ

Sept. 15, 2005 (Elgin, IL) --  Peggy Gish, a Church of the Brethren  member
working with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Iraq, wrote the  following
report on Aug. 14. CPT places teams of trained peacemakers in regions  of lethal
conflict. An initiative of the Historic Peace Churches (Mennonite,  Church of
the Brethren, and Quaker), CPT enjoys support and membership from a  wide
range of Christian denominations. See _www.cpt.org_ (http://www.cpt.org) .

"`From bad to worseâ is a common phrase Iraqis use when describing what is
happening in Iraq. Working here, outside the isolated Green Zone or military
bases, we get a different picture from the optimistic depictions released by
the  US government. I mostly hear from Iraqis that the presence of American
military  has lowered their quality of life, and set back their progress in
building a  peaceful and democratic society.

âEven from those who say it is necessary for the US military to remain
longer in Iraq to prevent greater factional fighting or civil war, we hear
despair. They speak of the snail-pace progress in repairing
infrastructure, the
growing humanitarian crisis, the depressed economic system, and the lack
of  basic
security.

âSome brief examples:

â--Of the three million residents of Sadr City, a poor area of Baghdad, 72
percent have hepatitis A or E, because of polluted water. In Sadr City we saw
trenches dug along the main streets for sewer system repair. According to
leaders of Sadr City, this project does not include replacing the cracked and
inadequate pipes along the side streets that connect to the people's  homes.

â--Although more manufactured goods are available in the markets
of Iraq's
cities, poverty is severe, with an estimated 40 percent unemployment, and
increasing malnutrition. Cheaper foreign goods flooding the market and the
takeover of Iraqi businesses and oil production by US companies continue
to  erode
the economy.

â--Families in Fallujah are slowly starting to rebuild with little help  from
the US or Iraqi governments. Since the Nov. 2004 attacks, US forces still
wage active warfare in many other cities and villages. As of Aug. 14, US and
Iraqi forces were surrounding the city of Tellafar, west of Mosul and had used
heavy bombs in attacks on the city of Haqlaniyah.

â--Iraqi people live in daily fear of explosions and kidnappings
by the
violent resistance groups as well as violent house raids, indiscriminate
roundups, abusive interrogations, and imprisonment by US and Iraqi forces.

â--They are also worried about corruption in the new Iraqi government and
the brutal violence of the newer Iraqi special police commandos, trained
by the
US and operating under the Ministry of Interior. Some call this "state
terrorism." Iraqis tell us about family members being abducted from their homes,
tortured, and sometimes found dead by a roadside. Prisoners' families  report
paying thousands of dollars to prevent the prisoners from being  tortured or
forced to give confessions on TV of crimes they did not  commit.

âMeanwhile, most Iraqis are trying to go on with life as normally as
possible, caring for their families. Countless Iraqis try to keep hope alive by
working with organizations that foster unity, human rights, and local democratic
activity. They worry, however, that all the sacrifices and hardships they have
 endured will not lead them to a freer and safer life.â

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith  in
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its  300th
anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil,
the 
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.

# # #

For more information contact:

Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News Services
Church of the  Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5100  ext. 260
_cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_
(mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org)

*****************************************************************
The  Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford,
 director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
Newsline  stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source.
To  receive Newsline by e-mail, write _cobnews@aol.com_
(mailto:cobnews@aol.com)  or call 800-323-8039 ext.  260.