Reform Jews call for clear Iraq exit strategy

[sabra]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3471164

Reform Jews call for clear Iraq exit strategy
Conference here urges December start of pullout

America's largest Jewish denomination Friday called on the Bush administration to provide a clear strategy for a phased removal of troops from Iraq.

The resolution, approved with little opposition or discussion by the Union for Reform Judaism at its biennial meeting, recommended that troop removal should begin with Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for December.

In addition, the Reform movement leaders demanded transparency from officials on the war and condemned abuse of prisoners in U.S. custody. They called for generous benefits for military personnel and their families, as well as proper equipment and medical care.

...

"When will we have an opportunity as a union to speak as a union about the justice of this war, to speak with moral clarity, to speak unequivocally about how wrong this war was and continues to be?" asked Rabbi Yair Robinson of Shir Ami Bucks County Jewish Congregation in Newton, Pa.

[Missy M]

1. This is encouraging. Other religious denominations should be .....

following this stance and speaking out loud aand clear about this unjust war.

[JerseygirlCT]

4. Well:

A report by the Ekklesia news service stated that most mainstream US Christian denominations, including the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, have now been critical of the war. (In Washington, President Bush attends St John’s Episcopal Church.)
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/80256FA1003E05C1/httpPublicPages/0102C97BEB81F2A5802570BC0053C21B?opendocument

It's happening -- pretty widely.

[burrowowl]

2. Good on THEM!

Do you have any Sabra relatives?
Also do you subscribe to Jewish Voice for Peace?

[sabra]

5. I am a Sabra, hence the screen name :-)

And have relatives (in the North), and friends through out...

peace.

[burrowowl]

9. Peace be with you!

[DELUSIONAL]

3. Good! this is uplifting news -- thanks for posting.

[54anickel]

6. How much longer can Bush continue to reject calls for a withdrawal?

His rejection speech yesterday made a lot of headlines, though it was directed at Congress and Murtha in particular.

In his tiny space between the ears, God told him to do it. I would imagine that calls for withdrawal from the various religious organizations mentioned in this thread have got to be driving him batty - maybe even to drink! :evilgrin: There was also the plan for withdrawal yesterday from Gen. Casey that Rummy announced.

I hope the calls for withdrawal continue. He cannot continue to reject an ever-growing voice. Dems should save clips of his and the GOPs latest speeches rejecting the calls for withdrawal. They may come in handy as the calls get louder. Might be a nice counter to that POS ad the RNC just put together.

[Critters2]

7. Good for them!

I wish I belonged to a denomination that would talk about something--ANYTHING--other than glbt issues for a few minutes once in a while. But, as long as we're obsessed with this one thing, we don't have to take stands on other justice issues. Which keeps the masses happy.

[PATRICK]

8. Another bill

for the disaster in Iraq that will be passed over to the Jews instead of the present of a subdued neighborhood.

Might one add that the Democrats are not the only ones making reasonable statements instead of what is actually needed. The removal of Bush and war party.