Jordan’s Plea

One of the things that has been destroyed by the U.S. bombing of Iraq is the rationale for abandoning the policy of economic sanctions. Obviously, the regime of Saddam Hussein no longer poses a significant threat to the region; it will not be possible to restore what has been lost under sanctions.

King Hussein of Jordan, who has remained a lonely voice of sanity during the fabrication of this conflict, made an eloquent and dignified plea for an immediate cease-fire and a return to negotiations. The Bush Administration has summarily rejected the proposal, choosing instead to pursue the war without a reason.

We join King Hussein and the people of conscience throughout the world in demanding that the bombing be stopped. A cease-fire enforced by the United Nations, coupled with sanctions targeted at the regime, will give the people of Iraq the opportunity to collect themselves and deal with their internal problem of government.

Continued military violence is profoundly immoral, and the killing of thousands of civilians in pursuit of a vendetta against one man, as was the case in Panama, may well be a “war crime” that exceeds the abuse of prisoners.

MICHAEL YEOMANS, Goleta