From: Paul Perkins
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 5:04 PM
To: 'Senator Debbie Stabenow'
Subject: Thank you

Thank You for your response.

Please continue to voice the peoples opinions for non military action in resolving the current conflicts in Iraq and abroad.

Also please keep in mind that the citizens of the United States of America should NOT have to give up their liberties in order to gain safety.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. 
         ---Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.  

Sincerely

Paul Perkins


 


-----Original Message-----
From: Senator Debbie Stabenow [mailto:senator@stabenow.senate.gov] 
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 4:53 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: No War!





January 31, 2003


Paul Perkins
 


Thank you . . .

 . . for contacting me regarding the situation in Iraq.  I share your concerns over possible military action and fully supporting finding a peaceful solution to the current conflict.

Last year, I voted against authorizing the President to use military force.  The question before the Senate was not whether we supported or trusted the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but how the United States will counter the threat of Saddam Hussein to our citizens and the citizens of the rest of the world while maintaining our focus on critical efforts to fight global terrorism.  To achieve the goal of disarming Saddam Hussein, I believe that we should exhaust all peaceful options before resorting to the use of military force.  While I opposed the President's proposal, I wholeheartedly support our troops who are fighting the war on terrorism overseas and those who may serve in a war on Iraq. We must provide them with the best technology and logistical support possible while they defend our country.

Currently, the United Nations inspectors are searching sites across Iraq for evidence of any violations of the Iraqi agreement not to pursue weapons of mass destruction.  A substantial violation or discovery of undisclosed weapons caches could mean military intervention, which was authorized in the Congressional resolution last year.  I will continue to monitor this situation closely as it develops and will push to ensure that all possible avenues of peaceful disarmament are employed before any further action is taken.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.  Please do not hesitate to do so again if I may be of assistance in the future.


Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator