A panel of speakers from numerous groups gathered to express opposition to war with Iraq and suggest alternatives at the Campus Christian Center, 1127 University Ave., Tuesday.
\This isn't a new war, this is an ongoing foreign policy of military might and--as much as I hate to use the word--imperialism,"" said Rae Vogeler, the leader of the Madison Area Peace Coalition.
Two other panelists shared their experiences of illegally traveling to Iraq and their concerns of war along with their disgust for the 13-year sanctions placed on Iraq by the United States.
Ken Ricardi is one of many member of Voices in the Wilderness who have racked up fines of $120,000 for their illegal ventures to Iraq in which they brought medicine and other banned items.
""Baghdad was one of the most progressive Middle Eastern countries before the sanctions,"" Ricardi said. ""During the numerous years of the sanctions there has been a 600,000 percent deflation rate on Iraqi currency, yet salaries have remained the same. The doctors there are up for the Nobel Peace Prize just for continuing their practice.""
Sister Mary Ellen McDonagh of Sisters of Charity said she believes many of these conflicts can be resolved in alternative ways, especially considering that President Bush has stated he seeks a diplomatic way to reconcile with North Korea which has admitted to holding weapons of mass destruction.
""We need to demilitarize the conflict, stop the bullying, lift the sanctions, embargo weapons and weapons parts at the border, have dialogue with citizens of Iraq who are interested in security and human rights and hold congressional hearings,"" McDonagh said.
Matthew Rothschild, editor of The Progressive, and Vogeler also expressed their deep concern for Tuesday's cancellation of their anti-war teach-in at Madison Memorial High School. Rothschild called the cancellation ""an offense to the first amendment.""
The general consensus of the panel was that the war is completely unnecessary because solid reasoning is lacking. Rothschild said he believes it is a manufactured war because Saddam Hussein has done nothing to incite attack. However, since he has been a criminal of war in the past there should have been an international warrant for his arrest.
""We need to oppose war as moral human beings because we know what the cost of war can be, and this war won't make us any safer,"" Rothschild said.
