We former members of the United States Congress plead with the governments of the United States and Great Britain to hold off on their plans for a military invasion of Iraq, giving the U.N. inspectors have a chance to continue their work. That work holds the possibility of bringing about a peaceful solution to the situation in Iraq.

We come to this conclusion based in large part on our experience in government. As former members of Congress, however, we are able to voice our concerns free from the pressures of lobbyists, representatives of the Administration, political parties, or the worry of being re-elected. Among our concerns are these:

• The industrialized world has been moving away from war as a means of settling differences. An invasion of Iraq will deal a devastating blow to the global movement toward world peace.

• We fear for the innocent citizens of Iraq who will be killed by our bombs, and for the families in the United States who will receive body bags with the remains of their sons and daughters, if our troops are ordered to invade Iraq.

• We are concerned about the terrorist threat to the world and worry that an invasion of Iraq may precipitate further terrorist attacks.

• Even if an invasion of Iraq is successful in military terms, the aftermath is fraught with peril and unexpected consequences. Conflict may spread in the region. U.S. military personnel will have to remain in Iraq, perhaps for years. The United Nations would likely be weakened. And the United States would almost certainly emerge with a tarnished reputation as a world citizen.

For all these reasons, we urge our leaders to heed voices from around the world that are crying out for peace. Let us pull back from the brink of war and give peaceful solutions a chance to work.

1. Hon. James G. Abourezk D-SD
2. Hon. Brock Adams D-WA
3. Hon. Thomas H. Andrews D-ME
4. Hon. Chester Atkins D-MA
5. Hon. Les AuCoin D-OR
6. Hon. Michael D. Barnes D-MD
7. Hon. Berkley Bedell D-IA
8. Hon. Tony Beilenson D-CA
9. Hon. Don Bonker D-WA
10. Hon. C. Robin Britt, Sr.D-NC
11. Hon. John Buchanan, Jr. R-AL
12. Hon. John Burton D-CA
13. Hon. Leslie L. Byrne D-VA
14. Hon. Clair A. Callan D-NE
15. Hon. Ronald Brooks CameronD-CA
16. Hon. Cardiss Collins D-IL
17. Hon. Robert J. Cornell D-WI
18. Hon. E. "Kika" de la Garza D-TX
19. Hon. Robert F. Drinan, S.J. D-MA
20. Hon. Tom Eagleton D-MO
21. Hon. Robert W. Edgar D-PA
22. Hon. Don Edwards D-CA
23. Hon. Dave Evans D-IN
24. Hon. Paul Findley D-IL
25. Hon. Floyd Fithian D-IN
26. Hon. William D. Ford D-MI
27. Hon. Donald M. Fraser D-MN
28. Hon. Sam M. Gibbons D-FL
29. Hon. John J. Gilligan D-OH
30. Hon. William D. Hathaway D-ME
31. Hon. Fred Harris D-OK
32. Hon. W. G. "Bill" HefnerD-NC
33. Hon. Elizabeth Holtzman D-NY
34. Hon. William L. Hungate D-MO
35. Hon. John W. Jenrette, Jr. D-SC
36. Hon. Robert Kastenmeier D-WI
37. Hon. Martha Keys D-KS
38. Hon. Mike Kopetski D-OR
39. Hon. Richard H. Lehman D-CA
40. Hon. Cathy Long D-LA
41. Hon. Stan Lundine D-NY
42. Hon. Romano L. Mazzoli D-KY
43. Hon. Paul N. "Pete" McCloskey, Jr. R-CA
44. Hon. Mike McCormack D-WA
45. Hon. George McGovern D-SD
46. Hon. Lloyd Meeds D-WA
47. Hon. John Melcher D-
48. Hon. Howard Metzenbaum D-OH
49. Hon. Abner J. Mikva D-IL
50. Hon. Anthony J. "Toby" Moffett D-CT
51. Hon. Jim Moody D-WI
52. Hon. David Nagle D-IA
53. Hon. Richard M. Nolan D-MN
54. Hon. Henry J. Nowak D-NY
55. Hon. Jim Olin D-MN
56. Hon. Richard L. Ottinger D-NY
57. Hon. Douglas “PeteP Peterson D-FL
58. Hon. Thomas M. Rees D-CA
59. Hon. Fred Richmond D-NY
60. Hon. Donald W. Riegle, Jr. D-MI
61. Hon. Patricia Schroeder D-CO
62. Hon. James H. Scheuer D-NY
63. Hon. John F. Seiberling D-OH
64. Hon. Paul Simon D-IL
65. Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson D-IL
66. Hon. Louis Stokes D-OH
67. Hon. Joseph D. Tydings D-MD
68. Hon. Richard Van Der Veen D-MI
69. Hon. Charles A. Vanik D-OH
70. Hon. Jerome Waldie D-CA
71. Hon. Douglas Walgren D-PA
72. Hon. Jim Weaver R-PA