TEXAS PEACE DELEGATE PLANS RETURN TO IRAQ While one Texan argues for war, another continues the battle for peace.

Texans for Peace founder, Charlie Jackson, plans to return to Iraq during the next 2-3 weeks and remain to work with "faith leaders in that country" in the event of war.

(PRWEB) March 16, 2003 ---As President Bush continues to argue for war and military intervention in Iraq, another Texan prepares to return to Iraq to oppose that policy. Charlie Jackson, a Texas businessman and international expert on war and peace issues plans to return to Iraq in advance of a possible war to continue to present a different face of America -- one that is not arrogant, aggressive and full of bluster."
   
Iraq, and the world, is being presented a negative image of Texas by an administration that neither embodies humility and honesty nor a true understanding of international relations and the real issues of war and peacemaking," says Mr. Jackson. He adds that one of the main reasons for his return to Iraq after a month-long trip in January of this year is to continue to build relationships between the various faith communities -- both those in the United States and those in Iraq -- in the face of impending war. Charlie declares, It is critical that members of the faith communities of this world stand together against naked aggression and evil. This includes the individual terrorist whos heart is so dead that he or she would kill innocent children, or Dictators, Kings, and Presidents who would devastate nations to enforce their policies."
   
Mr. Jackson knows well the issues of modern warfare in an academic and practical sense. He earned his degree in government during the period of the turmoil surrounding the Iranian Revolution. I remember well the fear and terror of 'official Washington when I was serving as a research clerk in Congress in 1979 when Americans were taken hostage in Tehran and D.C. Americans feared terrorist attacks at home," says Mr. Jackson. Since that time he has continued to study issues and policies surrounding both war and peace and has concluded that there are many alternatives to the use of military force to solve the problems of nations.

After returning from his first peace mission to Bosnia, in 1993, Mr. Jackson began the formation of Texans for Peace after he became convince that Texans could play a role in international peacemaking. During 2002 he became concerned about the headlong (he says hell-bent") rush to war with Iraq and began making preparations to travel to Iraq as a Texas peace delegate. On December 26th he flew from Houston as part of a Christian Peacemaker Team delegation and spent most of January in Iraq.
   
I was very surprised at what I found in Iraq, compared to how that country has been portrayed in the media," says Mr. Jackson. It was a much more modern and secular country than many in the Middle East with a surprising degree of religious and personal freedoms." Mr. Jackson is quick to address the historic political issues of Saddam Husseins government including two wars, its weapons program, and human rights violations. At the same time, Mr. Jackson says that there are better ways that the U.S. and United Nations could handle the situation to the benefit of all concerned. He specifically calls for a lifting of sanctions, development of an international peace teams", and continued monitoring of Iraq.
   
Mr. Jackson hopes to return to Iraq during the next 2-3 weeks and plans to stay even if war comes. In the event of war I will be working alongside the local faith communities in Iraq, providing both my presence and willing hands while at the same time demonstrating that Americans really do care about what happens to the people of the world." Mr. Jackson continues, for many Iraqis, the few members of the peace teams may be the only contact they have with America besides the images of soldiers in camouflage and the impact of bombs raining down from above."

Mr. Jackson adds that the U.S. cannot reach the ideals that Americans hold dear while at the same time killing innocent people around the world. He says, I cannot value the lives of children that belong to other fathers and mothers any less than I value the lives of my own two sons."

Mr. Jackson is currently appealing to Texans who value peacemaking to contribute to his trip through Texans for Peace (http://www.texansforpeace.org). He is also available for presentations and talks about Iraq anywhere in the state.