4/21/02

To: Denis Halliday and Kathy Kelly

Subject: Thanks for your courageous efforts

At our March 3 Sunday service at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, Frank Paynter of the Madison Monthly Meeting of Friends reported on the January 19th & 20th, 2002, "Quaker Summit" in Philadelphia in which you both played prominent roles. We agree that the current sanctions limiting shipments of medical supplies and water purification equipment to Iraq cannot be expected to elicit a positive response from the current govenment of that country, are resulting in unconscionable suffering by the people of Iraq, and are helping to make Iraq a fertile breeding ground for the growth of terrorism among a whole new generation of Iraqi youth. The fact that the United States govenment stands virtually alone in imposing the "holds" which have been placed on shipments of vitally needed medical supplies ordered under UN Security Council Resolution 986, the "oil-for-food" program, seems likely to make our country the prime target for such terrorism.

We wish to express our appreciation for the persistent and courageous leadership you have shown and continue to show in bringing the needless suffering of the Iraqi people before the conscience of America. Thank you, and please keep up the good work in the Campaign of Conscience for the Iraqi People!

Social Action Committee
Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society
Madison, Wisconsin