As President Prepares for State of the Union Address, American Nobel Laureates to Announce Opposition to Pre-Emptive War on Iraq

1/28/2003

From: Martin Butcher of Physicians for Social Responsibility, 202-421-6943

News Advisory:

Tomorrow, 40 American Nobel Laureates will release the first statement of its kind opposing a unilateral attack on Iraq by the United States. The Laureates, many of whom have received the National Medal of Science and/or have worked for the Defense Department, have signed the statement, which is supported by corporate leaders and former military officials.

WHO: American Nobel Laureates

WHAT: Press Conference to Release and Sign a Statement

WHEN: Jan. 28 at the home of Professor Walter Kohn, 10 a.m. PST

WHERE: 236 La Vista Grande Santa Barbara, CA 93103 Home Phone: 805-962-1489 Work Phone: 805-893-2420 Email: kohn@physics.ucsd.edu

The statement will be posted on the web at 9 a.m. EST on Jan. 28 at http://www.nobellaureatesoniraq.org.

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American Nobel Laureates' Position on a Unilateral, Preventive Attack on Iraq

"The undersigned oppose a preventive war against Iraq without broad international support. Military operations against Iraq may indeed lead to a relatively swift victory in the short term. But war is characterized by surprise, human loss, and unintended consequences. Even with a victory, we believe that the medical, economic, environmental, moral, spiritual, political, and legal consequences of an American preventive attack on Iraq would undermine, not protect, U.S. security and standing in the world".

George A. Akerlof(E), (a)Philip W. Anderson(Ph), (a)Paul Berg(Ch), (a)Hans A. Bethe(1)(Ph), (a)Nicolaas Bloembergen (Ph), Paul D. Boyer(Ch), Leon N. Cooper(Ph), James W. Cronin(Ph) Robert F. Curl, Jr.(Ch), (a)Val L. Fitch(Ph), Robert F. Furchgott(M), Sheldon L. Glashow(Ph) (a)Roger Guillemin(M), Herbert A. Hauptman(Ch), Alan J. Heeger(Ch), Louis J. Ignarro(M) (a)Eric R. Kandel(M), (a)Har Gobind Khorana(M), Lawrence R. Klein(E), (a)Walter Kohn(Ch) (a)Leon M. Lederman(Ph), (a)Juan T. Lee(Ch), William N. Lipscomb(Ch), Daniel L. McFadden(E) Franco Modigliani(E), Ferid Murad(M), (a)George E. Palade(M), Arno A. Penzias(Ph), Martin L. Perl(Ph), William D. Phillips(Ph), (a)Norman F. Ramsey (Ph), (a)Robert Schrieffer (Ph) William F. Sharpe (E), (a)Jack Steinberger (Ph), Joseph H.Taylor, Jr.(Ph), (a)Charles H. Townes(2) (Ph) Daniel C. Tsui (Ph), Harold E. Varmus (M), Robert W. Wilson (Ph), Ahmed H. Zewail (Ch); Joseph Rotblat (P) and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (P)

(Ph)-Physics (Ch)-Chemistry (M)-Physiology or Medicine (P)-Peace (E)-Economics

Notes: (a) Recipients of the National Medal of Science, (1) Director, Theory Division, WWII Manhattan Project (2) Former Director of Research, DOD Institute for Defense Analysis; Former Member of President's Science Advisory Council

The following organizations support the Nobel Laureates' position:

Physicians for Social Responsibility (US affiliate of the IPPNW (P): True Majority: (including, present or former CEOs of Bell Industries, Eastman Kodak, Goldman Sachs, Hasbro, Men's Warehouse, Phillips Van Heusen, military leaders Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan; former Assistant Secretary of Defense Lawrence Korb (under President Reagan); Admiral Stansfield Turner (USM, ret.) former CIA Director; Rear Admiral Eugene Carroll (USN, ret.), heads of the major religious denominations representing 30 million Americans - including the Presbyterians, Methodists, National Baptists) The Social Venture Network: (including, Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., Brown and Company, Calvert Group, Christian Brothers Investment Group, Episcopal Church Foundation, Fores Trade Inc, Hall Financial Group, Investors Circle, KDPaine & Partners, Market Street Research Inc, New Capitalist, Placeware Inc, Rochefeller & Company, Salomon, Smith Barney, Stonyfield Farm Inc, Tom's of Maine); Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy, John Hagelin

The following religious leaders support the Nobel Laureates' position: Gordon D. Kaufman, Professor of Divinity, Emeritus, Harvard University, Robert V. Thompson, Council For A Parliament of the World's Religions.

PSR APPLAUDS AMERICAN NOBEL LAUREATES STAND ON WAR WITH IRAQ

Martin Butcher, 202-421-6943

National PSR, the US affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), winner of the 1985 Nobel Prize for Peace, is proud to stand in opposition to a preventive war against Iraq alongside 41 other Nobel Prize winners from many diverse fields.

"The administration must listen to the American people, and to the international community. War is an unpopular option since most people believe it to be unnecessary. This statement is an important contribution to the international debate," said Robert K. Musil Ph.D., MPH, Executive Director and CEO of Physicians for Social Responsibility.

PSR has been working for responsible opposition to the administration's rush to war. As physicians, our members are deeply concerned with the possible medical and environmental consequences of a war, as well as the preemptive nature of attacks which would be undertaken without serious evidence that Iraq is currently pursuing nuclear weapons or other WMD programs. The Iraqi people will, as in past wars, be the first to suffer. Their medical and public health infrastructure has been destroyed by past wars, and more than a decade of sanctions. They have suffered more than enough.

PSR has gathered the support of thousands of physicians who have signed letters to the Bush administration opposing war, and raising the dangers of possible nuclear use in any preemptive conflict. PSR has also sponsored a full-page advertisement in the New York Times calling for time for inspectors to carry out their work. Now PSR is happy to welcome this Nobel Laureates' statement as an important contribution to the national debate.

"At the very moment that the inspections are beginning to work, and that Iraq is beginning to bend to the will of the international community, we should not be rushing headlong to war," said Robert K. Musil Ph.D., MPH. "According to recent polls, 70 percent of the American people believe that the US should support the inspectors and give them time to do their job. PSR physician members fully agree with this majority in our nation."

Further information from Martin Butcher, Director of Security Programs, 202-421-6943.