Dear Rep. Chocola:

I'm writing this letter less than two hours after the announcement of the death of Pope John Paul II. The news coverage is wall to wall across the TV channels.

In brief remarks written for him to read on television, President Bush just reminded Americans of how, during his visits to the United States, the pope spoke of the "self-evident truths" described in our Declaration of Independence and how such ideals "led people all over the world to look to America with hope and respect."

"Pope John Paul II was, himself, an inspiration to millions of Americans," said the president, "and to so many more throughout the world. We will always remember the humble, wise and fearless priest who became one of history's great moral leaders. We're grateful to God for sending such a man, a son of Poland who became the Bishop of Rome and a hero for the ages. But he was a naive dreamer when it came to issues of national security."

The president didn't say that last line. I just imagine he would have if he were speaking frankly. And as for "hope and respect," it seems only right to update the scoreboard of world opinion to reflect the preponderance of fear, distrust and bewilderment directed our way.

Do you recall the message this "wise and fearless priest," John Paul II, conveyed to President Bush on the eve of the invasion of Iraq? Here's a hint: It was not "Go for it." Rather, it was the equivalent of, "Stop. Don't do this. This is immoral. So are any other preemptive wars you have planned." President Bush didn't listen, and neither did you.

The result has been a bloody quagmire that has taken the lives of more than 1,500 U.S. soldiers (the casualties of the past week appear below) along with many more thousands of innocent Iraqis. As yet another report on prewar intelligence told us this past week, all justifications for the war based on Iraq's potential to strike at the United States and its neighbors with "weapons of mass destruction" were "dead wrong."

My advice to you, to the president, and to all others in positions of influence and authority is to honor the memory of Pope John Paul II not with telegrams to the Vatican or your presence at his funeral. Instead, resolve to restore our nation's foreign policy to a moral foundation that relies on the force of law rather than the law of force.

Writing on behalf of
Michiana Peace & Justice Coalition, I am

Ed Cohen