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Statement on Iraq marking the 5th anniversary of the invasion 18-03-08

Assembly nearly sold out 18-03-08

Baptists and Ascension Trust to hold violent crime conference 18-03-08

Joint Public Issues Team: March Newsletter 17-03-08

The Passion: Review 07-03-08

Baptists to hold multicultural 'Gathering' in West Midlands 05-03-08

East Midlands Baptists challenged to become 21st Century churches 01-02-08

Fresh Horizons National Tour launched in Hereford 15-02-08

BBC to broadcast peak time Easter drama, The Passion 01-02-08

Baptists asked to dig deeper for Home Mission in 2008 17-01-08

Latest news from the Faith and Unity Department 07-01-08

Statement on Iraq marking the 5th anniversary of the invasion

Tuesday 18 March 2008

'When the invasion of Iraq took place, our Baptist Union Council agreed a statement lamenting the failure of war and expressing deep concern for the potential suffering of both Iraqi civilians and military personnel. All that has happened since confirms the worst fears so many of us had from the beginning.

It has been immensely costly war. The number of Iraqis killed can only be estimated - some put the figure at well over half a million - and more than 4,000 coalition troops have lost their lives to date. The continuing cycle of violence and destruction linked with a growing sectarianism has confirmed that neither the UK nor the US had made any adequate preparation for the aftermath of invasion. And the failure to find weapons of mass destruction has cast yet further doubt on the legitimacy of the whole enterprise.

While it will never be a cheap or easy option, this anniversary should make us renew efforts to pursue diplomacy, invest in the work of reconstruction and reconciliation, and engage in peacemaking.'

Graham Sparkes (Head of Faith and Unity Department)