WASHINGTON - September 10 - The group September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, made up of families of the victims of the 9-11 attacks, has released a statement regarding the timing of the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus. It reads in part:


"The timing of this testimony is another attempt by government officials to force a non-existent connection between the events of 9-11 and this administration's disastrous policy of invasion and war in Iraq. The 9-11 Commission found there was no operational or cooperative relationship between Al Qaida and Iraq. It is widely understood today that this administration's actions in Iraq have in fact created a terrorist sanctuary where none previously existed, at a cost of more American lives than were lost on 9-11, tens of thousands maimed and wounded, and over 100,000 Iraqi dead.


"Six years after September 11, 2001, politicians, from the White House to the halls of Congress, continue to abuse the memory of our loved ones who died in that attack by attempting to invoke their and our suffering to further this administration's political goals. As we have stated on previous occasions, we ask any and all politicians and candidates for office to respect the memory of the innocent lives lost on 9-11 by refraining from using the 9-11 sites, memorials, and anniversaries for political ends, either explicitly or as political 'backdrop.'"


The following members of September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows are available for a limited number of interviews:


ADELE WELTY
Welty is the mother of firefighter Timothy Welty, who perished at the World Trade Center on 9-11.
More Information


TALAT HAMDANI
Hamdani is the mother of Mohammad Salman Hamdani, who was a New York City police cadet killed in the World Trade Center attack on 9/11.
More Information


TERRY ROCKEFELLER
Rockefeller lost her sister Laura in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
More Information


BRUCE WALLACE
After the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Wallace -- a retired Brooklyn high school teacher -- began the group 121 Contact to establish correspondence between his students and their Iraqi counterparts. Wallace's nephew Mitch was killed at the World Trade Center on 9-11.
More Information


JOHN LEINUNG
Leinung lost his son, Paul Battaglia, who worked in the World Trade Center.
More Information


COLLEEN KELLY
Kelly lost her brother, William Kelly, in the attacks at the World Trade Center.
More Information


For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167.

###