By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Ten local representatives of an Internet-based group opposing what they consider an American rush to war against Iraq presented petitions with more than 300 names at U.S. Rep. John Boehner's office here Tuesday.

In a cordial, informal meeting, members of the group expressed their belief to a representative of Mr. Boehner that President Bush should give the Iraq arms inspections a chance to work before resorting to warfare.

"War is killing people," Kathie Brinkman of Oxford told Mick Krieger, Mr. Boehner's district representative. "We better be sure before we do it.

"There better be a monumental threat to this country, and we don't have that yet."

The local members of MoveOn.org had arranged to present the petitions to Mr. Boehner's office at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, to conform with the timing of similar visits by MoveOn.org representatives to congressional offices throughout the country.

In addition to the 309 names on petitions presented at Mr. Boehner's office, petitions with 200 names of other residents from Mr. Boehner's district had previously been sent to his office, said Deborah Trimmer, the local coordinator for MoveOn.org.

More than 300,000 people nationwide have participated in MoveOn.org's petitions, she said.

Mr. Boehner could not attend the meeting Tuesday because he was out of state. But he would be willing to meet with the MoveOn.org representatives at another time, Mr. Krieger said.

"I don't think his view is too much different than yours," Mr. Krieger told the group.

"I don't think anybody wants war."

Mr. Krieger took notes during the meeting and said he would inform Mr. Boehner of the group's opinions.

Dr. Sally Harrison-Pepper, a professor of interdisciplinary studies at Miami University, said she would like Mr. Boehner to lobby President Bush to work through the United Nations before waging war.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com