Local groups are planning their next steps to prevent war in the Middle East as Congressional leaders press President Bush to explain his goals.

Bush keeps telling American citizens different stories, said Interfaith Network co-coordinator Cecile Meyer. “First, we were protecting Saudi Arabia, then our way of life. There has been a lot of confusion,” she said.

“We support our troops in Saudi Arabia and we do not want them to be used or sacrificed for oil,” Meyer said.

She said some of the organizations involved in last Saturday’s no-war rally will hold a meeting Sunday at 6 p.m. to map-out strategies to help end the conflict.

The meeting is scheduled for the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 Annie Glidden Road.

“There are still peaceful ways to find a solution” to the crisis, Meyer said. “We want to continue having a public debate.”

Cinny Poppens, National Pledge of Resistance co-coordinator, will travel from Elgin to attend the meeting and help plan for local groups to visit Rep. Dennis Hastert’s office, R-Yorkville, on Dec. 7, she said.

On the same day, national peace organizations will gather at the offices of Congressional members to protest the United States’ involvement in the Middle East, Meyer said.

She said the group will “ask that (Hastert) take action to stop the war.” Some members are “prepared to do civil disobedience and others said they would not.”