[Peace-discuss] Authentic voice of the antiwar movement

[C. G. Estabrook]

	That’s Not Change - It’s More of the Same

...President Obama announced his decision to send 17,000 additional U.S. troops 
to Afghanistan, on the grounds that ‘the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan 
demands urgent attention’. Peace Action strongly opposes Obama’s recent 
announcement and urges people to immediately call on Obama to choose diplomacy, 
not escalation.

More troops won’t solve our problems in Afghanistan. Click here to tell 
President Obama and Congress that we need a comprehensive plan for Afghanistan 
before risking more American and Afghan lives.

We have seen the disastrous consequences of heading into war without a plan in 
Iraq. We are still mourning American and Iraqi lives lost, and struggling to 
rehabilitate our economy while spending billions of dollars on war.

Peace Action calls for the ‘rapid withdrawal’ of U.S. troops from Afghanistan 
and a new commitment to a negotiated diplomatic solution involving all regional 
players.


The Obama Administration should:

    De-escalate troop levels in Afghanistan and reject the idea that there is a 
military solution to the region’s problems;

    Immediately stop military activities that indiscriminately impact civilians 
such as air and drone strikes;

    Rapidly withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan;

    Commit to negotiated diplomatic talks involving all major regional players, 
including major international peace-keeping bodies;

    Address the real needs of Afghans, which include health-care, clean water, 
education, and security.

    Send this important message to our President and Congress.

BACKGROUND
Since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Al Qaeda has increased its attacks. 
Last year saw the most civilian deaths in Afghanistan since the U.S. invaded, 
and a new poll shows that only 18% of Afghans want more U.S. troops. Bombings of 
civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan are angering the populations in both 
countries and their governments, undermining the U.S.’s ability to create 
stability. We cannot simply intensify the Bush administration’s failed policy. 
Now is the time for us to press President Obama and Congress to find a better 
approach to Afghanistan.

General David Patreaus has called Afghanistan the “graveyard of empires.”  An 
authoritative report released last year demonstrated that military force has 
historically been unsuccessful in defeating terrorism [1]. Counterinsurgency 
experts have said that a military strategy would require hundreds of thousands 
of troops we can’t send, and even if we did there would be no guarantee of success.

We have heard a lot about why we need to shift resources to Afghanistan, but we 
need to hear a lot more about what kind of resources would be truly effective. 
There are many other pieces of this puzzle. Can you help us send this urgent 
message today?

...

Footnote: 1. According to a RAND Corporation report, since 1968, only seven 
percent of all terrorist groups that have ended were taken down by military 
force. In contrast, 40 percent of those groups were defeated through police and 
intelligence work, and 43 percent gave up terrorism as they were integrated into 
the political process. The framework of the “Global War on Terror” has set up 
unrealistic expectations of a military victory against non-state actors, and the 
apportioning of counterterrorism resources has reflected that flawed approach.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Martin
Executive Director

http://peaceblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/thats-not-change-its-more-of-the-same/