[haw-info] against escalation in Afghanistan

[Jim O'Brien]

We are passing along the following statement just issued by United for Peace
and Justice, the anti-war coalition to which HAW belongs.


  *Call for National Action for Peace in Afghanistan *

Today, President Barack Obama announced his plans to send another 21,000
troops to Afghanistan: *he is girding the nation for a long and costly
military occupation there*.

While he also made some good statements on increasing diplomacy and economic
aid to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the emphasis is clearly on military
operations. Predictably, the Pakistan and Afghan factions of the Taliban are
already uniting to oppose our escalation of troops. As the spring fighting
season approaches, only one thing is certain -- more death, destruction, and
misery in a desperately poor country that has had little respite from war
for decades.

Here in the U.S., Obama's escalation in Afghanistan and the continuing
occupation of Iraq threaten our nation's urgent economic and domestic
agenda. *Now is the time for more diplomacy, not more war!*

*United For Peace and Justice calls for immediate action for peace in
Afghanistan*. Here are three things you can do:

*1) Call the White House today - 202-456-1414*

Make sure President Obama knows that you disagree with his plans to send
more troops to Afghanistan. Call the White House comment line at
202-456-1414 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM ET.

*2) March with UFPJ on April 4!*

Building on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are marching on
the anniversary of his historic speech against the war in Vietnam and the
anniversary of his assassination. On Saturday, April 4, we are taking our
message to Wall Street in
NYC<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=553Mm%2BO0xMaazQLeyeRfKpHIzgh8VUdQ>:
addressing this country's economic crisis must include drastic cuts in
military spending and that means ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The last thing our country needs is a new quagmire in Afghanistan - it is
time to bring the troops home, not send more.

*3) Help organize local actions April 6 - 9*

Congress will be in recess so this is a perfect time to meet with your
representatives while they are home. Actions can also be community or
media-focused -- vigils, rallies, public education forums with local
speakers, film showings or other events to educate and mobilize support in
your community. This is an important time to educate people about
Afghanistan and the urgent need to change U.S. policy.

*UFPJ calls for the following*:

   - A halt to the planned escalation of 21,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
   We need to *bring all our troops home now*, not to send more into a
   country where military solutions have never worked.


   - *A strong commitment to diplomacy* as the only solution to the conflict
   in Afghanistan. The U.S. must support negotiations already underway among
   various actors in Afghanistan, and must also engage all countries in the
   region with a stake in a peaceful Afghanistan. The announcement that Iran
   will join negotiations over Afghanistan is a positive development. We need
   to share more cups of tea for negotiating rather than more weapons where
   military solutions have never worked.*


   - *A dramatic shift from military spending by the U.S. to funding for
   Afghan-led humanitarian community development and reconstruction projects
   * to enable Afghan communities to improve daily life for their own
   people. Our goal is to put an end to U.S. war funding.

Please let us know of the actions you are planning by posting them  on the
UFPJ calendar.<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=AyoxOqSH1uPyO2iIUakXnJHIzgh8VUdQ>

*The reference is to the work of Greg Mortenson as described in his New York
Times #1 best-selling book, 'Three Cups of
Tea:<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=FMO%2FqKQIhnB8f4aZOuU1UQSu8XpqszoM>
One
Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time', by Greg Mortenson and
David Oliver Relin.

------------------------------

*Help us continue to do this critical work: Make a donation to UFPJ
today.<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1ahFePtey7uFMYKHMX%2F87ZHIzgh8VUdQ>
*

*UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE*
*www.unitedforpeace.org<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=pUEh70Hco4FAa%2BBeUpm6NpHIzgh8VUdQ>|
212-868-5545
*
PO Box 607; Times Square Station; New York, NY 10108

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