Tell Congress we need an exit strategy from Afghanistan =Please take ACTION=

Please tell Congress how you feel!

Last week in Afghanistan, there were 400 insurgent attacks in one week, the highest level since 2001. [1] General Petraeus expects those attacks to increase, and they're getting ready to send in 21,000 more troops. There is no evidence that increasing the military presence will decrease violence, yet the Obama administration currently doesn't have a plan for how and when this war is going to end. We need to raise our voices now. Join our national day of action and urge your representative to cosponsor Rep. McGovern's Afghanistan exit strategy bill.

Click here.

http://act.peaceactionwest.org/peaceactionwest/issues/alert/?alertid=13501896

Few members of Congress have taken a strong stand against the occupation. In the first round of voting, only 60 representatives and 3 senators voted against funding for the war. But because of the grassroots efforts of thousands of Peace Action West members and other committed activists, we now have 87 representatives cosponsoring Rep. McGovern's bill requiring an exit strategy by the end of the year. Can we get to 100? 150? Groups around the country are organizing a day of action so we can increase our impact and be sure we are heard. Click here to write your representative today to support a clear exit strategy for Afghanistan.

President Obama's praiseworthy speech in Cairo last week included some admirable points about nonmilitary aid and his desire to see US troops come home. We saw how long the Iraq war has dragged on without an exit strategy; we can't repeat that in Afghanistan. The president's rhetoric needs to be matched with clear action. Congress will soon start examining President Obama's military budget for Fiscal Year 2010. This is an important opportunity to raise concerns about the occupation of Afghanistan and push for a better policy. The more loudly we support McGovern's bill, the harder it will be for leaders in Congress to refuse to allow a vote. And this vote could open the way for other challenges to the administration's Afghanistan policy. Take action today to make that happen.

http://act.peaceactionwest.org/peaceactionwest/issues/alert/?alertid=13501896

We are starting to see cracks in Congress' support for the war in Afghanistan thanks to your commitment to raising your voices. With increasing Afghan, Pakistani, and US casualties, and a growing humanitarian crisis, we must remain vigilant in our work to pressure our government for a more humane, effective and pragmatic solution.

Thank you for taking action.

Ron G.