19 National Organizations Applaud Congress for Telling Obama to Reconsider Afghanistan Surge

Washington, DC — Peace Action, the nation’s largest peace organization, along with 18 other national organizations applauded a congressional letter to President Obama requesting that he reconsider troop escalation in Afghanistan. Last month, President Obama announced his plan to send an additional 17,000 U.S. troops into Afghanistan.

“More Members of Congress need to tell the President that they have major concerns about sending another 17,000 troops in harms way in Afghanistan,” stated Paul Kawika Martin the group’s political director.

The bipartisan letter signed by six Republicans and eight Democrats states in part, “The 2001 authorization to use military force in Afghanistan allowed military action ‘to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States.’ Continuing to fight a counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan does not appear to us to be in keeping with these directives and an escalation may actually harm U.S. security.” Last week, 19 national organizations sent a letter to the entire House of Representatives asking them to sign the letter. Mr. Martin claimed he knew of a number of Members of Congress who agreed with the letter but left their name off for political reasons.

The letter, sent today, shows growing congressional concern that Afghanistan may become another quagmire. “Instead of more troops for a war without end in Afghanistan, it would be wise for the U.S. to increase funding for humanitarian aid, development work and landmine clean up. Additionally, the U.S. would better win the hearts and minds of Afghans by limiting civilian suffering by stopping air and drone strikes and night raids – all tend to kill, injure or traumatize innocent civilians,” recommended Martin

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Founded in 1957, Peace Action, the United States' largest peace and disarmament organization, with over 100,000 members and nearly 100 chapters in 34 states, works to abolish of nuclear weapons, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary solutions to the conflicts with Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. http://www.Peace-Action.org