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NATION’S LARGEST PEACE
GROUP COMMENTS ON OBAMA’S IRAQ TRIP
Paul Kawika Martin, Political Director,
301.565.4050 x 316, 951.217.7285 cell, pmartin@peace-action.org
Kevin M. Martin, Executive Director, Peace Action 301.565.4050 x307,
301.537.8244 cell, kmartin@peace-action.org
Peace Action Calls on President Obama to end
occupation of Iraq
swiftly and completely and to re-consider surge of U.S. troops to
Afghanistan
Washington, DC – April 7, 2010 – Peace Action, the country’s
largest peace and disarmament group, commented on President Obama’s
unannounced visit to Iraq. Paul Kawika Martin, the group’s
political director said:
“Visiting Baghdad shows that Iraq is a high priority for President
Barack Obama. Unlike Bush or McCain, Obama promised to redeploy
troops from Iraq in 16 months. Yet, the president’s plan announced
earlier this year does not fulfill his promise. Leaving 35,000 to
50,000 ‘residual forces’ until the end of 2011 is unacceptable.
We call on him to keep his campaign promise because this illegal,
immoral occupation, which failed to find weapons of mass destruction,
must end by removing all U.S. forces, contractors and bases from
Iraq by June 2010.
“Obama's plan to help save the lives of millions of vulnerable
Iraqis is laudable. The U.S. must fulfill its responsibility to
help re-build the country with Iraqi-led reconstruction and humanitarian
aid and provisions for the millions of Iraqi refugees.
“While troops leave Iraq, they must not go to Afghanistan.
The 21,000 more American troops in Afghanistan will not protect
Americans against terrorist attacks. To the contrary, more troops,
air and Predator drone strikes and night raids that kill, injure
and traumatize innocent civilians drive people to the Taliban and
Al-Qaeda. Instead, the U.S. and international community should increase
funding for Afghan-led humanitarian aid, development work, and landmine
clean up while supporting regional diplomacy.”
A petition calling on Obama to reverse his decision to escalate
the war in Afghanistan is available at the group’s website.
http://www.peace-action.org
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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
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