Dear friends,
The New York Times has been running a series "A Year of War" The last installement on Dec 31 was titled: "Families Bear Brunt of Deployment Strains" In response to the article, today, Jan. 8, the Times printed 3 letters to the editor, one of which was S. Mary Beth's which follows:
To the Editor
As his dad returns to Afghanistan, 12 year- Isaac Eisch asks. "Why can't we just, like, end the war?"
We are in the 1oth year of the war in Afghanistan. Almost 1500 American servicemen and women have been killed, and many more wounded. We have spent more that $350 billion in that desperately poor country. Countless families have been disrupted and dismantled.
Do President Obama and Gen. David H. Petraeus, or we the people, have the ability to imagine what would be gained by ending the war, now? Sometimes it takes a child to ask the right question.
MARY BETH MOORE
Wantagh, NY Dec. 31, 2010
PRESS
LI ALLIANCE FOR PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES
(516)741-4360 – email:longislandpeace@gmail.com – www.longislandpeace.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Margaret Melkonian (516)640-0980
December 17, 2010
LI ALLIANCE SAYS AFGHAN WAR MUST END NOW
OBAMA REVIEW ESCALATES WAR INTO PAKISTAN
MORE WAR WITH NO END IN SIGHT
“Serious questions must be raised by the American people in response to the Obama Administration’s Afghan Policy Review,” says Margaret Melkonian, LI Alliance Director.
“First, there are serious doubts about ‘the fragile gains’ that have been made. Moreover, the review ignores the recent report from the International Red Cross about growing civilian casualties, lack of access to aid and medical care and the increasing numbers of refugees from the conflict zones.”
“While the report talks about meeting the July 2011 deadline for beginning withdrawal, it will be a modest and slow. With over 60% of Americans supporting an end to the war that is costing $120 Billion a year, the pace and timetable for withdrawal are unacceptable.”
“Most alarming about the review is the Obama Administration’s plans to escalate attacks with drones and commandos into Pakistan. Given the tenuous US-Pakistan relationship, this widening of the war opens a new front and poses terrible risks for US soldiers and civilians. The President should not make this decision for another war in Pakistan unilaterally without Congress and without debate.”
In the weeks and months ahead, the LI Alliance and our peace partners will continue to press the President and elected officials for an end to the Afghan War – the closure of US bases in Iraq and Afghanistan – and for the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers and contractors.
“This is a war that has no military solution,” says Melkonian. “Instead of escalation, the US should begin robust negotiations with the Taliban, with the Karzai government, regional leaders and with Afghan civil society representatives for a ceasefire and for an end to the conflict.”
2011 will mark eight years in Iraq and ten years in Afghanistan. The LI Alliance stands in solidarity with the 135 activists including Daniel Ellsberg, Chris Hedges, journalist and Medea Benjamin, Code Pink arrested at the White House yesterday in a civil disobedience action, organized by Veterans for Peace. Their message: Too many years. Too many casualties. These wars must end now. Not tomorrow. Not next year. NOW.
Celebrating 25 Years of Peacemaking on Long Island, 1985-2010
The Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1985 to provide information and to encourage dialogue about U.S. peace and national security issues and America’s role in the world. Our work focuses on promoting citizen education, responsibility and action for determining national priorities and policies about peace, war and nuclear disarmament. ww.longislandpeace.org
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Margaret Melkonian
Director
LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives
38 Old Country Road
Garden City, NY 11530
516-741-4360
longislandpeace@gmail.com
www.longislandpeace.org
Celebrating 25 Years of Peacemaking on Long Island, 1985-2010
