Thursday, November 19, 2009

 

ACTION NEEDED: CALL THE WHITE HOUSE TO SAY NO MORE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

Monday. Nov. 23 through Wednesday, Nov. 25
Call 888-310-8637.

Now is the time to make your voice heard!

For 3 days people from every corner of the country will be flooding the White House with calls. We oppose sending more troops to Afghanistan; we want the troops that are there now to be brought home! If you cannot get through on Monday, call on Tuesday or Wednesday. Most importantly, make your call and make your voice heard.

Use this toll free number to call the White House: 888-310-8637
(After a brief message you will be connected to the White House. These messages can only be left between 9 am and 5 pm Eastern time!)

If President Obama orders more troops to Afghanistan, United for Peace and Justice calls on all member groups to protest at Federal buildings or other public places the day of or the day after the decision is announced.

News reports suggest President Obama has rejected the current proposals for additional troops until there is an exit strategy. This could be a good sign but we cannot sit by and assume the right steps will be taken. The first step is to not send more troops. The next step must be the withdrawal of the troops currently there.

The decision the president makes will have a dramatic impact on the future of Afghanistan and the stability of the region. It will have a tremendous impact on our country as well: will billions of more dollars be spent sinking us deeper into this war or will we have the money needed for health care, education, job creation and so much more here at home?

This is the moment when we can have an impact.

Call the White House – 888-310-8637 - and tell them:

* No additional troops to be sent to Afghanistan.
* Start the withdrawal of U.S. troops and begin serious diplomacy and dialogue with all parties to the conflict without preconditions.
* Redirect the tens of billions of dollars spent yearly on Afghanistan war funding to human needs in Afghanistan and at home.

It is vitally important to also keep the pressure on Congress. While you are at your phone, won't you call to your Representative and Senators? They control the money for this war and will be asked for additional funds if more troops are sent.

Representatives in the House should be asked to commit to voting NO on more war money and also to sign on to Barbara Lee's bill - H. R. 3699 - which would deny funding for more troops in Afghanistan. The more signers on this bill, the better. It means more pressure on the White House. This strong bill has 23 co-sponsors. To see the list: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3699

As a minimum every Representative should also be co-sponsoring Rep. McGovern’s bill H.R. 2404, which calls for an exit strategy from our military occupation of Afghanistan. Check to see if your Representative is among the 100 co-sponsors at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2404

Ask your Senators to introduce legislation in opposition to sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and that calls for an exit strategy.

To call your members of Congress call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121. If you are not sure who your Representative is, click here http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/

Please share the response to your calls by posting on the website: http://NoEscalation.org

In cites and towns around the country local groups are already planning public activities and protests on either the day the President announces an escalation, or the day after. We encourage you to organize a protest and be sure to post any activity you have planned. To find out what's planned in your area click here. A sample press release can be found by clicking here.

The White House call-in days are being jointly organized by the UFPJ, American Friends Service Committee, Peace Action, CodePink, Just Foreign Policy, Voters for Peace, Pax Christi, Common Dreams, Historians Against War and others.

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