It is possible that any day now President Obama may decide to escalate the war in Afghanistan. Here in the U.S. and no doubt around the world, people will react in pain, anger and sorrow, knowing what tragedy and suffering will follow.

The following is a message received from United for Peace and Justice, a group that Montana Women For is a member of:

We call on you to act NOW to pressure the President to choose otherwise and at the same time plan actions if he does decide to send more troops.

An escalation will mean at a very minimum that the U.S. will occupy Afghanistan for several more years, sending home dead and wounded soldiers while killing and wounding many times more Afghans.  The suffering in Afghanistan today will grow by orders of magnitude and the U.S. will be that much less secure in direct proportion. In addition, the U.S. economy today still teeters at the abyss.  Escalating the Afghanistan war will not just be the ruin of desperately needed domestic programs but may very possibly destroy the entire economy.

For these reasons and many more we call upon our members and every U.S. citizen with a love of humanity in their heart to pledge to at least the following actions:

<!1.   Within the next few days, conduct any of a wide range of local activities — from calling Members of Congress to nonviolent civil resistance and everything in between — demonstrating our opposition to and disgust with any decision to widen the war in Afghanistan.  To show unity of purpose, we suggest local “March of the Dead” to Federal Buildings, local Congressional offices and government buildings of any sort. Post your events on the UFPJ calendar.

<!-2.   Flood the White House with calls!  202-456-1111 Call today and again next week as a part of the National Call-In Days on Monday, Nov. 23 - Wednesday, Nov. 25. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

<!3.   On the day of or the day immediately following an announcement to escalate the war in Afghanistan, respond again in a variety of ways.  To show unity of purpose, we suggest

a.  Reach out to a group in your community — a church, union, civic group, etc. — and make an appointment that day to go and speak with them about the war.

b.   Return to the streets with vigils, demonstrations, nonviolent civil resistance and be prepared to comment to the news media about the escalation of the war. Post your event here!

Endorsed by: United for Peace and Justice, Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, the A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition, National Assembly, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Pledge of Resistance, Voices for Creative Nonviolence and World Can’t Wait.

UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
PO Box 607; Times Square Station; New York, NY 10108