3-19-09, 12:54 pm
Original source: United for Peace and Justice
For Immediate Release: March 19, 2009 On the 6th Anniversary: The War in Iraq is Not Over 'til it is over!
We have come a long way in the past six years of organizing to end the war in Iraq. However, we have so far to go before the war and occupation of Iraq is completely over. Now is the time for the peace movement to organize even greater grassroots pressure to finally end this immoral war. The only way to end the war is the complete and immediate withdrawal of all troops and contractors, and the closing of all U.S. military bases in Iraq.
President Obama has announced a two-stage withdrawal plan. We are encouraged that he has listened to the protests that we have organized over the last six years and taken steps towards withdrawing the troops. But leaving troops on the ground for almost three more years is a continuation of a failed policy.
As long as U.S. troops remain in Iraq they will continue to be a main target of violence. The violence will persist and both Iraqis and U.S. troops will continue to die. The ongoing presence of U.S. troops is a destabilizing force. Leaving 35,000-50,000 'residual troops' in Iraq will only further exacerbate the problems. The presence of U.S. troops in any form is a roadblock to stability and discourages the positive engagement of neighboring countries or a regional peace.
As long as the war and occupation continues, the harder it will be to address our country's worst economic crisis in decades. Ten billion dollars a month is spent on the occupation of Iraq. Billions are needed to take care of the U.S. troops and their families as they return. Billions will be needed to help rebuild Iraq and help almost 5 million Iraqis internally displaced or living as refugees in other nations. The occupation must end for the rebuilding of our communities and Iraq to begin.
The Iraqi and U.S. people want all the troops to come home in the next year. Polls in both countries continue to show that the peoples of both nations want the war and occupation to end. The renewed action of the peace movement is central to making this happen. United For Peace and Justice is committed to the work to pressure the Obama Administration and the Congress for a diplomatic surge that involves all the countries in the region.
Exiting from Iraq in order to send more troops to Afghanistan is also a continuation of a failed policy. Instead of expanding military operations it is time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan as well. Now is the moment to use whatever diplomatic resources available to reach a peaceful resolution to the issues, including respecting the rights of Afghans while offering assistance in the rebuilding of their nation.
A progressive economic and social justice agenda for the nation will not move forward while we are at war. In the 2008 elections, the people of our country voted to put an end to endless war and for a foreign policy grounded in diplomacy and respect for international law. Two wars and the economic crisis compel the peace movement to step up our efforts.
Today, on the 6th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq, United For Peace and Justice recommits ourselves to the effort to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to bring all of the troops home! We are also prepared to launch a new drive to cut the military budget. We can move our government and country towards a new foreign policy, while also addressing the needs of our communities, through our efforts as a nationally coordinated movement.
