For weeks, the US military has been openly pressing for an escalation of the war in Afghanistan as more troops are being sent daily. Where's Congress? According to reports from the grassroots, when constituents call their offices, most staffers can't say where their Representative or Senator stands on the issue. They are waiting to hear from the President, many explain. Those who do oppose the escalation prefer to mute their differences with the White House.

This is an appalling abdication, when the majority of Americans are now opposed to the Afghanistan war. It is their job to speak out now, when Congressional opposition can still make a difference. It's time to ask your Reps to take a public stand against escalation, to demand a military withdrawal and a new plan for economic assistance that doesn't depend on a military occupation.

Veterans For Peace calls on members to rededicate their efforts to ending the cycle of violence in Afghanistan.

Veterans For Peace urged its chapters to demonstrate opposition to the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan by doing two things:

1) Take the action within the next several days, before President Obama decides to escalate the war in Afghanistan, and

2) Plan acts of even greater resistance during the two days following any such decision.

Read VFP's Letter to President Obama and the House of Representatives

Read Statement to VFP Members

Read the entire statement

Help us end these wars. Donate to UFPJ.

Momentum is rising as more people confront Congress and the White House about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. United For Peace and Justice member groups are working around the clock to help shape public opinion in challenging the Obama Administration's strategy in Afghanistan. Our work in the last week and a half has been especially potent.    Activists around the country are in the streets to oppose increasing troop levels, stop the killing, and demand a swift return of all U.S. military forces.

Congressional resistance and questioning of the Administration’s Afghan policy is growing. UFPJ legislative efforts directly contributed to Rep. Barbara Lee’s introduction of HR 3699 prohibiting funding of any additional troops to Afghanistan.  

We must keep up the pressure. Communities on October 17th will remember the 40th Anniversary of the Vietnam Moratorium in 1969 by taking action to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Take part in an event in your area.

Please help us seize this moment by continuing to take action. Now is not the time to stop.

To the dedicated people taking action across the country, thank you!  You are our lifeblood.  A special thanks goes out to those who sent us reports about their events.  You can still send info to ufpjafghanistan@gmail.com.

Your tireless work has gotten us to this point and we need your support now more than ever to keep us going and to strengthen our coalition at this critical time.  Let's face it-- there are real financial costs involved in keeping the coalition operational--if we don't do this important work, then who will?

Help us end these wars. Donate to UFPJ.

This week the New York Times said the "Antiwar Movement Plans an Autumn Campaign Against Policies on Afghanistan." They are damn right!

They also said, "United for Peace and Justice are also planning smaller events in communities around the country, including teach-ins with veterans and families of deployed troops, lobbying sessions with members of Congress, film screenings and ad hoc memorials featuring the boots of deceased soldiers and Marines."

And that's exactly what we hope that your group is doing! Our goal is to have events in every community possible around the anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan (October 7th). Check out our organizing tips below and then list your event on UFPJ's website!

Possible Afghanistan Anniversary events on October 7th:

• Host a "Peace for Afghanistan House Party." Peace Action is providing easy step-by-step tips and materials to organize your house party.

• Organize a film showing of Robert Greenwald's new film series Rethink Afghanistan. Find out how to get the Rethink Afghanistan DVD and organize a film showing.
  

President Barack Obama was elected on a platform of CHANGE and with hopes for diplomacy, not war! As the war in Iraq winds down, more troops have been sent to Afghanistan. Some in the Pentagon are calling for more!

Now, 54% of the people believe the Afghanistan war is a mistake. The peace movement is challenged to organize the hope for CHANGE into a movement to end the war in Afghanistan as one of the big steps towards addressing the crisis in our communities.

Our best interests and the interests of the Afghanistan people lie in the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces. With every bomb dropped and every civilian and military death, we are no closer to helping the Afghan people and the region to grapple with their problems. In fact, the U.S. presence is the biggest obstacle to doing so.

On October 7, the beginning of the 9th year of occupation and war in Afghanistan, we must mobilize nationwide a call for diplomacy, not war. Change ≠ War!  

United For Peace and Justice is calling on the grassroots movements for peace and economic and social justice to gather in their cities and towns on October 7 for action, dialog, and reflection on the 8 years of death and dying in Afghanistan and now in Pakistan.

United For Peace and Justice is calling on its member groups across the country to initiate local actions or educational events in your community on October 7:

• Teach-Ins on the costs, human and economic, of the occupation and war in Afghanistan and impact on the region.

• Vigils, pickets and delegations to Congressional offices, as well as faxes, emails and calls.

• Rallies, demonstrations, vigils and marches to bring the peace and justice message into the streets.

• House parties to raise money for Afghanistan relief or other aid to the Afghan people.

• Creative actions to highlight the devastating effects of the Drone air strikes.