United for Peace & Justice Letter

STOP WAR CRIMES IN AFGHANISTAN

The horror continues in Afghanistan with the deadly U.S. bombing of the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, killing 22 people -- 12 staff and 10 patients, some of them children. Bombing a hospital is a violation of International Humanitarian Law and a War Crime. Afghanistan is our country’s longest war – entering its 15th year today, October 7th. President Obama can’t claim he ended combat operations in 2014 when we continue to bomb the country. Bombing is war! The President and military leaders have told us on numerous occasions that there is no military solution in Afghanistan. Why are the same failed policies that began under the George W. Bush administration still in effect? 

U.S. military intervention is a proven failure. We invested in drones, bombs, soldiers and night raids but did not invest in solutions. These failed military tactics have led to more enemies, more extremists and futile, endless war, while increasing suffering for the people of Afghanistan (2.5 million refugees and 700,000 displaced per the UNHCR). 

• The Afghanistan war is an abysmal failure.

• The U.S. should cease bombing.

• The U.S. should rebuild the hospital it destroyed in Kunduz.

• Why should U.S. forces stay one more day in Afghanistan? 

• What is preventing a full, focused effort on diplomacy – in Afghanistan as well as in the Middle East?

The U.S. should withdraw all forces from Afghanistan and pursue a full, focused diplomatic solution to the crisis in that nation, which has been in a state of war since the late 1970’s. 

There are two basic questions that require comprehensive, detailed answers:

Why should the US forces stay one more day in Afghanistan?

What is preventing a full, focused effort on diplomacy - in Afghanistan and the Middle East?

I am asking you to work to end the ill-advised and failed military operation in Afghanistan, bring our troops home, and demand a full, focused diplomatic effort to reach a political solution to the crisis there. 

Sincerely, 

United for Peace & Justice