Demand an Exit Strategy from Afghanistan

Date: August 20, 2009 at 10:45:29
From: Just Foreign Policy, []
Subject: Demand an Exit Strategy from Afghanistan

Today, Afghanistan is holding the first round of its presidential election. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear from the campaign: the majority of Afghans are sick and tired of war. "There is broad agreement the war must end," writes Carlotta Gall in the New York Times. [1]

Americans, too, appear to have had enough. Fifty-four percent - including three-quarters of Democrats - say they oppose the war in Afghanistan, CNN reported this month. [2] A new Washington Post-ABC News poll suggests that a majority of Americans don't think that the war in Afghanistan is worth fighting. [3]

Our leaders in Washington, however, are not yet sick of war in Afghanistan. In the House, an amendment was proposed in June that would have required the Pentagon to inform Congress of its strategy for ending the war. Although the amendment failed 138-278, it proved an important milepost for future efforts as it was supported by a majority of House Democrats. [4]

In the Senate, we're much further back: a bill calling for an exit strategy from Afghanistan has yet to be introduced. The path to end the war in Afghanistan leads right through the Senate. Having a bill in the Senate demanding an exit strategy will significantly increase the chances of ending the war.

Could you ask the Senate to require the Pentagon to deliver an exit strategy from Afghanistan?

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/exit-afghanistan

Britain, our biggest ally in the war in Afghanistan, is having a public discussion of how long its troops are going to be in Afghanistan. The head of the British Army said Britain will have to keep thousands of troops on the front line in Afghanistan for up to five more years, the Telegraph reported this week. [5] But this question - how long will our troops be there? - is not being asked in the U.S. Senate.

Could you ask the Senate to require the Pentagon to inform Congress and the American people of its plan for ending the war in Afghanistan?

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/exit-afghanistan

Thank you for all you do for a just foreign policy,

Megan Iorio, Chelsea Mozen, Sarah Burns and Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy

References:

1. "Peace Talks With Taliban Are A Top Issue In Afghan Vote," Carlotta Gall, New York Times, August 18, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/world/asia/18taliban.html

2. "Support for Afghan war drops, CNN poll finds," CNN, August 6, 2009,
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/06/poll.afghanistan/index.html

3. "Majority in Post-ABC Poll Say Afghan War Not Worth Fighting", Washington Post, August 19, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/19/AR2009081903066.html

4. "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 453"
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll453.xml

5. "General Sir Richard Dannatt: British troops face five more years in Afghanistan," James Kirkup, The Telegraph, 17 Aug 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6043604/General-Sir-Richard-Dannatt-British-troops-face-five-more-years-in-Afghanistan.html

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