Legislative Action Message: October 1, 2009

Afghanistan: Take Two Minutes for Peace

Take Action
Call Your Senators Today

On October 7, the United States will have been in Afghanistan for eight years, with no end in sight. At this very moment, President Obama is reviewing U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and asking his advisors, "What should I do?"

The Obama administration is divided over whether to send more U.S. troops. Military commanders are calling for thousands more troops. Others, including Vice President Joe Biden, are arguing that it's time to reduce the U.S. military presence and respond to al Qaeda in other ways. Polls show that public support for more troops is waning. Events show that U.S. war-fighting kills civilians rather than protects them.

As the eighth anniversary of the U.S. invasion approaches, and the twentieth anniversary of the "secret" CIA war there, you can help advise the president by strengthening the voices calling for a new policy. Urge your senators to tell the president that more troops won't bring more peace and War Is Not the Answer. Urge them to insist on a new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan that includes a ceasefire, troop withdrawal, negotiations, and development aid.

Take Action

How much time do you have this week for peace?

If you have…

Two minutes: Call your senators.
Urge your senators to call President Obama now to oppose more war in Afghanistan. Instead, urge them to support a new strategy that includes a ceasefire, troop withdrawal, negotiations, and expanded development aid and diplomacy.

Three minutes: Call, then get your friends involved! Ask three other people to call.

Five minutes: Call, then help spread the word.
Print out FCNL's Afghanistan flyer, look up the phone numbers of your senators' DC offices and write them in on the flyer. You now have a resource to post at your meeting, church, or community group, or to copy and distribute at a vigil or event you are attending around the anniversary.