$83.4 Billion Additional $ + for War! SPEAK UP

Tell Congress to Provide Aid, Not Fund Wars

The Obama administration has asked Congress for an additional $83.4 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for FY2009. On the table, too, is a request for $130 billion to fund the wars in 2010. This, despite the fact that 6 in 10 Americans believe the war in Iraq was a mistake and growing numbers fear escalating war in Afghanistan.

United For Peace and Justice opposes this supplemental request and urges you to call your Representatives and Senators today and tell them that you, too, oppose the FY2009 Supplemental and you want them to stand with constituents who want to redirect our funds to reconstruction and aid, not war.

To reach the Washington switchboard, call 202-224-3121.

UFPJ supports the administration's request for reconstruction assistance and recognizes the need to support U.S. troops as they withdraw. But, sadly, out of the $83.4 billion in emergency funding, only $7.1 billion are to support reconstruction/diplomatic activities, whereas $75.3 billion will be used for military activities. At a time of economic crisis, this is an appalling use of our national resources. Outside of this fact, our opposition is based on these specifics:

It funds the increase of troops to Afghanistan, escalating the war rather than ending it. It does not prohibit U.S. attacks on Pakistan, which only serve to increase anti-U.S. sentiment, recruitment for al-Qaeda, and regional instability.
It maintains the same level of American troops in Iraq for the duration of FY2009.

Some Congressional officials have also expressed opposition to the Obama administration's request for supplemental funding. Representative Lynn Woolsey, co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said about the request: "As proposed, this funding will do two things -- it will prolong our occupation of Iraq through at least the end of 2011 and it will deepen and expand our military presence in Afghanistan indefinitely.

"I cannot support either of these scenarios. Instead of attempting to find military solutions to the problems we face in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Obama must fundamentally change the mission in both countries to focus on promoting reconciliation, economic development, humanitarian aid, and regional diplomatic efforts."

Let's get our Representatives and Senators to speak and vote with this same clarity of vision. Call now!

Click here to see the details of the War Supplemental funding request; and click here for analysis of the Supplemental from the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
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