Wisconsin citizens respond to Obama's Afghanistan decision

Wisconsin activists will voice their opposition to escalation of the war and occupation of Afghanistan, with protests planned Wednesday in Madison and Milwaukee. Wednesday's actions begin at 11 a.m. in Madison at Lisa Link Park on State Street (see below). In Milwaukee, the protest begins at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Federal Plaza, 3rd Street and Wisconsin Avenue. In an unusual move, Milwaukee Democrats are co-sponsoring the event.

 “During the 10 year Soviet war in Afghanistan an estimated 1 million Afghans died, 1.2 million were disabled and 3 million were wounded.

The American people will not stand for the Obama administration repeating the actions of the Russians. The killing must stop.It only breeds hate, not peace,” said Buzz Davis of Veterans for Peace.

Rae Vogeler of the Madison Area Peace Coalition said, “Our position has always been the US shouldn’t be in Afghanistan to begin with. We want the wars ended now and the troops and contractors brought home.  Every day more troops and civilians die, more billions are spent, and we move closer to bankruptcy as a nation.”
 

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THESE ACTIONS IN MADISON

Milwaukee Event 

Milwaukee Democrats will join peace activists Wednesday in expressing their concerns about President Obama’s plan to send additional American troops to Afghanistan.

===========

The U.S. occupation of Afghanistan is over 8 years old and a certified disaster for democracy and self-determination. Despite Obama’s anti-war campaign rhetoric, the administration is now preparing to announce a new invasion of U.S. troops into Afghanistan.  This is a dangerous move for the Afghan people, and for taxpayers in the U.S.

The defense budget signed by President Obama on October 28th this year allocates $680 billion to military spending, while the American people are suffering the economic effects of Obama’s occupations.  Democrats and Republicans are arguing about the cost of a healthcare bill, but Pentagon officials have told the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in the House that every gallon of gasoline delivered to US troops in Afghanistan costs American taxpayers $400.

The U.S. installed “democracy” in Afghanistan has been a complete failure, with nearly one-third of the ballots for Hamid Karzai thrown out due to fraud.  Yet, the United States continues to work with a deeply corrupt government, some of which is still on the CIA payroll.

It will cost U.S. taxpayers $750,000 to send one soldier to Afghanistan for one year.  At this rate, the troops surge will cost roughly the same as sending three million young people to college for a year.  Therefore we demand an end to unjust occupation, and demand money to save jobs, save homes, and save education in a time of crisis.  We condemn any escalation or continuation of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Community members and organizations will rally on Wednesday, December 2nd at 5:00pm outside the Federal Building on the corner of 3rd and Wisconsin.  We will protesting during rush hour, so plan on traffic.

Sponsored by SDS, Peace Action Wisconsin and others.