US: National Week of Media against the War in Afghanistan

2009-09-14 | An Invitation to Join Eight Years Later: National Week of Media against the War in Afghanistan September 14th – September 18th United For Peace & Justice, CODEPINK, Peace Action, MADRE, and a coalition of progressive and antiwar organizations invite you to participate in a National Week of Media Action, September 14th – 18th, to pressure our leaders to take courageous action against the war and to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the Congressional vote for the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). The AUMF is the bill which authorized - and less than three weeks later on October 7th - led to the invasion of Afghanistan. This media week comes at a critical time, as potential for a turning point against the war is great. Today 57 percent of Americans oppose the war in Afghanistan and that number is increasing. Senator Russ Feingold recently stood up as the first member of Congress to call for timetable for withdrawal in Afghanistan. As progressive organizations and blogs opposed to the war in Afghanistan, we can come together to tell the story of the start of the occupation, turn public opinion further against it and call on leaders to end it. On September 14, 2001, Congress nearly unanimously approved AUMF with a vote of 98-0 in the Senate and 420-1 in the House. On that day, one lone voice, House Representative Barbara Lee spoke out against the bill with this warning, “Sept. 11th changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet I am convinced that further military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States ... However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint.’” Eight years, hundreds of billions of dollars, and thousands of lives later, we appear no closer to ending the war in Afghanistan. Despite no clear goals and no exit strategy, President Obama has called for an increase of 21,000 troops and is leading us into an occupation that is estimated will last a decade or more - stretching the US military and economic capabilities to its limits. Through media appearances, articles, blog posts, letters to the editor, social media activities, and grassroots actions in a focused and collective National Media Week, we will collectively speak out against the war calling for an exit strategy and a timetable for withdrawal. As a coalition, we will be providing content including a video, graphics, links, talking points, actions, and other materials that you are welcome to use. TO JOIN THIS COALITION EFFORT PLEASE EMAIL JANET WEIL, janetcodepink@gmail.com, and we will add you to the cosponsoring organization list and send you updates to share with your communities! Send her your name, organization, contact info! IF YOU ARE A BLOGGER who would like to participate, please sign up at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/424/signUp.jsp?key=4512 Please also see: Court to Probe Afghan War Crimes The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) says he is gathering information about possible war crimes in Afghanistan. http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/09/10