[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens to Obama: No escalation; withdraw US troops from Afghanistan instead

[Green Party of California Updates]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009


Green Party opposes escalation, urges Obama to announce US troop withdrawal
from Afghanistan in his Dec. 1 speech

• 2008 Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney and 2010 Maine Green
gubernatorial candidate Lynne Williams will speak at Dec. 12 Emergency
Anti-Escalation Rally outside the White House (http://www.enduswars.org)

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on foreign policy and
peace: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php /
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-peace.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders called on President Obama to reverse his
Afghanistan policy by pledging an immediate cease-fire in the Afghanistan war
and a complete withdrawal of US troops and military contractors, when he
addresses the nation on Tuesday, December 1.

During the speech, President Obama will announce his intention to send 30,000
more troops, raising the number of US personnel in Afghanistan to over 100,000.

"Millions of Americans voted for Barack Obama in 2008 under the impression
that he was an 'antiwar' candidate, even though Mr. Obama supported the war in
Afghanistan and favored a limited withdrawal from Iraq.  Troop escalation will
not 'finish the job' in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.  Unless he
surprises us in his speech on Tuesday, we'll be further mired in a war that
shouldn't have happened in the first place," said Rosa Clemente, the Green
Party's nominee for Vice President in 2008 (http://www.rosaclemente.com).

The Green Party of the United States will participate in antiwar protests
scheduled for Saturday, December 12 in Washington, DC, and other locations
throughout the US.

In Washington, Greens and other Americans who support an end to the
Afghanistan war will gather for an Emergency Anti-Escalation Rally in
Lafayette Park near the White House.  Among the featured speakers for this
rally will be Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party's 2008 presidential nominee,
and Lynne Williams, 2010 Green candidate for Governor of Maine
(http://www.lynnewilliams2010.org).  The rally, organized by End US Wars will
take place from 11 am to 4 pm (http://www.enduswars.org / contact: Laurie
Dobson, 207-604-8988, contact at enduswars.org).

"This is what Obama's fabled bi-partisanship gets us -- more of the same.
What we need is partisanship, with a strong Green Party presence in this
country, since we are the only party that was against the wars on Iraq and
Afghanistan from day one," said Ms. Williams.

On November 25, Ms. McKinney sent an open letter to President Obama urging a
reversal of his warhawk policy on Afghanistan
(http://dignity.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cynthia-mckinneys-letter-to).

Nationwide rallies and protests are also planned for December 2, immediately
after the President's speech (http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php).

Green Party leaders have disputed President Obama's claims that the invasion
of Afghanistan was "the right war."  The invasion has resulted in a
catastrophe for Afghan civilians, with thousands killed and maimed and the
destruction of property and infrastructure.  The Taliban has won greater
popular support because of its defiance of foreign troops, while President
Karzai's corrupt administration have betrayed any hope for democracy and
regional warlords have turned Afghanistan into the world's leading producer of
opium.  Human rights for most Afghans, especially women, have not advanced
because of the US invasion.

Greens also asserted that the war has not reduced any real or perceived
terrorist threat against the US, and its expansion into Pakistan with drone
attacks inside Pakistani borders has created greater regional instability and
animosity towards the US.  Greens called the Democrats as much a party of war
as the GOP, with both parties spending enormous amounts of taxpayers' money to
feed a military machine that bullies other nations and ultimately sustains
corporate war profiteers.

"The only way to show support for US troops is to demand their safe return.
As the Soviet Union's attempt to subjugate Afghanistan proved, the US's
attempt to occupy the country means mounting US casualties," said Farheen
Hakeem, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

"The Green Party -- not the Democrats or Republicans -- represents the will of
the people, with polls showing a majority of Americans opposed to the war.  We
challenge all Americans who desire peace to speak out with their voices and
votes, demand that President Obama order our troops home now, and call on
Congress to cut military spending," added Ms. Hakeem.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the
United States
Fall 2009 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog


~ END ~