And to think I voted for him for many reasons, but primarily to end quickly the state of chronic warfare to which this country has succumbed
Ending the wars? He is not doing it. And he appears to have no intention to do so. Progressives, including myself, have to stop their tendency to deny the obvious where Obama is concerned. He is not only repeating Bush’s policies. He’s out-doing Bush, particularly with regard to Afghanistan. And in Iraq he is prolonging the war and leaving himself plenty of leeway to engineer an endless occupation, in other words endless war. Why is he pursuing this course and why have progressives, even anti-war groups been so silent about what can only be termed Obama’s betrayal of their goals and principles?
I have no definitive answer- only questions:
- Is his apparent readiness to accede to the interests of the military-industrial complex by engaging in profitable ( to them ) ongoing warfare part of his deal to win the presidency? How much in campaign start-up monies and subsequent contributions did he receive from weapons manufacturers and other war-related industries and suppliers? We need to start getting the tally on this.
- Does he share Bush’s fantasy that he can prove himself to be a “great” president by utilizing warfare to win imperialist domination in the region? Have the generals convinced him that he can do it?
- Is David Gergen’s assessment correct; namely, that Obama doesn’t want to be the one to end the wars for fear that he’ll be blamed for any subsequent problems that might arise in the region- which might prove detrimental to his re-election campaign? Is continued and expanded death and destruction little more to him than an adjunct to his political career? In that case, we voted for nothing less than a man of diminished conscience and we had better acknowledge that unpleasant fact honestly and speak out against him.
- Does he truly believe that the expansion of the war in Afghanistan is necessary to fight terrorism? The Europeans and other allies seem to view that as so much nonsense and will have none of it. Obama failed completely in his recent bid to get them to send troops. Does he know something that they don’t and why won’t they listen?
- Are oil reserves really the major issue in Iraq and is that why Obama seems to be planning a permanent occupation ( i.e. permanent war ) a la McCain’s “Hundred Years?”
Yes, all I have is questions. But my most urgent question is why we aren’t asking more and more questions, demanding answers and taking effective action.
Congress is scheduled to vote on an $83 billion supplementary war- funding bill. Progressive Democrats of America is currently conducting a protest campaign, urging us to contact our representatives to register our opposition. For any of you who are not on PDA’s email list I have attached their latest communication. Obama has lulled the nation into accepting his plans for virtually permanent warfare. If there is not an effective counterforce he will succeed. Please take action. The following PDA email provides the essential information:“ Congress is preparing to vote on another supplemental funding bill of $83.4 billion for the occupation of Iraq and escalation of the war in Afghanistan.
Of the $83.4 billion requested by President Obama for the supplemental, 95% of the funding is for direct military operations.
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AT 1-800-828-0498 and let them know you oppose the supplemental funding for more war and occupation. Ask them to vote against the funding bill and show leadership to shift the US role in Afghanistan from military to diplomacy and humanitarian aid.
You and I know military force will not eliminate support for terrorism in Afghanistan. According to the Rand Corporation, since 1968 only 7% of terrorist groups which were eliminated by outside forces ended because of military force. The others ended as a result of political reconciliation and intelligence work.
And the escalation of US troops is not supported by Afghans, making military force unlikely to succeed and instead causing the US engagement in Afghanistan to drag on indefinitely and risk becoming another Iraq. In the latest of a series of surveys conducted by ABC & BBC only 18% of Afghans favor an increase in the US military presence.
Sinking billions of dollars into a war in Afghanistan, while the one in Iraq lingers on, will not make us any safer, and only divert attention and resources away from domestic needs and humanitarian and diplomatic foreign policies that would make us safer.
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY to urge him or her to vote against the supplemental war-funding bill, and instead shift the focus in Afghanistan from a military escalation to diplomatic and humanitarian solutions.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Martin
Executive Director
Peace Action ’’
