[gpga-news] PrsRls: Greens to Obama: No escalation; withdraw US troops from Afghanistan instead

[Hugh Esco]

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

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 
	202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 
	916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


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 Emergen cy 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 30,0 00 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.lynnewilli ams2010.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@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 at tacks 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

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