Rethink Afghanistan–an online effort started by progressive filmmaker Robert Greenwald–has launched a new campaign to pressure Congress to oppose President Barack Obama’s $94.2 billion supplemental request for additional funds for the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The group argues that Congress should not approve any additional funding for the war until the administration answers basic questions about its policy goals. These include:
- What steps will the U.S. take to reduce the likelihood that an increased troop presence in Afghanistan will serve as a recruiting tool for the Taliban and for terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda?
- How will the U.S. prevent the escalating conflict from seriously destabilizing a nuclear-armed Pakistan?
- In dollar figures, how much will it cost the U.S. to achieve its war aims, and how will this expenditure impact the chances of economic recovery at home?
The group has a petition that it is asking people to sign. In addition, veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will be meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week to express their opposition to the war.
Rethink Afghanistan has also produced a video with additional background information on the problems with U.S. policy in Afghanistan:
Like the proposed amendment that would require the Obama administration to outline an “exit strategy” in Afghanistan, the petition provides a solid rallying point for opponents of the U.S. escalation in Afghanistan that has been absent thus far. In recent months the anti-war movement has done a good job articulating why the war is problematic, now it’s time to take action to stop it.
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