July 26-28: National call-in days to oppose war funding

A coalition of peace, political, labor, and faith groups are asking constituents to make a call to their representatives over the next three days to ask that they oppose a White House request for an addition $33.5 billion in funding for the war in Afghanistan. For more info, see the UFPJ website.

The toll-free call-in number is 1-888-493-5443.

The latest funding request comes without a time-table for withdrawal or a coherent strategy for success. Meanwhile, leaked war logs (best reporting here), detail the costs on the ground, to civilians and military personnel alike, shattering the illusion of "a good war" and an easy victory.

We're gaining ground in getting Congress to change its view on the war, as well. Three weeks ago, 162 House members supported a time table for withdrawal, and 100 members supported Rep. Barbara Lee's amendment to use war funds for security only and to begin troop withdrawal. If your rep was one of the supporters, a call is a good time to say thanks, and urge him or her to hold the line through the upcoming election season.

Be part of the mobilization. Make the call, turn up the volume, and end the war.

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Rep. Alan Grayson introduces the "War Is Making You Poor" act

Another well-named and commonsense idea to keep private wealth and public investment where they will do the most good for the greatest number.

By Joshua Holland. Posted on Alternet May 23


Last week, as Congress prepared to pass yet another "emergency" spending bill to cover America's costly operations in Iraq and Afghanistan -- to the tune of $159 billion this time around -- Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, introduced a bill that would force the Pentagon to pick up the tab out of its ample regular budget.

The War Is Making You Poor Act is elegant in its simplicity. Instead of financing these longstanding conflicts outside of the regular budgeting process, where they’re not factored into deficit projections, Grayson's bill would make the DoD work within its means, and the money would instead be used for an across-the-board tax cut that would make the first $35,000 each American earns tax-free.

"The purpose of this bill,” wrote Grayson last week, "is to connect the dots, and to
show people in a real and concrete way the cost of these endless wars." It's not
just the costs of active shooting wars; with hundreds of bases overseas, as far as
the defense budget is concerned Americans have been on a permanent wartime footing,
to varying degrees, since Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. "War is a permanent
feature of our societal landscape," wrote Grayson, "so much so that no one notices
it anymore."

The bill already has several co-sponsors, including at least two Republicans (albeit
maverick GOPers Ron Paul of Texas and Walter Jones of South Carolina). But since the
Pentagon would have to take money out of its regular budget -- largely from the
budget for newfangled hardware -- the DoD and influential defense contractors will
no doubt fight it tooth-and-nail.

But the War Is Making You Poor Act might have a major impact on our national
dialogue regardless. It highlights in a visceral way what Americans lose by
privileging money for guns over butter. "The costs of the war have been rendered
invisible," wrote Grayson. "There's no draft. Instead, we take the most vulnerable
elements of our population, and give them a choice between unemployment and missile
fodder. Government deficits conceal the need to pay in cash for the war." Grayson’s
measure might just shine a bright light on those "opportunity costs."

Budgeting is all about priorities, and the bill can raise public awareness of that
fact. The Right has done a remarkable job convincing the American public that tax
dollars used for programs that help the middle class or the poor are dollars "taken
out of your pocket," but no such consideration is given to the trillions spent on
financing our military operations.

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Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country!

The business of America is business, and that includes overturning democratically elected governments, assassination, and military invasion at a level unmatched in history, all in the name of cake for the elite and crumbs for the rest of us.

Video by William Blum and Charles Mauch, animated by Neema Sky, and based on Rogue State and Killing Hope, both by William Blum.

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Private contractors are the big winners in Iraq and Afghanistan

Jeremy Scahill speak at a labor meeting at the G20 last week--25 to 40 cents out of every dollar of the $2.5 billion spent every week on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan go to private, for-profit corporations, including the infamous Blackwater Corp., and construction companies paying foreign workers mere dollars a day. Thanks to Martha Speiss for posting.

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10,000 march on Wall Street

Led by long-time civil rights activist Rev. James Lawson, as well as veterans, military family members, and peace activists, more than 10,000 marched on Wall Street Saturday, April 4, to demand an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an economic stimulus plan directed at people in need. The march and peace fair that followed were organized by United for Peace with Justice and its coalition groups.

Lawson spoke on behalf of the 90 million Americans living in poverty, toward whom economic policies must be directed if this country intends a real recovery. He emphasized the connection between peace abroad and justice here; "I say if we want peace to blossom, we must eradicate poverty, racism, sexism, violence, and greed in the U.S. Peace cannot come by crying peace. Peace can only begin to emerge when justice does.'

The marchers passed the Federal Reserve building, surrounded the New York Stock Exchange, and ended in Battery Park for a Peace and Justice Fair. Photos by UFPJ Steering Committee member, Mike Hearington are here.

You can donate to United for Peace here. They have several actions planned; you can read more on their website.

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Quick action: urge major party candidates to end Afghani invasion

Tuesday's second major-party presidential debate also marked the seventh anniversary of the beginning of US military operations in Afghanistan. This is an anniversary often overlooked by the peace movement, which has focused mostly on the invasion of Iraq. For McCain and Obama, Afghanistan has become our "good war," although the goals of the invasion there have not been met: al-Qaeda is still active, Osama bin Ladin is still at large, and the lives of the Afghan people are not measurably better today than they were in 2001.

United for Peace and Justice, of which the Alliance is a member group, is urging activists to contact the major party presidential candidates and demand a "surge in diplomacy" to set goals and bring troops home. You can reach the Obama campaign at 866-675-2008, or at
http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2; and the McCain campaign at 703-418-2008, or http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/. UFPJ's resources and talking points are here.

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