At its biannual meeting in Chicago, Oct. 1 – 3, the National Executive Council of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship formulated a statement of support for President Barack Obama‘s rethinking of the counterinsurgency strategy for American troops in Afghanistan which he set in motion six months ago. Recent public remarks by the President suggest a growing lack of consensus within the Administration for a policy which would send 40,000 additional American troops to Afghanistan, as proposed by the U.S. commanding general for the counterinsurgency, Stanley McChrystal. The decision on this major troop build-up will be reached in the next few weeks.
The Episcopal Peace Fellowship calls on President Obama and Congress to SAY NO to this escalation of war on two grounds. First, there is at this time no political or military consensus that expanding the war is a necessity for achieving the primary American objective of preventing attacks on United States soil by Al Qaeda. But, more fundamentally, intensified hostilities undermine the function of international law in the struggle against terrorism and generate a cycle of violence, chaos and evil which is antithetical to the teachings and examples of Jesus.
EPF calls on our members and the Episcopal Church to keep the pressure on our national leaders in the coming days. Take action:
1. Contact the White House
( 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461)
and your Representatives and Senators in Congress:
2. Consider a contribution to Rethink Afghanistan campaign and get a thank-you DVD to use in your congregations and chapter
4. Ask your diocese to post this release on their website
5. Add this release to your Facebook, tweet the statement, add to your personal facebook
6.Use these resources:
American Friends Service Committee here
Huffington Post here
