Editor's Note: Peace activist Tom Hayden adds his ideas to Z.P. Heller's April 8 piece, Ten Things You Can Do to Oppose the War in Afghanistan.
This early period of Obama's presidency is an opportunity to rebuild Afghanistan. It is a chance to become clearer than "out now," while still using the same force in opposing the war. In addition to education on the specifics of the administration's plan and the after-effects in Afghanistan, take these concrete steps to build infrastructure from the bottom up.
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NATO's Role in the Afghanistan Escalation
Tom Hayden: As part of an attempt to frame the surge as an important move towards negotiations with the Taliban, NATO countries are set to contribute 7,000 soldiers for the Afghanistan war.
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Alex Sanchez Wins Bail
Tom Hayden: In a closed legal proceeding, Judge Manual Real grants bail to the Homies Unidos founder.
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The Judge Gets Real, But Why?
Tom Hayden: The federal judge's order means that LA's top gang reduction officials will be subpoenaed to state what they know of Alex Sanchez.
2. Support a regional diplomatic solution (exit strategy), including withdrawal of US/NATO troops and bases. Read Tariq Ali's book, The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power.
3. Demand of Congress and President the same accountability that was demanded of Bush and never won: verifiable casualty figures, transparent budgeting, oversight of contractors, compliance with human rights standards, including women's rights--clear metrics to measure progress towards a defined exit strategy.
4.With these focuses in mind and using United for Peace and Justice as
an organizational base:
• assist in doubling their membership
• build a local e-mail list of at least 300 names
• build a coalition (at least a letterhead or leadership alliance)
of clergy, academic, human rights, environmentalists, African-Americans
and Latinos, labor and other progressive organizations.
5. Criticize Obama's war from within the Obama structure and MoveOn.org. (Since neither of these structures have a focus on the war, contact them or start on a discussion on Afghanistan under another heading).
6. Start or join a group against military recruiters.
7. Build a visible network in your Congressional district. Buy and wear antiwar buttons, T-shirts and banners.
8. Build a local media list and meet with the editorial board.
9. Start Friday night streetcorner pickets. These are the hundreds of groups in every region that hold up placards on Friday nights. This is the heart of the antiwar movement.
10. Support other organizations, such as American Friends Service Committee, Military Families Speak Out, Code Pink etc.
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