April, 09 2009, 11:41am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167
Obama's Afghanistan Plan Could Be His 'Fatal Mistake'
RITA LASAR
Lasar is a
member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. Her brother
Abraham Zelmanowitz died in the World Trade Center attack while trying
to save a coworker, Ed Bayea, a paraplegic in a wheelchair, who could
not leave.
She just wrote the piece "Dear President Obama: Get Us Out of Afghanistan."
More Information
WASHINGTON
RITA LASAR
Lasar is a
member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. Her brother
Abraham Zelmanowitz died in the World Trade Center attack while trying
to save a coworker, Ed Bayea, a paraplegic in a wheelchair, who could
not leave.
She just wrote the piece "Dear President Obama: Get Us Out of Afghanistan."
More Information
JURGEN TODENHOFER, via Shay Totten
Recently in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he has traveled extensively, Todenhofer is author of the just-released "Why Do You Kill? The Untold Story of the Iraqi Resistance."
The book outlines what steps Western countries should take to bring
about a peaceful outcome to the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Israel/Palestine. Todenhofer is in New York City and D.C.
for the next week. A former German parliamentarian, he is a leading
expert on Islamic movements.
He said today: "Should Barack Obama believe that he can win the
fight against global terrorism by defeating Al Qaeda copycats and the
Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, he would commit a fatal mistake
that would be a catastrophe for his presidency. Terrorism arises from
injustice. Thus it can only be overcome by justice and not by unjust
wars.
"I was in the crowd when Obama spoke in Berlin last year. And I
cheered because Obama talked of the Berlin airlift that ended a
conflict without firing a shot.
"I've been spending time in Afghanistan since 1980. The Soviets
threatened me when I was first there. You cannot win in Afghanistan.
Even if you could, you'd inflame more resentment which would cause more
terrorism. Muslims and others see Afghan villages being bombed. ...
"What the U.S. should do in Afghanistan is step up its
strengthening the Afghan forces, it would cost some money but would be
much cheaper in terms of both money and blood than increasing the U.S.
military there. And people should negotiate with the Taliban forces --
notice that [Afghan President Hamid] Karzai wants to give the Taliban
some power, that will help produce a peaceful outcome."
More Information
A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.
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