June, 04 2009, 09:38am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Contact Paul Kawika Martin at 951-217-7285, or,email Paul,.,Contact Jon Rainwater at 510-469-3700, or,email Jon,.
U.S. Largest Peace Group Responds to Obama Cairo Speech
Peace Action, the nation's largest peace organization, responded to
President Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, Egypt. Paul
Kawika Martin, the group's political director, stated:
"Peace Action appreciates the diplomatic power of President Obama's
words emanating from the Muslim country of Egypt. It will be deeds not
words that, in the end, heighten the United States' moral stature and
make Americans safer. Some of these actions include:
WASHINGTON
Peace Action, the nation's largest peace organization, responded to
President Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, Egypt. Paul
Kawika Martin, the group's political director, stated:
"Peace Action appreciates the diplomatic power of President Obama's
words emanating from the Muslim country of Egypt. It will be deeds not
words that, in the end, heighten the United States' moral stature and
make Americans safer. Some of these actions include:
"In the Afghanistan region, halt all air and Predator drone strikes
that kill, injure and traumatize innocent civilians and drive people to
the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Provide an exit strategy for U.S. troops to
come home as soon as practicably possible.
"Bring all troops and contractors home from Iraq by next summer without leaving 25, 50 thousand or more troops in the country."
"Become a moral example by not only renouncing torture, but closing the
Guantanamo Detention Facility in Cuba, the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq,
and the military prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
"Cut U.S bureaucracy to provide more visas to Muslim students and professionals that allow cultural exchanges.
"Increase Iranian diplomacy at all levels including lifting the ban on routine diplomatic contact with Iranian officials.
"And lastly, significantly increase Afghan and Iraqi-led humanitarian
aid, development work and funds to solve the refugee and internally
displaced peoples crisis for Afghans, Pakistanis and Iraqis."
Peace Action is the United States' largest peace and disarmament organization with over 100,000 members and nearly 100 chapters in 34 states, works to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons, promote government spending priorities that support human needs and encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights.
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