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Dear Al,

The last few weeks you helped by writing and calling your Representatives about the National Defense Authorization Act — one of the few times Congress can cut Pentagon largesse and end the Afghanistan War.

Unfortunately, on the latter issue Congress failed.  The Republican leadership blocked an amendment by our allies Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) that would have required a vote if the President wanted to leave any troops in Afghanistan after the end of this year.

Now, President Obama has announced his plan to extend our longest war in history at least two-and-a-half more years by leaving 9,800 troops in Afghanistan after 2014.  Of course, we oppose his plan and have voiced our reasoning in an opinion editorial written by our national political director Paul Kawika Martin in USA Today. While you’re reading it, please like, share and make comments.



We need your support to end the Afghanistan War sooner than in two years.  Congress can still rein the President in.

On the other hand, we did win some amendments that cut Pentagon pork or made better policy:

• Nuclear weapons were cut by $20 million
• Guidlines have been established that will make it harder for the Pentagon to use the Overseas Contingency Operations budget (OCO) as a slush fund.
• An annual report will be made on the projected costs of U.S. nuclear forces.
• No authorization of force in Syria or Iran
• As the Pentagon has not been able to pass an audit, a report will be filed on when departments will be able to fulfill this basic requirement.
• A drone cannot be used to kill a U.S. citizen with the exception of an individual who is actively engaged in combat against the United States.

Our staff, board, members, and you have been working for years to shrink out of control Pentagon spending and end the Afghanistan War.  This work is paying off but we need your help to continue.

Humbly for peace, Cole Harrison Executive Director P.S. - Please take a moment to show your support of our crucial work.   We receive no government or corporate funding and rely on caring, committed people like you.

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