Thu, Sep 11, 2014 09:01 AM

Take Action! Tell Congress and the President: No New War in Iraq and Syria! The message: “Stop the bombing in Iraq, no new Iraq war, and no to U.S. war in Syria!” President Obama last night committed the U.S. to a dangerous course of war and escalation in Iraq and Syria.  Come to a protest rally Saturday, September 13, 1pm at Park Street Station! We agree with the president that there is no military solution to the problems posed by ISIS. And yet his proposed "strategy" relies primarily on the use of military force. It's time to stop the bombing, escalation and military aid and use the other tools of U.S. foreign policy. Tell Congress and the President we don't want another U.S. war in Iraq and Syria!   We should pull out the over 1,000 U.S. troops now deployed in Iraq.  We should cut off weapons shipments and funding to the belligerent parties. We should stop supporting one side in a sectarian war. According to Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard's Linda Bilmes, the first "war on terror" in Iraq cost the United States $4-$6 billion. Cost was only one of the factors left unmentioned by President Obama last night.  Others include: the requirement in U.S. law that Congress authorize military action (restated by the Congressional Progressive Caucus last night) the requirement under the U.N. charter that the U.N. security council, not an ad hoc coalition, authorize military action collateral damage, mission creep, and blowback that will surely be caused by this reckless adventure, just as our 2003-2011 war on Iraq caused the emergence of ISIS Join us in a protest rally! Saturday, September 13, 1pm -- Park Street Station, downtown Boston! U.S. policy in Iraq and Syria is incoherent. We are fighting ISIS in Iraq, while in Syria we are helping ISIS by organizing the overthrow of its most effective opponent, the Assad government. Is U.S. policy designed to stoke the fires of conflict in the Middle East, or to resolve them? Where are the Congressional "doves"?  They must take action now to vote against authorization for war in Iraq and Syria! History shows that US arms tend to fall into the wrong hands as they did in Afghanistan. ISIS is largely armed with weapons the US supplied to other parties, including huge amounts of U.S.-supplied weapons that they captured from Iraqi forces. More weapons in the Mideast is not the solution and amounts to pouring fuel on a fire. Standing together with you for peace and justice, Shelagh Foreman Program Director Join Massachusetts Peace Action - or renew your membership today!   Dues are $40/year for an individual, $65 for a family, or $10 for student/unemployed/low income.  Members vote for leadership and endorsements, receive newsletters and discounts on event admissions.  Donate now and you will be a member in good standing through December 2014! Your financial support makes this work possible! Massachusetts Peace Action, 11 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138 617-354-2169  • info@masspeaceaction.org • Follow us on Facebook or Twitter Click here to unsubscribe