Last Tuesday President Obama announced plans to deploy 30,000 additional troops in Afghanistan. While this is deeply unfortunate, it is consistent with Obama’s campaign pledges—he has said all along that he would increase war efforts in Afghanistan. However, it is not too late to stop this surge, by persuading our congressional representatives to vote for non-funding and total withdrawal.

Continuing the war in Afghanistan and increasing the troops will not protect us. Instead, it will take the lives of more American soldiers. It will kill and injure countless Afghani civilians. The surge will cost $30 billion additional dollars, in a war that has already cost taxpayers over $228 billion. During the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, it will take resources that should go to healthcare, education, and jobs.

We can no longer remain on the political sidelines—it’s time for us to speak out and end this war. The invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan have already cost this country our international standing, the lives of more than 5,000 American soldiers and $915.1 billion in taxes—how much more will we pay?

Elea Mihou Fox
Executive Director, WNY Peace Center

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