Center for Justice, Peace, and Environment (CJPE)
Strength Through Peace
P.O. Box 400, Fort Collins, CO 80522 / 970-419-8944

Senator Michael Bennet
1200 South College Avenue
Suite 211
Fort Collins, CO  80524

Dear Senator Bennet:

We planned to meet with James Thompson this morning in your Fort Collins office to discuss the subject of funding for the occupation of Afghanistan.  We were disappointed that James had to cancel at the last minute.  We hope this letter reaches you prior to the vote on the 2010 military budget.

Strength Through Peace joins with United for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Voters for Peace, Peace Action, and other national organizations calling on Congress to vote AGAINST the 2010 military budget unless and until the White House develops an exit strategy for Afghanistan.  We call for an exit strategy based on all-party talks, regional diplomacy, unconditional humanitarian aid, economic assistance and timelines for the near-term withdrawal of American and NATO combat troops.

Afghanistan is often called “the graveyard of empires.”  Most recently, the late Soviet Union was forced to withdraw from Afghanistan after spending ten years attempting to control its population with as many as 500,000 troops across a common border.  Continuing in the footsteps of the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the Ottoman Empire, and Alexander the Great is nothing short of foolish.  It’s time to start figuring out how to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan and focus our attention and resources on the problems that face us at home.

Sincerely,

STRENGTH THROUGH PEACE

P.S.  When we arrived at your Ft. Collins office this morning, James Thompson greeted us and we were able to speak with him for approximately 30 minutes.