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

October 15, 2009

Representative Betsy Markey
123 N. College Ave.
Suite 220
Fort Collins, CO  80524

Dear Representative Markey:
Strength Through Peace joins with United for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Voters for Peace, Peace Action, and other national organizations calling on Members of the House of Representatives to cosign Rep. Jim McGovern’s bill H.R. 2404 that would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress outlining the United States exit strategy for United States military forces in Afghanistan participating in Operation Enduring Freedom. 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