US braced for surge of protest against war in Afghanistan

[Better Believe It]

US braced for surge of protest over war in Afghanistan
The conflict in Afghanistan used to be called the 'forgotten war'. But with the number of soldiers dying there outstripping casualties in Iraq, support – for the fighting and for President Obama – is melting away
by Paul Harris
September 27, 2009

The conflict used to be called America's "forgotten war". No longer. As casualties have spiked, so has hatred for the war: a solid 57% of Americans now oppose it. That has seen the anti-war movement in America prepare to turn its attentions from Iraq to Afghanistan, gearing up for an autumn campaign of marches and civil disobedience.

They hope to emulate the anti-Vietnam war protests, using highly visible public campaigns to force the hand of the White House to pull out of the country, not escalate the conflict.

The first major protest will happen next weekend, when anti-war protesters plan to arrange more than 500 empty pairs of boots on a grassy lawn right outside the White House. Each pair will represent an American soldier killed in the war.

"If Obama looks out of his window, he is going to see a symbol of over 500 soldiers who died in Afghanistan. He is going to know the public is waking up to this war. The honeymoon with Obama is over and the American people are not going to stand for it much longer." Syverson said.

A broad coalition of anti-war groups is also already co-ordinating protests and demonstrations for the coming weeks, hoping to emulate the successes of the Vietnam protests in a way that the anti-Iraq war movement never pulled off. There will be vigils, memorials, teach-ins, demonstrations and marches. They will range in scale from a few individuals to events where thousands of people will be expected to turn up.

Groups involved include Military Families Speak Out, Win Without War, Code Pink, United For Peace and Justice and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

"There will be hundreds of events all across the US," said Syverson. Some other groups, like US Labor Against the War, which represents 190 unions, which have been largely silent on Afghanistan compared to Iraq, have also announced they are now planning to start opposing the Afghan war too.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/27/us-braced-afghanistan-protest-surge

[timeforpeace]

1. No, it was called The Right War as opposed to Iraq.Still is but check back daily for updates on that

status.

[ShortnFiery]

2. You better believe it. We, the American People, did not approve of "Endless Occupation" and

justified on the FLIMSY notion of "War Against Terrorism." :crazy:

Hello? 15 of the 19 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia NOT Afghanistan. :(