A Better Plan: Winning the Peace in Afghanistan

Since 2001, The United States spent a total of $228.2 billion on the war in
Afghanistan. And this year the cost of the war is already $60.2 billion, exceeding the
financial cost of the Iraq war in 2009.

And as more troops are sent to Afghanistan, the predictable result is more US and
Afghan fatalities. 2009 has been the deadliest year for both Afghans and American soldiers with 183 US troops deaths, already higher then 2008 the next highest year for US fatalities. And the humanitarian crisis for Afghans has also worsened. In the first half of 2009 there were 1,013 civilian deaths, a third of which were caused by coalition forces, mostly the result of air strikes.

We have a better plan: focus on diplomatic cooperation and humanitarian aid, mitigate civilian causalities by scaling back military force.

The United Nations, U.S. and British generals, peace groups, and 19 members of Congress agree:

“The war in Afghanistan cannot be won militarily and success is only possible through political means including dialogue between all relevant parties.”

Sign the petition below and add your name to the growing list of people who believe there is a better plan.