Tell Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Instead of Bombing Dictators, Stop Selling Them Bombs
Use Diplomacy to Bring About a Ceasefire in Libya Immediately
We know that Muammar Gaddafi is a dictator and we support Libyan people who are rising up to oust him. But bringing in the cruise missiles to the “rescue”? No way! Our government’s involvement should be to use creative diplomacy, negotiations, and international pressure, not war. The best thing the U.S. can do to support democracy in the Middle East is: Stop arming dictators.
Western nations were selling Gaddafi the weapons his regime has been using to suppress the Libyan people. In 2009 alone, European governments—including Britain and France—sold Libya more than $470 million worth of weapons. The Obama administration was working to provide the Libyan dictator another $77 million in weapons, on top of the $17 million it provided in 2009 and the $46 million the Bush administration provided in 2008. What is the message we send by bombing Gaddafi’s forces while continuing to support brutal regimes in countries such as Yemen, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia?
Please join us in telling Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—a key player pushing for war in Libya—that we want an end to the bombing, an immediate ceasefire in Libya and an end to U.S. arms sales to the region’s dictators.
Our government’s involvement should be to use creative diplomacy, negotiations, and international pressure, not war, to help resolve the situation in Libya. You must work to bring about an immediate ceasefire to ensure the safety of the Libyan people and use diplomacy to lay the groundwork for a peaceful revolution.
Democracy doesn't come on the back of a Tomahawk missile. The best thing our government can do to support democracy in the Middle East is to stop providing weapons to brutal regimes. In 2009, the Obama administration was working to provide the Libyan dictator some $77 million in weapons, on top of the $17 million it provided in 2009 and the $46 million the Bush administration provided in 2008.
What is the message we send by bombing Gaddafi’s forces while continuing to support brutal regimes in countries such as Yemen, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia?
Instead of bombing dictators, stop selling them bombs!
Sincerely,
