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CODEPINK emerged out of a desperate
desire by a group of American women to stop the Bush administration
from invading Iraq. Over the years, through our work with
individuals and organizations around the world, we have worked
relentlessly to help highlight the reality of this illegal
and immoral occupation.
We feel that by amplifying Iraqi women's voices, leading
peace delegations to the region, keeping vibrant, creative
protest alive in the halls of Congress as well as raising
aid for Iraqi families we have been able to dispel the
myth of 'Mission Accomplished'.
We know that war is hell, and this hell can be especially
deep for mothers. Less than $600
million (less than the $720m the U.S. spends each day to wage
the war) has been slated for emergency relief, basic health
services and education for the millions of Iraqis who have
been forced from their homes and are now living abroad or
are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Knowing this, we continue to work with organizations who
focus on the Iraqi Refugee Crisis and to
do what the US government has not. Furthermore, we
call on Obama and his administration to immediately withdraw
all U.S. troops, including residual forces from Iraq. Instead,
the U.S. government should increase efforts in diplomacy,
humanitarian aid and refugee resettlement. Continued troop
presence will only encourage more armed opposition within
Iraq and will not force the Iraqi government and Iraqi factions
to negotiate power. In addition, with the continued presence
of U.S. troops, the international community will doubt the
U.S. commitment to withdrawal and will wait to invest in diplomatic
and reconstruction efforts.
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