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Dear Senator/Congressman:
The members of the People's Organization For Progress (POP) strongly condemn the terrorist suicide airliner hijacking attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and other sites. POP especially condemns the targeting of civilians during those assaults. The individuals responsible for these heinous and despicable acts must be brought to justice.
The terrorist attacks on the United States resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and tremendous property damage. Our organization believes that the response of our government to these attacks should be one that is focused on bringing the assailants to justice and ensuring the future safety and security of the nation. We believe these efforts should take place within the framework of international law and United Nations policy.
We support government efforts to bring to justice those criminals responsible for the September 11 terrorist attacks on our country. However, we are very concerned about the growing dimensions and impact of the United States continuing war with Afghanistan, both within and outside of our borders.
We believe that our prolonged war effort in that country is increasing tensions in the region and fueling antagonisms throughout that area toward the United States, thus setting the stage for future crises and terrorist activity. We are also concerned that the concerned that the war on terrorism is targeting democratic freedoms and civil liberties here at home as well as diverting financial resources from domestic priorities.
According to the Bush administration the war with Afghanistan has successfully achieved certain military and political objectives. However, it has also caused the deaths of innocent civilians, inflicted tremendous damage on that countrys infrastructure, produced famine, social upheaval and dislocation among the population.
It has brought about the downfall of the government, stirred up ethnic hatreds, and furthered the emiseration of an already extremely impoverished nation. The massive U. S. airstrikes and the resulting death and destruction have caused many in that part of the world to view our military efforts as marginally distinguishable from the terrorism we are seeking to eradicate.
This war is not only having an impact abroad it is having a tremendous impact at home as well. The war in Afghanistan is costing taxpayers billions of dollars. Nearly four billion has already been spent and as much as twenty billion may be spent by February. It may cost even more if we get bogged down in a long term military conflict there. We ask that you initiate and support legislative efforts to immediately put cost controls and limits on spending for the war in Afghanistan.
The domestic problems that faced the country before September 11 did not disappear and in some respects have become more urgent. The resources that were needed to deal with those problems then are still needed now. It is clear that the costs of the war are draining much needed funds away from initiatives that address domestic concerns. Our country is wealthy but our resources are not limitless. We should be using the resources we have to aid with the recovery from the terrorist attacks, to make the nation more secure, and to help our own people get through the current U. S. economic recession.
Since September 11 death and destruction, pain and despair have found their way to the United States and Afghanistan. Our pursuit of those responsible for the terrorist attacks on our country should continue but now is the time to end the war. The People's Organization For Progress asks that you publicly call for and support legislative efforts to bring an immediate halt to any further U. S. bombing of Afghanistan, the de-escalation of U. S. military forces in the region, and an end to the war.
On the domestic front there are equally compelling concerns.The war on terrorism has ushered in a host of civil liberty and due process infringements such as new limits on attorney-client privilege, expansive wire tapping without adequate judicial review, and detentions based on secret evidence. POP opposes unlimited government surveillance and detention powers. We ask that you actively oppose these encroachments upon our civil liberties through legislation and other means.
We question whether there is any evidence that these infringements on civil liberties would have prevented the September 11 attacks. POP asks that you call for more efficient enforcement of current law and policy rather than granting new powers and expanding the potentially abusive surveillance and detention powers of the involved agencies.
Further, we oppose President Bush's proposed use of secret military tribunals. The use of such tribunals in a situation where congress has not formally declared war would set a very dangerous precedent. We believe that U.S. citizens, and the entire international community, will benefit from open hearings where evidence is presented consistent with established due process. Anything less is a retreat from our democratic aspirations. We ask that you publicly oppose the use of secret military tribunals.
As our government vigorously pursues those who attacked the U. S. on September 11 there needs to be an equally vigorous review and debate of U. S. foreign policy. Too often while waving the banner of democracy and freedom the U. S. government has on the one hand supported oppressive military dictatorships and despotic feudal monarchies, while on the other hand supported the overthrow of democratically elected governments. This apparent duplicity has done much to undermine confidence in U. S. aims and goals, as well as compromise the security of our citizens.
Our foreign policy, as it relates to the Middle East, Persian Gulf, and Central Asia has caused much enmity toward the United States among people of those regions thereby contributing to a climate of support for terrorist activity. We must have a more balanced foreign policy. In the Middle East, many see as unfair our unqualified support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinian people. Regarding this issue, we ask that you support the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people and their efforts to create an independent state of Palestine.
In the Persian Gulf region, the persistent bombing of Iraq for a number of years has resulted in many casualties and caused great suffering among the civilian population. This has also contributed to an anti-U.S. feeling among many in the region. We ask that you call for a halt to the bombing of Iraq and an end to the embargo of that country. In addition, we ask that you oppose any effort to expand the current war in Afghanistan into Iraq, as this would further destabilize the region.
We believe another cause of this war and other difficulties we are having in that part of the world is our country's dependence on oil. In the pursuit of oil and other natural resources we have shaped a foreign policy that most of the people in those regions believe is opposed to their interest. dependence on fossil fuels would aid in the development of a more balanced and equitable foreign policy and a safer, healthier, and cleaner environment both nationally and globally. POP asks that you support all legislative efforts to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and develop ecologically safe alternative sources of energy.
Forty billion tax dollars were spent this year on American intelligence agencies. However, our intelligence services neither prepared nor warned us of the impending danger that befell the nation more than two months ago. POP asks that you call for congressional hearings into the massive failure of our intelligence agencies on September 11. Finally, President Bush has identified Osama Bin Laden, his al Qaeda network, and the Taliban as the evil doers responsible for the terrorist attacks of September 11.
However, there is evidence to show that our government may have given hundreds of millions, perhaps even billions of dollars to these evil doers,provided them with technical and military training and assistance, and thus helped bring them to power in Afghanistan. We ask that you call for a public inquiry into our previous involvement with them, the objective being to determining how to prevent this from happening again.
We respectfully request a meeting with you, or your representative, to discuss these concerns further.
Please contact the People's Organization For Progress at (973) 801-0001 so that we may arrange to meet with you at your earliest possible convenience. Your time and attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
Respectfully,
Matthew Johnson Human Rights Committee
Lawrence Hamm, Chairman
People's Organization for Progress
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