End War & Occupations, Redirect Funding

We call on President Obama to fulfill his campaign commitment to withdraw all U.S. military personnel and mercenaries from Iraq within 16 months, and to resist redeployment to Afghanistan or the Pakistan border. Instead, bring the military home to their families and redirect wasteful military spending to meet human needs at home and abroad. Toward that end, we call on the Democratic-led Congress to use its powers to cut off funding that prolongs the military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and begin the important work of bringing peace to the Middle-East region.

We do not support Democratic leadership proposals with prolonged and porous timelines that allow tens of thousands of U.S. troops to remain in Iraq on vaguely defined "training" or "anti-terrorism" measures. Nor do we support escalation of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan; alternatively we support a political and diplomatic solution to deter terrorist activities and create a foundation for peace and democracy. PDA coordinates its "Out of Iraq and Afghanistan" efforts with dozens of Congress members, including Reps. Raul Grijalva, Lynn Woolsey, Jim McGovern, Barbara Lee, and Maxine Waters.

PDA's Brown Bag Lunch Vigils—with partners California Nurses Association, Healthcare-NOW!, Democrats.com, Defund War.org, United for Peace & Justice, CODEPINK, and the Backbone Campaign—aim to educate the public and our elected representatives about the costs of these wars and the better uses of our tax money for social benefits and programs, such as Medicare for All.

Israel/Palestine Action Group

PDA believes that a peaceful and just resolution of the Israel Palestinian conflict can significantly advance the potential for the people and nations of the planet to live in a world without war. A peaceful and just resolution of this conflict requires the international community to recognize the national aspirations and to honor the human rights of all peoples and ethnic groups living in the occupied Palestinian Territories, within Israel, and in the Jewish and Palestinian diaspora (as defined by international law and recognized principles of human rights). PDA calls for equal democratic rights for Israelis and Palestinians--including the right to collective sovereignty within a political entity or entities of their own choosing--and for an immediate end to hostilities in the region.

Of deep and immediate concern is the mounting humanitarian crisis caused by the siege and blockade in Gaza and the land expropriation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, much of it supported and accomplished with U.S. made weaponry and military aid. In this regard, PDA joins with the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation www.endtheoccupation.org/ in an effort to "condition" and/or suspend U.S. military aid to Israel until there is an end to Israel's siege of Gaza and to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and until the Israeli and Palestinian people have achieved a mutually acceptable just peace. To these ends PDA and the Israel Palestine Action Group (I/PAG) engage in lobbying and legislative campaigns at the congressional district and senatorial levels of the U.S. Congress.

PDA calls on President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to pursue a diplomatic surge among all affected parties with the goal of creating a just and lasting peace in the region.

PD East Bay is a part of the East Bay Campaign for Responsible Aid www.responsibleaid.org