Summary:
- A cross-partisan group of veteran and military family support organizations sent a letter to President Biden today, urging the White House to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1.
- The letter emphasizes the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts and cites polling that supports this action.
A coalition of veteran and military family support organizations sent a letter to President Biden today, urging the White House to take the off-ramp provided by the Doha agreement and withdraw U.S. military troops from Afghanistan by May 1st. The signatories represent grassroots members from across the political spectrum, including Secure Families Initiative, Concerned Veterans of America, Common Defense, Veterans for American Ideals, Modern Military Association of America, Continue to Serve, Association of the United States Navy, Bring Our Troops Home, and High Ground Veterans Advocacy.
“Unfortunately, we have remained in Afghanistan long enough for the children of our first warfighters there to be now eligible to serve in the same conflict as their parents,” stated the letter. “Our members are proud of their service, but they know it is long past time for America to come home from Afghanistan. We urge you to seize the opportunity to do so as quickly and safely as possible.”
“Military families are extraordinarily resilient,” said Sarah Streyder, Executive Director of Secure Families Initiative and active-duty military spouse, “but I’m tired of watching my community get pushed to the brink by 20 years of an unsustainable operations tempo. That’s why we are proud to join this effort — it’s past time to bring our troops home and our families back together.”
“After 20 years of conflict and failed nation building in Afghanistan, we must accept that the best thing for America is to end our military involvement and bring our troops home,” said CVA Executive Director Nate Anderson. “A continued presence in Afghanistan is not critical for America’s safety, yet it continues to undermine the conditions of our prosperity at home. The May 1 Doha agreement deadline is the best opportunity for President Biden to end America’s endless war and position the United States for a more productive foreign policy.”
“It’s beyond belief for American Soldiers enlisting today to go serve in a conflict which began before they were born,” said Kyle Bibby, National Campaigns Manager of Common Defense and Afghanistan veteran. “By ending this forever war, Pres. Biden can shift our focus and national priorities to the needs of everyday people here at home. At the same time, we should strengthen America’s diplomatic corps not only to help reach a political agreement in Afghanistan, but also to earn back the respect of the international community.”
“We do not honor the dead by sending more to die, we honor them by supporting their families and keeping their sisters and brothers in arms safe,” said High Ground Veterans Advocacy President Kristofer Goldsmith.
“On the world stage, the President’s word is that of the American people,” said Dan McKnight, Chairman of BringOurTroopsHome.US. “In February 2020, the Trump administration signed the Doha Agreement, pledging a full withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. Adhering to this agreement keeps good faith with the American people and is aligned with the public’s will. President Biden campaigned on returning our country to a period of normalcy, and that entails continuity between administrations regarding international agreements. BringOurTroopsHome.US asks that President Biden keep America’s word and do his public duty by finally ending our country’s longest war.”
READ THE ENTIRE LETTER HERE
About the Secure Families Initiative:
Secure Families Initiative is a nonpartisan group of military partners and family members, mobilized to vote and advocate for principled national security and foreign policy. Because our community understands better than most the consequences that decisions over war and peace have here on the homefront. www.SecureFamiliesInitiative.org.
About Concerned Veterans of America:
Concerned Veterans for America advocates for policies that will preserve the freedom and prosperity that its members and families so proudly fought for and defended. The goal is to translate the experience, concerns and hopes unique to veterans and their families into a common vision of freedom, and to speak out on issues that threaten to cripple not only our economic and national security, but the spirit of opportunity and liberty that all Americans cherish. For more information, visit www.cv4a.org.
About Common Defense:
Common Defense is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that empowers veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched power of greedy billionaires who have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values. For more information visit our website www.commondefense.us.
About High Ground Veterans Advocacy:
The primary mission of High Ground Veterans Advocacy (HGVA) is to improve the lives of servicemembers, veterans and their families through education, charitable action, and scientific research. HGVA trains Fellows to build coalitions around issues of importance for Military Service Organizations (MSOs), Veteran Service Organization (VSOs), and military-connected-family organizations. www.highgroundvets.org/
About BringOurTroopsHome.US:
BringOurTroopsHome.US is an organization composed of veterans of the Global War on Terror and their civilian allies who are dedicated to ending American involvement in our endless wars in the Middle East and bringing our troops home. www.bringourtroopshome.us/
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