Resolution: 72A-10-9
Adopted: July 27, 2010
Our country is now engaged in a great national debate about the war in Afghanistan, whether we should be there at all, and, if so, what our mission is and what resources are needed to carry out that mission.
The fateful decision President Obama made to add 30,000 troops in Afghanistan will affect our own country in profound ways for years to come, including whether President Obama will be able to carry out his commitment to rebuild our own country.
The earlier decision by President Bush to go to war in Iraq was based on false information and has already cost our country more than 4,400 soldiers’ lives, over 30,000 wounded, and more than $733 billion.
The labor movement, having worked so hard to elect our president, has a direct stake in President Obama’s capacity to direct the necessary resources to create jobs and rebuild America.
Some 35,000 CWA members, including public sector workers and telecommunications workers and many others have been surplused during this economic downturn and need to be able to get back to work immediately at good union wages, providing needed healthcare and public services and building affordable broadband access for all of America.
The United States has spent over $283 billion in Afghanistan already. The decision to send 30,000 more troops will cost at least $33 billion more this year, and could cost at least $100 billion a year for years to come. These funds are urgently needed to create and keep jobs here at home, and for other pressing needs, including rebuilding the nation’s physical and telecommunications infrastructure; aid to city and state governments to maintain public services; full veterans’ benefits; health care and quality education for all; housing relief in the foreclosure crisis; and the creation of millions of good jobs at fair wages in manufacturing, services, and green jobs.
Hundreds of thousands of brave and patriotic Americans, including CWA members, have enlisted in these wars and too many have made the ultimate sacrifice; yet those who return home too often find that the government help they need to regain their health and rebuild their lives is sorely lacking.
Resolved: CWA calls for an end to the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Resolved: CWA calls for withdrawal of all U.S. military forces and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Resolved: CWA calls for the use of diplomatic and multilateral measures to resolve these and the many other pressing conflicts around the globe.
Resolved: CWA calls for rebuilding America and redirecting funds used for these wars to urgently needed public and private sector job creation in this country, and to aid for state and local governments.
Resolved: CWA continues to support our troops and believes that the best support is to bring them home and give them the benefits they deserve, including but not limited to adequate medical and mental health care, employment training, and placement in jobs paying a living wage.