With education, health care, creation of jobs, Social Security and other human needs crying out for our tax dollars here at home, can we afford a war in Aghanistan/Pakistan? What will another trillion dollar war accomplish? Is there anything we can do to encourage negotiated solutions?

Are we all familiar with Amy Goodman saying she heard candidate Obama tell the story (with reference to himself) that FDR said to labor leaders: “I agree with what you say, now make me do it.”

So far, if one listens, but is not distracted by the words, and judges by actions, the Obama administration is pushed by an over-rich military to “do it” their way, and continue Bush administration policies. Since Jan. 20, to mention a few indications, the Obama administration began by sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, and now is adding 4,000 more, while U.S. drones continue to bomb Afghanistan and Pakistan killing children and other civilians, and turning their neighbors into insurgents.

Despite President Obama’s February vow to “remove our combat brigades from Iraq over the next 18 months,” we are now told that, even after 2010, the “transition force” of 30,000 to 50,000 troops will be combat brigades like ones in Iraq now, but called by a different name.

In February, despite his friendly New Year’s message, Obama extended U.S. unilateral sanctions against Iran, and despite the conclusion of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran is not trying to develop nuclear weapons, President Obama continues to charge they are.

We say, listen up! Let’s make the grassroots peace movement as visible to President Obama and our other elected officials as we can, by joining the United for Peace and Justice April 4 march on Wall Street to: End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, cut the military budget, and fund our communities.

-Carolyn Eubanks, Lyn Pyle and Dave Wenger

The writers are members of Bronx Action for Justice and Peace.