Dear Mr President [ About the War on Terrorism ]

Dear Mr. President: Words of Resistance, Reason, and Peace

"You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake." -Jeanette Rankin

	Background and history on U.S. involvement in Afghanistan The U.S. does shady, underhanded business Countering the war rhetoric: Articles on war myths in general Myth #1: If you oppose military action, then you support terrorism. Myth #2: This war is for justice. Myth #3: Bombing will solve the problems of terrorism; it's self-defense. Myth #4: There are no alternatives to war. Myth #5: Everybody supports the war. Myth #6: We're killing the 'bad guys', not innocents. Myth #7: We're humanitarians. We're helping Afghanistan. On patriotism

	Background and History on U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan: The War In Afghanistan: 47 Questions and Answers - by Michael Albert and Stephen R. Shalom Why Do They Hate Us? - by Stephen R. Shalom Excellent chronological list of some effects of US policy in the Middle East which have made the United States so unpopular. Unleasing Hell - by Ramzi Kysia The Pot Calling the Kettle Black: USA and International Terrorism - by Philip Agee. (This is a lengthy article, but worth the read. Agee is a former CIA officer.)
	The US Does Shady, Underhanded Business Pentagon Buys Up All Satellite Pictures After Reports of Civilian Casualties - by Duncan Campbell An America Above the Law - by Jonathan Power This War Is Illegal - by Michael Mandel
	Countering War Rhetoric Myths ARTICLES ON WAR MYTHS IN GENERAL A War of Lies - by Rahul Mahajan and Robert Jensen The War on Terrorism: Myths and Realities - by Steven Alan Carr MYTH #1: IF YOU OPPOSE MILITARY ACTION, THEN YOU SUPPORT TERRORISM. Reality: 'With Us or Against Us' is a False Dichotomy - by William Raspberry Reality: Gagging the Skeptics - by George Monbiot MYTH #2: THIS WAR IS FOR JUSTICE. Reality: No Glory in Unjust War on the Weak - by Barbara Kingsolver MYTH #3: BOMBING WILL SOLVE PROBLEMS OF TERRORISM; IT'S SELF-DEFENSE. Reality: We Are All Victims Nowby Gary Younge Reality: Week One: Operation Infinite Disaster - by Chris Kromm Reality: Afghanistan: We Didn't Have To Do This - by Stephanie Salter Reality: Aerial Bombardment: The Dumbest Weapon of War - by Simon Jenkins MYTH #4: THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES TO WAR. Reality: An Alternative to War - by Tariq Ali Reality: Tough Talk Won't Solve Terrorism Problems - by Rahul Mahajan and Robert Jensen MYTH #5: EVERYBODY SUPPORTS THE WAR. Reality: An international Gallup poll (offsite) showed that 32 out of 35 countries (the US, Israel and India in opposition) favored a criminal justice response, rather than military action, in response to the terrorist attacks. 67%-88% in NATO/Western countries and 83%-94% in Latin America favored a non-military approach. Despite the mainstream American media's portrait of total American support for war, fully 30% of US respondents also supported a non-military approach. Reality: This War Is Illegal - by Michael Mandel MYTH #6: WE'RE KILLING THE 'BAD GUYS', NOT INNOCENTS. Reality: Afghan Villagers Ask Why The US Unleashed Its Wrath On Them - AFP Reality: US Bombs Red Cross - AFP MYTH #7: WE'RE HUMANITARIANS. WE'RE HELPING AFGHANISTAN. Reality: Killing Them Softly - Starvation and Dollar Bills for Afghan Kids - by Norman Solomon
	On Patriotism: Why I Will Not Rally Around the President - by Robert Jensen A True Patriot Can Raise Hard Questions - by Robert Scheer Peace & Patriotism: Why the old formulas may not work this time - by Vicki Haddock
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