War and Peace

I am a lifelong peace and anti-war activist. I first actively participated in anti-war political activism as a student at the University of Washington in 1969-70 and in years following during U.S. incursions into Cambodia and Laos and have continued in anti-war activism throughout my life.

Peace talks
I believe the U.S. should initiate — that is, request — peace talks in the Middle East. We should make it a priority to negotiate a truce with all current or former enemies willing to negotiate in good faith with us.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The U.S. should assume a leadership role in seeing to it that all aspects of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are enforced, including decommissioning all existing nuclear weapons, providing any assistance that may be required and leaning on reluctant allies to comply.

Embargoes
Embargoes and blockades in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Burma/Myanmar, Cote d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which principally affect women and children,  should be lifted.

Landmines
Landmines should be immediately banned.

Commitment to Peace
The U.S. should announce a new commitment to peace and to a willingness to  help and protect the democratic and autonomous operation of nation-states.

Iraq

I support:

  • The immediate and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq;
  • Immediate withdrawal of U.S. corporations and interests from Iraq, with contracts for reconstruction given to Iraqi companies;
  • Seeking assistance and support from the United Nations and regional human rights organizations, NGOs, and international women’s rights organizations in facilitating a coalition to oversee the transition of the U.S. out of Iraq;
  • Working to ensure adequate representation of women in the regional coalition;
  • Prioritizing protection of journalists, media, and Iraqi bloggers post-occupation as they report the progress of returning Iraq to the Iraqi people and ending the U.S. occupation.

Iran and Syria

  • No military or other confrontations with Iran or Syria.
  • The U.S. should be outspoken in its condemnation of the crackdown on and arrests of women’s rights activists in Iran, of members of the One Million Signatures Campaign and of the closure of women’s magazines and censorship of Iranian media

Pakistan

  • No military or other confrontations with Pakistan.

Afghanistan

  • I opposed U.S. intrusion into Afghanistan from the very beginning. Afghanistan is now in disarray, is impoverished, is failing, and is dominated by warlords and drug lords.  The U.S. left Afghanistan in worse shape than it was before our intrusion.
  • The U.S. and NATO countries, in their occupation of Afghanistan, have created and supported a government run by warlords, drug lords and Islamic fundamentalists. As a first order of business, the U.S. should insist on the reinstatement of Malalai Joya, who has great grass roots support amongst Afghans working towards genuine democracy and women’s rights, to parliament.