End the Trail of Resentment and Hatred

LCWR participates with other Catholic organizations in the DC area, including Pax Christi USA, which formed a Catholic Peace Group a few years ago. Participants acknowledge the complexity of dealing with the situation in Afghanistan, far more complex than Iraq. A briefing the group received from a Mennonite who has been in Afghanistan indicates that there is no popular consensus concerning removal of U.S. troops; however, there is great concern and anger that 70% of civilian deaths are from U.S. airstrikes. Depending on the section of the country, U.S. military engagement is seen as a war on Islam or a war on the Taliban or a war on terrorism. There is noconfidence in the Afghan government. The Catholic group agrees that a new framework is needed for dealing with war in Iraq, Afghanistan and war on terrorism, and that military disengagement should not mean moral and political disengagement. Given all the complexities of Afghanistan, the group supports Pax Christi's effort: It is Time to End the Trail of Resentment and Hatred: A Sign-On Statement on Afghanistan. Members agreed to promote it among our constituencies and find ways to use itwith government and Church officials. To read the statement, sign-on, and possible contribute to have it published see www.paxchristiusa.org . PLEASE CONSIDER SIGNING AND PASSING IT ON.