PA Peace Groups: End War as an Economic Stimulus
Monday, February 16, 2009
Pittsburgh, PA - A Pennsylvania group that advocates for peace says a great way to stimulate the U.S. economy would be to stop spending money on war. The American Friends Service Committee of Pennsylvania says we are spending 720 million dollars a day to pay for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Raed Jarrar, Iraq consultant for the group, says peace is the ultimate stimulus.
"The right way to deal with any occupations and any wars is to start de-escalating rather than escalating them and sending more troops and more resources."
Jarrar says if the President and Congress are really serious about stimulating the U.S. economy, they must stop the continued drain of war on the nation's economic resources.
He says he favors a stimulus plan that makes more sense.
"It's to stop the spending of 720 million dollars a day on an occupation that is not benefiting either Iraq nor Americans."
Jarrar says it's foolish to be spending these huge sums of money on war when so much needs to be done at home.
"To start thinking about our local needs here in the U.S., to try to stimulate the economy or to rebuild infrastructure that is in much need for reconstruction in the U.S."
The American Friends Service Committee has a Count Down to Withdrawal petition on its Web site at
afsc.org.
Supporters of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan say the expenditures are needed to stop terrorism.
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