Hi John,

Our imperial hubris led us to this crisis in Afghanistan. As Robin Cook, former British foreign secretary, wrote in The Guardian, bin Laden was armed by the CIA and funded by the Saudis throughout the 80s. Al Qaeda means “the database,” because Al Qaeda was originally the computer file of thousands of mujahideen recruited and trained by the CIA to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan. Once the Soviets were out, Al Qaeda set its sights on the US.

Why did we invade after we had been offered bin Laden?

Why did we stay after we killed bin Laden 10 years ago?

Cui bono? Who benefits?

The U.S. imperial war machine and the power elite who enrich themselves off it. They’re not the ones whose sons and daughters get sent off to war. They’re not the ones whose sons and daughters never return — or return physically and psychologically wounded.

I have friends who are Afghanistan veterans, and their lives were forever changed.

We need to reduce our country’s war budget and fix the many challenges we have at home.

Like the 37,000 veterans who are homeless.

The 13 million children who are hungry.

The 68,000 Americans who die because they can’t afford healthcare every year.

At the same time, we should not forget the many Afghans who will suffer under Taliban rule, including women, LGBTQ people, and Afghans who worked with the U.S. The U.S. should airlift asylum seekers out of the country and issue visas to all who cooperated with us.

Unlike my opponent, I do not take money from the military-industrial complex, which means I need your help to win so I can fight for a peace agenda in Congress. Please support me with a quick donation here:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/rp-email

Thank you,

-Rebecca Parson
Candidate for Congress, WA-06