Over the course of the last year, we’ve had a lot of time as a nation to reflect on our actions and to chart a new course for America’s foreign policy. And this time last year, many of us were united in the belief that it was time to end America’s forever wars.
But our moment of reflection took a hard right turn just a few months later when Vladimir Putin launched an invasion on neighboring Ukraine. Suddenly, many Democratic leaders who had eagerly embraced the antiwar movement turned away from diplomacy and began doubling down on militaristic rhetoric – which didn’t end with the Kremlin.
Since then, policymakers in Congress and the White House have taken a hard, militaristic line on Iran, China, and Cuba, just to name a few.
Brand New Congress still believes that diplomatic and economic solutions are the way to end these conflicts.
Our withdrawal from Afghanistan was messy and painful. Leaving was the right decision, but we have made many wrong decisions since.
Economic sanctions led by the United States have pushed 23 million Afghans to the brink of starvation. Urgent medical supplies are being withheld to punish the Taliban – but it’s ordinary Afghans who lie dying in hospitals where there are no doctors or medicines to treat them.
The U.S. government dragged its feet for YEARS to process visas for the hundreds of thousands of Afghans and their families who risked everything to work with our armed forces. Now we’ve left them behind to be hunted by Taliban leaders seeking revenge.
After more than 40 years of meddling in Afghanistan’s affairs, we have done little to make it right in the last year.
Many continue to suffer, but there is still time to change course. We urge Congress to work with the Biden administration to lift the sanctions, provide immediate aid, and end the final siege of Afghanistan.
Do not let another child die of hunger on our watch.
With love and solidarity for all the people of Afghanistan,
The entire team at Brand New Congress
