Seattle Coalition Calls for International Solution to Crisis
The 911 Peace Coalition, a broad-based group of individuals and
organizations located in Seattle, condemned the US bombing of
Afghanistan that began in October.
Ellen Bovarnick, spokesperson for the group, said: “While we grieve
for the victims of the terrible events of September 11, we cannot
condone the bombing of innocent civilians as an appropriate response.
Our grief should not be an excuse for war.
“Those responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon...must be brought to justice,” she said. “We have an
appropriate means for doing this in an international court using
accepted procedures. Bombing innocent civilians will only perpetuate
the cycle of violence.”
The Coalition stated its appreciation for the Bush Administration’s
decision to provide humanitarian aid to the population of Afghanistan,
which has been on the brink of famine and drought for the last decade.
“When no one is hungry, terrorism is starved. The Administration knows
this is not a conventional enemy, so the response must be carefully
considered. The supply-base of terrorism is desperation and
oppression. To combat terrorism we need to fight injustice and
oppression around the world.”
John Trombold, a coalition member, added: “It is important for people
to question the official story about “terrorism”—a term neither the
media nor government has defined. I don’t believe there is popular
support for this war against terrorism....Consequently, it is very
important to see the presence of peace advocates in the streets. Many
people feel that, by attacking Afghanistan, the US is playing into the
strategy of the Taliban, which hopes to polarize the world along
religious lines. We need to end the cycle of violence before it
becomes a regional conflict threatening world peace.”
Contacts: Ellen Bovarnick (425) 881-2170; Henry Schwarz (206)
523-6891; John Trombold (206) 683-5380
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