The war on the people of Afghanistan has been raging since 2001. The war on Iraq has likewise gone on since 2003. Combined these wars are the longest ground war in U.S. history. These wars have caused intense suffering for the people of the Middle East.
At the same time the U.S. government and the banks and corporations have waged another war on the working people of the United States. Unemployment, layoffs, evictions—these are all a direct attack on the lives of the working class. Meanwhile, the banks and corporations—the architects of the current economic crisis—are using their government to protect their interests with bailouts paid for by our tax dollars.
The War in the Middle East
Iraq
- Over a million Iraqis have been killed.
- There have been more than 6,000 U.S. and other coalition soldiers killed.
- The war in Iraq has cost more than $900 billion.
- There are 85,000 troops deployed in Iraq.
- 28 percent of Iraqi children are malnourished
- 70 percent of Iraqis have no clean water.
- 30 percent of Iraqis are unemployed.
Afghanistan
- Uncounted thousands of Afghanis have died in the U.S war on Afghanistan.
- There have been 1,822 U.S. and coalition troops killed in Afghanistan.
- There will be 100,000 U.S. troops deployed in Afghanistan by the end of the summer.
- One quarter of Afghans rely on international aid for food
- One in five Afghan Children die before the age of five.
- Forty percent of Afghans are unemployed.
The War at Home
Unemployment
- The official unemployment rate is at 9.2 percent. .
- There is one job opening for every seven unemployed people.
Evictions
- Five million foreclosures are expected over the next five years.
- California has had 192,422 foreclosures since January.
Hunger
- 17 million children, or 20 percent of U.S. children have faced hunger in the last year.
- 14.6 percent of U.S. households struggle to have enough to eat on a daily basis.
- Food stamps now feed 1 in 8 Americans, and one 1 in 4 children.
Bailouts to the Wealthy
- The Bush and Obama administrations’ combined have spent $4.74 trillion on bailouts for banks and corporations– a direct transfer of wealth to the pockets of the banks and corporations.
End The Wars – at Home and Abroad!
From Iraq to Afghanistan to the United States the ruling elite has put ordinary people under attack. None of their policies and none of their decisions are made in our interest. They are out for their own profit at the expense of our lives. It is time we said enough is enough. End the wars – at home and abroad!
