Confused about what’s going on in Afghanistan? Unsure of what we are doing there? Wondering about a way forward that protects lives and serves the interest of the Afghans as well as ourselves?

Rethink Afghanistan.org  - View the excellent film online
http://rethinkafghanistan.com/
Part One focuses on what military escalation will achieve in Afghanistan.
Part Two looks at how the war could further destabilize a nuclear-armed Pakistan.
Part Three focuses on the staggering costs of the war, which could easily exceed $1 trillion.
Part Four examines the civilian casualties caused by recent U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan.
Part Five questions the assumption that war can liberate Afghan women
Part Six brings you three former high-ranking CIA agents explaining why there is no "victory" to be won in Afghanistan.
Part 7 focuses on solutions and ways forward

Codepink: What Afghani Women Are Saying 5 mins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaXpO2QEtxA

Middle East Study: Topic Caught in the Conflict :Civilians and the international security strategy in Afghanistan
http://www.oxfam.org/en/policy/civilians-caught-in-the-conflict-afghanistan
From FCNL, Friends Committee on National Legislation, the Quaker legislative lobby in Washington DC:
Four Steps for Peace in Afghanistan
The United States should:
1.       halt new offensive operations against Taliban strongholds and end the war fighting;
2.       engage Afghanistan's neighbors - including Russia, China and Iran - in the stabilization process;
3.       start the withdrawal of U.S. troops and articulate a policy leading to withdrawing all U.S. troops; and
4.       expand development and diplomatic efforts.

FCNL lobbyist Jim Fine argues that the U.S. public is ready for these steps, but Congress still needs to catch up. Read more about what's needed in Afghanistan in the September/October Washington Newsletter.

Find out more about FCNL's lobbying on Afghanistan.
http://www.fcnl.org/afghanistan/

Excellent Backgrounder:
Descent into Chaos: The United States and the Failure of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid

Petitions:
Women Say No to War petition
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/424/t/8834/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=2125
 
Sign petition Demand Civilian Solutions for Afghanistan
http://rethinkafghanistan.com/