Local Groups Critical of Obama’s Plan to Withdraw Troops Stage Protest

During the Friday commute hour, 40 people attended a demonstration staged by the local chapter of Progressive Democrats of America and Peace Fresno opposing the plan announced on Wednesday by President Obama to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. While participants strongly support a withdrawal of troops, they were very unhappy with the small size of the troop reduction announced by Obama.

Protesters held signs calling on Congress to vote against war funding and urging passers-by to call Congress and the President with a message that it’s time to bring all troops and contractors home from Afghanistan.

Judy Hess, leader of the recently formed, Central Valley-Sierra Progressives chapter of Progressive Democrats of America said, “We now have 200,000 troops and contractors in Afghanistan and the President’s decision to withdraw 33,000 by the end of 2012 is just a token withdrawal. It is unacceptable. Our troops have been in Afghanistan for nearly 10 years and they’re worn down. We must bring them home. The money we’ve been spending on war needs to be spent at home.”

“Our message to President Obama is ‘enough is enough.’ Americans are sick and tired of this war. In his speech, President Obama defied the majority of Americans who want an end to the war. Even if the President follows thru on this plan, nearly 168,000 US soldiers and contractors will remain in Afghanistan in October of 2012. Under Obama’s plan there is no end of war in sight. At the end of his term there will be twice as many troops as we had under Bush after 7 years of war,” said Dan Yaseen, Vice President – Membership, Peace Fresno.