Whereas, The California Democratic Party, concerned citizens and lawmakers are calling for a U.S.A exit strategy from Afghanistan that will end the occupation and air war while ensuring the safety and security of our troops, our nation, and the region; while even the U.S. Ambassador General Karl Eikenberry expresses concern about corruption in the Afghan government and our inability to stabilize the situation; and

Whereas, the plight of women in Afghanistan is such that they continue to bear an especially heavy price under and eight-year occupation, and that far from eradicating the Taliban and other insurgencies, the presence of foreign troops has instead strengthened them, creating greater insecurity, death and impoverishment of the Afghan people; and

Whereas, a majority of Americans are increasingly disturbed about the toll the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan is taking on the honorable young men and women who have been killed and wounded and on their families as our involvement there continues to cost billion each month while the United States and particularly the State of California are in an economic crisis without money to fund domestic needs;

Therefore be it Resolved, that the California Democratic Party, in addition to reiterating its support for a time-table for withdrawal of our military personnel, calls for an end to the use of mercenary contractors, as well as and end to air strikes that cause heavy civilian casualties, and urges our President to oversee a redirection of our funding and resources to include and increase in humanitarian and developmental aid, multi-party talks aimed at ensuring a democratic and legitimate representation of the people of Afghanistan, as well as multi-party regional diplomacy for the safety and stability of neighboring countries; and

Be it Further Resolved that a copy of this resolution shall be sent to the California Democratic Congressional delegation, as well as to President Obama.

Sponsors:  Karen Bernal, AD 5, Chair, Progressive Caucus, Norman Solomon AD 6, Co-Chair, Foreign Policy Committee, Progressive Caucus, Marcy Winograd, AD 53, Co-Chair, Foreign Policy Committee, Progressive Caucus – Endorsed by: Region 17, Region 10 delegations, Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains; Anna Givens, AD 7; Julie Combs, AD 7; Lynn Hamilton, CDP Executive Board Member, Sonoma County