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The time for peace and disarmament

    In the United States, 60 percent of federal discretionary spending goes to military spending, and the United State saccounts for almost 40 percent of the world’s military expenditures. It is immoral and unsustainable.

    Twenty years ago at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 172 nations made a pledge to connect the challenges of development to environmental threats. It helped create a global movement for sustainable development and stimulated activism around the world.

    As part of the 2012 Rio Summit, theUnited Statesshould lead the world by adding calls for peace and disarmament to the share definition of sustainable development.

    Carol Collins

    Dover

    This is an open letter to Delaware’s congressional delegation: Sen. Tom Carper, Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. John Carney. Please, no war on Iran! Let diplomacy work! In early April, the United States and Iran came 10 hours closer to avoiding war. That’s how long the talks among the United States, Iran and five other world powers lasted. The talks ended with everyone committed to further negotiations.

    But will Congress support this diplomatic support, or sabotage it? Right now, Congress is aggressively escalating tension in Iran, rather than supporting diplomacy. These sanctions are not scheduled until this summer, but already, the Senate is working on Senate Resolution 380, which pressures the administration to abandon diplomacy and push toward war. Please vote NO – war is not the answer.

    One piece of good news is new House legislation that calls for robust, sustainable and comprehensive diplomacy with Iran (H.R. 4173) sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee. This is not being “weak on Iran.” Diplomacy is the best chance to avoid war with Iran and to discourage Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

    There are many voices for peace here inDelaware. One problem we could solve: Cut poverty in half over the next 10 years. Cost: $90 billion per year. How? Hold Pentagon spending to 2007 levels. Net savings: $100 billion per year over 10 years.

    In peace and hope,

    Ruth P. Johnson

    Ralph B. Johnson

    Frederica

Afghans want a settlement that heals

    After the president’s speech Tuesday night, some might be under the impression that the war in Afghanistan is ending. On the contrary.

    The plan that Mr. Obama announced just relies upon different military solutions, rather than peaceful alternatives for the Afghan people.

    Under this plan Afghanistan will become a major non-NATO ally, subjecting the people of Afghanistan to yet another military alliance and continuing the last three decades of war and instability. The peace-building necessary for a sovereign and stable Afghanistan cannot be carried out by the generals meeting later this month in Chicago for the NATO Summit.

    Instead, we need to support a regional solution that doesn’t rely on force. Afghans don’t want more wars and bigger armies. They want a settlement that heals a nation, instead of arming it. And so do many Americans.

    Carol Collins

    Dover

    Frederica

    The sign says “War is not the answer.” However, if the question is “How did we get in this financial mess?” the answer is – war. That’s right: if we had not decided to get into three wars 10 years ago, most of our financial crisis would not exist. I said “three wars” because we sometimes forget the War on Terror and the creation of Homeland Security. There is a virtual army of people who are fighting it, and those uniformed folks who guard our airports cost money. Dollar for dollar, it is not as wasteful as the Iraq and Afghanistan expense, but combined, they have eaten up more of our money than anything else we ever did. Of course, not paying for them by cutting taxes did compound the felony. The foreign wars are the greatest money pits because that is mostly money spent out of our country. At least, the Homeland Security costs are recirculated here in our own economy. We should not get into wars when our own national defense is not at stake. As I hear more and more talk about possible new wars in Syria and even Iran, I pray our leaders remember our past follies. Tell your congressmen: no more wars.

    Peter Couming

    Camden