AFSCME - AFSCME President Calls Iraq War Escalation 'Reckless and Wrong'

Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement today on the escalation of the war in Iraq:

"The President's decision to escalate the war in Iraq is reckless and wrong. It's bad foreign policy and takes away the resources we need to solve problems here at home.

"The military commanders and the majority of Americans who oppose the President's decision are right. We shouldn't be escalating a poorly planned and misguided war. We should be escalating our support for the safe and speedy return of our troops.

"We are spreading violence in Iraq, not democracy. This ill-conceived war of choice has cost the lives of more than 3,000 American soldiers and countless billions in U.S. treasure. We could have solved the American health care crisis for what this war has cost us.

"The time has long past to bring our troops home. This decision by the President is the very definition of misguided leadership."

AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations – from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers – AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

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American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
1625 L Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-5687
Telephone (202) 429-1145
Fax (202) 429-1120