Cora Weiss: A Diplomatic Surge

From a speech by noted peace activist Cora Weiss at Princeton University on November 16, 2008:

When Obama issues his plan for the return of all soldiers and contractors from Iraq, and a program for the reconstruction of the country, he should not send them instead to Afghanistan. He should announce a diplomatic surge.

Obama has said that the economy is the greatest challenge of our life time. But civil society has not yet gotten together to put together the frightening economic crisis with military spending. If half the world¹s $1.3 trillion dollar military expenditure were put into infrastructure, millions of jobs would be created. $1.3 trillion will not prevent another 9/11. Only by proving to the world that we do not hate people, that we will not bomb people, that we will not put our military bases on their soil and our soldiers will not rape their women and girls; that we won¹t take their resources; that we will behave multi-laterally; that we will encourage student exchanges; that we will sow trust, and we will condemn any act of racial, gender or ethnic discrimination, that is how we will prevent 9/11¹s.

We’ve said it before and we’re just going to keep on saying it–until the wise voices of women like Cora Weiss are brought to the table, there will be no peace.  We can no longer afford not to be listening to those who advocate for a real end to war.