World

Moore makes plea to Obama to re-think troop surge in Afghanistan

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | November 30, 2009 at 12:45 pm

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Controversial American filmmaker Michael Moore is urging President Barack Obama not to expand the war in Afghanistan, as Washington prepares to announce its troop surge in the region.

Moore has also sent out a mass email to his followers, which is "An Open Letter to the President", asking that he rethink the troop surge, and urging his followers to contact the President with their own pleas for him to change his mind on the eve of his national announcement.

From Michael Moore's Open Letter to Obama:

". . . When we elected you we didn't expect miracles. We didn't even expect much change. But we expected some. We thought you would stop the madness. Stop the killing. Stop the insane idea that men with guns can reorganize a nation that doesn't even function as a nation and never, ever has.

Stop, stop, stop! For the sake of the lives of young Americans and Afghan civilians, stop. For the sake of your presidency, hope, and the future of our nation, stop. For God's sake, stop.

Tonight we still have hope.

Tomorrow, we shall see. The ball is in your court. You DON'T have to do this. You can be a profile in courage. You can be your mother's son.

We're counting on you.

Yours,

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com "

Moore, visiting Japan this week to promote his latest documentary "Capitalism: A Love Story," told reporters that he had sent Obama a message from his father, a World War II veteran.
"I passed on to him a personal request from my father and his Japanese friend: 'Mr. Obama, you do not know war. We both know war and want it no more'," he told reporters.

The activist director, whose latest movie targets corporate greed, held his first press conference in Japan at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where he passionately discussed freedom and protection for the socially weak, and dished out harsh criticism against former US president George W. Bush.

Moore repeatedly praised the traditional values of Japan, but he criticised Tokyo for supporting Bush's policies, including by sending non-combat troops to Iraq and adopting pro-market economic policies.

Asked to offer a message to the Japanese public, Moore urged them to return to a "society of peace and respect."

"As much as I like America, quit being like us. Be Japan," he said.

Moore, visiting Japan for the first time, came to the press conference in a casual coat over a black sweat shirt and sweat pants, looking decidedly casual.

"The airline lost my luggage," he said, adding that one of his first stops in Tokyo was a clothing store popular with sumo wrestlers.

"Where are they going to find a store in Japan with clothes that fit me? I am partly in my pyjamas and partly in sumo attire," he said.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 18:33 on November 30th, 2009

I just read that letter. Interesting.

aurealeus

at 19:50 on November 30th, 2009

Moore's letter sounds logical and sincere but unfortunately it will never, ever be heeded.

The wheels are in motion and the warmongers in the shadows are pulling all the strings.

Uschi (not verified)

at 21:23 on November 30th, 2009

I agree with Roy with all my heart. As a soldier with 2 deployments under her belt and probably more to come and as American citizen I say Moore STAY OUT OF POLITICS. big. You just want america the way YOU want it to be so quit brain washing people with your own opinins. I think it is time that americans stand up against this administration and force them to follow the constitution what is what they should be doing in the first place.