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Time For Congress To Take A Stand
If you believe the Beltway hype, members of Congress will return today to a fiery debate about whether or not the president's so-called "surge" has produced military progress in Iraq. Beltway pundits are breathlessly predicting Democrats will be thrown into disarray by claims that the increased troop levels in Iraq may have produced security results.
Don't believe the hype. First off, the data are suspect. The Pentagon refuses to share the methodology by which it arrived at the metrics used to claim success. Even if the progress is real, it is hardly encouraging when put in perspective. When discussing the alleged gains he has overseen, Gen. David H. Petraeus stated that they put us on a course to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq sometime nine or 10 years from now.
What the debate about military progress really does is serve as a distraction - a smokescreen - put forth by an administration that finds it rhetorically convenient to speak in terms of "victory" and "defeat."
It serves to obscure the basic, fundamental fact that there is no military solution to the situation in Iraq. Our troops are trapped in a civil war and occupation, a situation where there can be no "victory." Our continued presence there is not only breaking our military, it is undermining our national security and our efforts to fight international terrorism.
Members of the Bush administration understand this, just as they understand that there are no pretty or clean options for bringing a responsible end to our policy there. They are content to mouth the words of victory while they try to run out the clock, playing a cynical game of political "chicken," where whoever acts to bring a responsible end to their failed policy will be accused of having lost Iraq.
The president's latest request for an additional $50 billion to continue the "surge" - over and above the $147 billion war supplemental Congress is scheduled to consider - amounts to a call for another blank check to continue an open-ended commitment to a failed policy. Members of Congress are going to have to decide whose interests they represent: a president who has staked his legacy on an unnecessary war, or the millions of Americans who understand that ending the occupation is the first step in repairing the damage the administration has done to the security of our nation and the world.
Despite the administration's efforts to frame it as an issue of "victory" and "defeat," the fact remains that the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq is a precondition to restoring our national security and our efforts to fight international terrorism and putting us on a path toward a foreign policy that provides real solutions for global peace and security.
Redeployment is a precondition for engaging Iraq's neighbors and the international community in a regional stability plan. We have a moral obligation to help rebuild Iraq, but neither Iraq's neighbors nor the international community will truly engage in a regional stability plan as long as they believe that the United States intends to maintain an indefinite occupation.
Redeployment is a precondition for any successful effort to combat global terrorism. The U.S. occupation of Iraq has become a rallying point for terrorist recruitment, training and fundraising, a factor that actively undermines our anti-terrorism efforts.
Congress has the power to bring a responsible end to the Bush administration's failed policy. We should not approve another penny to continue that policy. Instead, we should use our constitutionally-mandated appropriations power to provide all the money necessary to fully fund the safe, timely and responsible redeployment of our troops and contractors from Iraq.
In July, U.S. Reps. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, and Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, and I, led a group of 70 members of Congress in writing to the president to tell him that we would only vote to provide funds to do two things: protect our troops and contractors and bring them home. As we return to Washington, I will continue that fight.
Last week, tens of thousands of Americans took to the streets in protests and vigils, calling on Congress to take a stand, and that is what we must do. The best way for us to do that is for members of Congress to commit to only providing funds for the safe, timely and responsible redeployment of our troops from Iraq.
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46 Comments so far
Show AllThank you Frank 1569.
Whether the "report" reports the murderers and bank robbers are murdering and stealing less is not relevant, especially since it's all bullshit - they are murdering more than ever thanks to their death from above uptick, and they'd be stealing more, too, if they hadn't stolen most of the loot already.
It's illegal and immoral for the United States of America to occupy a sovereign nation and kill and maim more than a million innocents. Only when a "report" begins with that statement will it be time for us to pay attention.
If Dennis wins the nomination, Barbara would be a great running mate.
Ummmmm...it is way past time for congress to take a stand. So quit talking about taking a stand and take a stand for God's sake.
carry it on, sister, carry it on.
Ummmmmmm ... In case you haven't been paying attention, Congresswoman Lee has taken a stand ever since entering congress!
Yeah, Barbara Lee has been great. Remember that authorization to use force about Afghanistan? The one that Bush and his mafia lawyers claim give him the power to anything as commander and chief as long as he says the magic word "terrorism"? Remember that? It passed with the support of all of our lovely Democrats except one. The one representative that had the good sense and the backbone to vote against that bill a few weeks after 9-11?? ... that was Barbara Lee.
She's been taking a stand. Too bad she's always so alone in the Dems.
What we need is about 200 Green reps to put up there with her.
Halelujah, the Vichy Democrats are gonna save us.
What? And change the New American Empire?
.
When pigs fly!
The Democratic senate could do a lot if it had the will. How about tying some domestic spending amendments on to some of these war spending bills?
I cannot understand how a decent person like Barbara Lee can support the warmongering Hillary Clinton.
COMarc,I understand your position in this debate, at least I think I do! But you left out Kucinich. Why are you afraid to throw his name in where it rightfuly belongs.She (Barbra) may have voted agianst Afganistan, but did she vote for the war in Iraq, something Dennis didn't do and has been vocal about ever since.How about HR 333. Has good ole Barb signed her name to this. If not why? Down with all the dems, excluding Kucinich, who is truly the LONE DEM! I do enjoy reading your posts. BTW Barbra, why do we have to protect the contractors? They have BLACKWATER! Thanks Tex
Surge; redeployment; Iraqui police readiness; blah, blah, blah. It is still about the OIL. We will never come out of Iraq as long as we are this close to getting the OIL. OIL is the magical word that neither party will utter in any discussion, and no moderator of any debate has asked about the OIL. Both parties are supported by OIL and energy company and defense industry funds and won't give them up. We can expect nothing to change until OIL becomes part of the arguement. World history has shown that it is always cheaper to buy resources on an open market than fighting wars to steal them, but our OIL men in the whitehouse don't seem to have read much history.
Don't think I'm a rabid Ron Paul supporter, but this little video about the Cheney/Bush agenda 10 days after the election of 2000 and months before 9/11 tells it all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inyCkCvqRO0
BTW, in one of the Presidential Republican debates Rep. Paul said, "There's already plenty of money in the pipeline to redeploy the troops." Perhaps Rep. Lee should have a little chit-chat with Ron Paul regarding funding for redeployment.
I cannot understand how any genuine opponent of the current President's phoney "war on terror" could possibly fault Barbara Lee on anything she has said, done or not done since September 11, 2001. She is the ONLY member of Congress who has spoken and acted with complete consistency against war as an answer to terrorism, which as events have shown since 9/11 can only be effectively combatted by seeking out, apprehending and punishing the particular individuals and groups responsible for conducting terrorist acts. For all the propaganda about a "war on terrorism," the hard facts show that terrorist acts throughout the world have multiplied since the US launched its two "wars on terrorism" in Afghanistan and Iraq. The impending US attack on Iran will surely raise, not lower, the level of worldwide terrorism. And from a purely selfish point of view, can any thinking American truly believe that conducting more US military operations aimed at "Muslim terrorists" in Muslim countries will LESSEN the probability of future "Muslim terrorist" attacks within the US? Barbara Lee is virtually the ONLY member of Congress who has always understood the futility of launching "preventive" wars to address essentially non-governmental criminal acts -- and who has always acted in accordance with her understanding. If you are in favor of "wars against terrorism," you are rightly critical of Barbara Lee; but if you really oppose our Government's imperial policy of "endless war" to keep the rest of the world under our control, then for the life of me I cannot understand why you would not wholeheartedly support this clear and principled statement by Barbara Lee.
To Rep. Lee:
Our country was hijacked waaayy back when FDR brought us "The New Deal". Here's the evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj2iVgx_VS4&NR=1
And the same people who tried to bring a military coup against FDR are in control of the Congress today. God Bless George Carlin, a great American Patriot, for putting it all so succinctly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj2iVgx_VS4&NR=1
Rep. Lee, would you like to REALLY cut the nose off the corporations who have hijacked the Congress and the Executive (probably the Judicial as well)?
Then stop the Corporate Lobbyists from being allowed to pay homeless people in D.C. to be "PLACE HOLDERS" in the halls of Congress for them! These poor people take a pittance of money from these Corporate Lobbyists in order to steal the precious seats from every day citizens who are supposed to be the ones attending the hearings. But instead, just before the doors open, our Corporate Masters' Lobbyists come along (after their $50 breakfasts) to take their "bought and paid for " places in line! Then they all sashay into the Committee Hearings with their other brethren in their $1000 suits and Armani ties to do "Corporate" business....NOT the People's business.
This has to stop.
Seems to me Rep. Lee did a masterful job of defining the game of political chicken being played out between the White House and the Democrats, along with the false proposition that a military "victory" would be a real victory.
We need this kind of bold clarity if the debate is to be truly joined. Go, Barbara Lee!
To Richard Young, I have to say, DENNIS KUCINICH is and has been doing everything you claim for Barbra Lee,and MORE, ONLY louder and stronger. Lets be honest here cause Dennis is, are you?. You reckon she signed on to HR 333? Also, check out who's pockets she's deep into. Jeez Louise. Thanks TEX
"Time For Congress To Take A Stand"
HAAHAAAHAAAHAAHAAAHAAAHAAHAAAHAAA !
As that old song goes :
"That'll Be The Day"
Mr. COMarc writes of Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee:
"What we need is about 200 Green reps to put up there with her."
Dude, how about you start with ONE? Why don't all you little Green entrepreneurs of local parapolitics all across the country pool your money and time and feet and try to get just ONE Green Party candidate elected to just ONE Congressional, Senate, Governor, or big-city Mayoral seat somewhere in the country, next time around - instead of spoiling against Democratic candidates, including some pretty reasonable and decent people, and helping to elect Republican troglodytes everywhere; and PLEASE leave the presidential election alone until you show that you can win a plurality of votes in even ONE major election.
I am pleased that Lee is showing the same sort of courage as Dennis Kucinich. Now, we need the folks in Nancy Pelosi's district to vote for Cindy Sheehan in the primaries.
Impeach. Convict. Execute.
I can't see how our side, the progressives and liberals, can possibly change anything if we are so disorganized and splintered as we appear to be in these comments. There is no hope unless we can find some way to unite. Our opponents are united and they have control. If we expect to change America we need to find some common ground.
We can't even agree on how to stop the war. Some people aren't trying hard enough. Some people have unrealistic goals. That kind of talk has to go. We have to learn to work together if we want to win.
Rep. Lee,
Thank you for all your work to end this illegal and needless war. I believe that Congress should stop funding the war and bring the troops home now. There is enough funding out there from previous appropriations to start the process of getting the troops out and home to their families.
It looks like Bush/Cheney, unsatisfied with the quagmire of Iraq, the circa 3700 American deaths, the close to 1 million Iraqi deaths, the tens of thousands maimed, and the 3 million Iraqis in diaspora, are about to start ANOTHER WAR, this time by bombing IRAN. Checks and balances time is here again. Only Congress can declare war; don't let them take us to war again!!!
To: thedeed
It is not only important that the Progressives on Commondreams unite. We must unite with our "Dittohead" Brothers and Sisters too! We are ALL American citizens!
United we stand. Divided we fall. We need to remember this. We are in a Constitutional crisis. "OUR" Constitution.
I posted the following on the Hartford Examiner website after reading an article linked to them from Drudge regarding Fred Thompson announcing his bid for President on Leno:
"9:38 AM MST on Tue., Sep. 4, 2007 re: "Campaign officials hope for smoother course"
Abbybwood said:
To Corey: Gee. Thanks for labeling me a left-wing Move-on wacko. I don't belong to Move-on. They're too politically weak and dishonest for my tastes. I don't support Kucinich either, as I couldn't stomach watching him cave to Kerry in the last Presidential side show. Plus his support of AIPAC is nauseating.
Corey, you and your "Dittohead" friends may not have noticed, but our Constitution has been hijacked. We've been lied to, not since the "stolen" election of 2000, but since, oh say around the time FDR was President. Just Google Gen. Smedley Butler and see what he had to say to Congress about what went down as to a little attempted "coup" back in the day.
As American citizens, we'd all be wise to check our "right and left wing" politics at the door and realize we're in a Constitutional crisis right now. It's time for us to come together to save the Republic and leave the petty infighting over health care and immigration for another day. If there is one."
It's hostile out there folks, on the "right-wing wacko" websites. It might behoove us, beyond talking to each other on Commondreams, to venture out into the right wing areas of this country. These people are screaming into the dark and need to see some light (the truth)!
We of the American Left always seem to form our firing squads in the shape of a circle - pointing in! Barbara Lee is not the enemy! Other progressive Democrats are not the enemy! Get real and direct your enmity towards those who truly deserve it.
BANG!
Oh, sorry, oakport-- I didn't see you over there...
So much is written here about whether Barbara Lee is the one and only true rep of the people. If I gave her credit for voting against the war and against giving Bush all the war powers that have eroded our Constitutional Rights, because he doesn't want to give them back, then I apologize to Dennis Kucinich. Won't someone please set the record straight for me and others who truly want this war to end, to see our men and women in uniform return home immediately, and who insist on revoking George Bush's war powers?
I thought Dennis Kucinich and Barbara Lee would make the perfect Democratic Team; come on and set their records straight before us.
Barbara Lee is the only person to oppose 'war' as an answer from the very beginning (assuming ofcourse the 'beginning' is 9-11 since history before 9-11 is relegated to the dustbin). She steadfastly opposed the invasion of Afghanistan which clearly has not produced anything close to victory as the Taliban is almost back in power. She totally opposed our invasion and destruction of Iraq. If you can fault her for having brass balls (coz she opposed the entire friggin congress with her single vote against war) then maybe you should get off your ass and do somthing about it.
Abbywood: Sorry I'm so late to the party. Always love your posts. Wish I could be as calm as you. But we do need to talk to the "ditto heads" if only to see what we're up against.
I was wandering around from one link to another last week when we were all talking about the possibility of an attack on Iran. I can't remember the site name, but I was absolutely stunned by the comments. These people(?) were absolutely chomping at the bit to let loose the nuclear arsenal on Iran. Hard to swallow.
Today, I had the gas company come out to check for a leak. I got into a conversation with the guy for about 45 minutes. He thinks the country is in great shape. That the poor are just lazy bums and that our healthcare system is just great. He thinks that corporations are over taxed and should get more breaks.
So, I understand the need to put our separate issues aside and fight for the one thing that we all have in common - the Constitution. I think it's a great idea. My only problem is that I get a little hot under the collar. I literally had to cut the gas guy off and had to walk away. I felt like my head was going to explode.
Oakport: Thanks. The visual in my head was pretty amazing. I hope Little Brother didn't hurt you too much.
This being in a circle facing each other with our pet projects and dreams has been going on ever since there have been people that care about other people and their communities (tribe, nation, planet). As Molly Ivins would say, it's like herding cats. Can't get 'em to go in the same direction. Progressives, like domestic cats, don't hunt in packs. Whereas, corporatists do. They may compete with each other in the market, but when it comes to agreeing on their common objectives (wealth and power) they have no problem pulling together collectively to get what they need to reach their objective (control over government, MSM, labor, resources, etc.
So, back to abbywood and indeed. The average American is not even aware that there is a Constitutional crisis. The majority can't even see the forest from the trees. And the one's that are aware of what is going on are running around trying to put out fires that are errupting everywhere. Every damn day. It's really hard to stay focused. Sooo..... What do we do now?
The politicians have been on vacation and fund raising sabbatical for a month, not getting intestinal fortitude installed.
If these lily livers ever act - check the basement for pods.
I've only been able to read a few of these... have you all been getting petitions signed telling your rep. to impeach? If not then shatup! Otherwise hooray for you. I live in Milwaukee, and our Gwen Moore, who at least occasionally votes correctly told me "I don't sign bills that I dont' think will pass. That's how I roll." I thought I was going to choke her. We've gone inner city and am having all signers also call, on my cell phone if necessary. Maybe she'll listen when enough constituents call her removing her support.
Another idea is to send the DNC voided checks that say "until you vote right."
I love Barbara Lee's positions on most major issues. My only confusion is why she stays with a party whose leadership is steadfastly against any type of progressive change?
This makes no sense. She should leave the corrupt Democrats immediately and try to change things in other more effective ways.
Theories go unproved.
I'm a conspiracy truthist.
usrcjp .. i agree ... she has too much integrity to remain with the democ-rats. Its the Kucinich fever ...
However ... if she does leave the democ-rats its unlikely she can be effective running as an independant. The Green Party is dead ... http://www.counterpunch.org/frank09032007.html
the democ-rats are basically 'republicans in drag' ... so where does it leave her ? I dont have answers ...
It seems to me that some Congresspeople do quite well switching to Independent. THAT would send a message to the corrupt Dems that their party is unacceptable.
" am pleased that Lee is showing the same sort of courage as Dennis Kucinich"
Stew ... please do not put Kucinich in the same category as Barbara Lee. While Kucinich bent over and did Bushs bidding by voting Yes on the Afghanistan War ( http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=V3064&can_id=318 )... Barbra Lee chose to defy the entire Congress and took a principled stand by voting No. And she was right.
They are not the same. Kucinich did not show courage, Barbara Lee did. She recognized the 'Afghanistan War' for what it was, a political stunt and power grab in Central Asia.
Time for Congress to take a stand.
Time for pigs to fly.
Time for the sun to rise in the west.
Time for two plus two to equal seven.
Time for time to run backward to when the United States was still a republic, instead of 300,000,000 consumer whores begging for oil.
I'm sorry if my defense of the author (Barbara Lee) offended fellow opposers of war. As Jesus said (just the opposite of Bush's distorted version), those who are not against us are with us. Despite many differences on many issues, a deeply held opposition to war as an instrument of imperial domination is common to Barbara Lee, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Ron Paul. Let's build on that vital commonality and reach out to others who share it.
What's with the redeployment crap? That doesn't sound like getting out of the middle east to me. No more American tax money for Isreal. No more weapons sales to any country.
IS CINDY STILL GOING TO RUN FOR HOUSE LEADER. THE DIXIE CHICK SHOULD RUN. SHE'S MAD AS HELL, AND DON'T MIND TELLING IT LIKE IT IS. CONDI IS A BRICK WITH NO SAND.
Thank you Richard Young.
It is disconcerting when we are in Iraq in an everending war and the posters credit Lee for opposing the Afganistan war. What gives?
It is also suspicious when a technician arrives in your home and tells you that corporations need tax breaks. Around here I listen to a retired civil service worker who is having a hard time making her house payment and she insists we fight this war over there so they won't come over here.
Connections are just not being made. Then someone invokes Molly Ivens name, and I totally sigh, as that reminds me that the posters here just want to keep having "smart" conversations with each other, rather than communicate with the unwashed masses. Won't someone please get over youself and try to inform?
That time has past. Congress should be impeached with an exception for anyone who did not vote for the Iraq war resolution. All of them.
Hey Allen Burton, rhymin' with Halliburton -
Sheehan will not be House Leader - even if she wins against Pelosi. She will only succeed in removing the whore from office. Good enough for me. The next leader will be the senior (most time in office) member of the majority party - which may be the Republicans.
"Time For Congress To Take A Stand"
Congress has ALREADY taken a stand for war and corporate investment interests. They are all on one accord...greed and control.
"It is disconcerting when we are in Iraq in an everending war and the posters credit Lee for opposing the Afganistan war. What gives?"
What gives ? If you pull your head out of the sand you will realize the connection betwen the two. She opposes war as an instrument to achieve our version of economic and political imperialism. She was the only one with the courage, single-handedly to oppose both the wars at a time when vengeance was seeping through everyones pores. Yeah she deserves credit and the comparison with kucinich is baseless as i mentioned above.