EMAIL SIGN UP!
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
DNC Pressures Obama, Passes Resolution Endorsing Swift End To Afghanistan War
WASHINGTON -- Members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) gave President Obama a rare push on Saturday, adopting a resolution attempting to encourage the administration to move toward a speedier withdrawal from Afghanistan.
WAR PRESIDENT: US commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus (R) introduces bomber jacket-wearing US President Barack Obama at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The DNC is currently holding its annual winter meeting, where its hundreds of members from all around the country converge in Washington, D.C. to discuss finances, debate resolutions, and of course, figure out how elect (and re-elect) Democrats -- including Obama -- in 2012.
The resolution adopted Saturday states that "the Democratic Party supports prioritizing job creation and a swift withdrawal of U.S. armed forces and military contractors in Afghanistan which must include a significant and sizable reduction no later than July 2011."
The resolution cites the length of the war (nearly ten years), the cost (more than $100 billion per year), the lack of public support (72 percent want to "speed up the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan") and the argument that the conflict does not require a military solution.
"The passage of my resolution places the Democratic Party squarely on the side of American people who overwhelmingly support a swift withdrawal from Afghanistan, beginning with a significant and sizeable reduction in U.S. troop levels by no later than July of this year," said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who submitted the resolution. Other submitters were DNC Vice Chairs Donna Brazile and Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) and DNC Secretary Alice Germond.
The Obama administration's policy is to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan in July 2011 and fully transfer security responsibilities over to Afghan forces by 2014. The pace of withdrawal is yet to be determined.
As Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last year, "We clearly understand that in July of 2011, we begin to draw down our forces. The pace with which we draw down and how many we draw down is going to be conditions-based."
The DNC resolution pushes the administration to see to "a significant and sizable reduction" in July, or even sooner -- a prospect the administration has not endorsed.
Lee recently introduced legislation in Congress that would end combat operations in Afghanistan and limit funding to the redeployment of U.S. troops and military contractors. The measure attracted nearly 50 co-sponsors.
DNC resolutions are meant to express the sentiment of the party's members. Other measures approved at the winter meeting this year, which took place Feb. 24-26, include ones honoring the work of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), expressing solidarity with Wisconsin's protesters and memorializing Elizabeth Edwards.
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.
The resolution:
Resolution Supporting Ending the War in Afghanistan Now and Transferring the Funding to Job Creation, other Crucial Domestic Priorities and Deficit ReductionSubmitted by: Hon. Barbara Lee, California
Donna Brazile, DNC Vice Chair/District of Columbia
Hon. Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair/California
Alice Germond, DNC Secretary/West Virginia
WHEREAS, the United States has been involved in war in Afghanistan for almost a decade and remains militarily engaged in what has become the longest war in American history; andWHEREAS, the mounting costs of the war in Afghanistan, now totaling over $100 billion a year, have constrained efforts to invest in job creation and in strengthening our country and our economy; and
WHEREAS, according to a Gallup Poll released February 2, 2011, 72% of Americans favor action to "speed up the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan"; and
WHEREAS, President Obama supports a transition to an Afghan-led security arrangement in Afghanistan "because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people's"; and
WHEREAS, a diplomatic solution in Afghanistan that emphasizes economic development, political reconciliation and inclusion, the engagement of regional and global stakeholders, and the safeguarding of basic human rights is essential to ensure long-term stability in Afghanistan and the surrounding region; and
WHEREAS, military and intelligence officials agree that the situation in Afghanistan will not ultimately be resolved by a military solution; and
WHEREAS, the national and economic security of the United States depend upon a national defense strategy which addresses the modern threat of global terrorism in an effective, sustainable, and comprehensive manner; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Democratic Party recognizes the enormous strain placed on the U.S. military servicemembers, and their families since 2001 as a result of continuing engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan and remains committed to ensuring that our troops have the support that they require when deployed as well as the care that they and their families need and deserve when they return home;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party supports prioritizing job creation and a swift withdrawal of U.S. armed forces and military contractors in Afghanistan which must include a significant and sizable reduction no later than July 2011.
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...
59 Comments so far
Show Allthere will be no DNC for the next election if obomber fails to end the criminal wars.
soon, many on the top will be sitting in jail, right next to shrub, rumpsfelt, and dick.
Dreamer! Most of these guys stick together like the proverbial "flies and excretion". They're not going to convict one of their own for going after the corporate dollar. They all do it at varying levels.
On the other hand, Congratulations to Rep. Lee for finally getting some of the DNC to listen and sign on to what she has been advocating since the shrub and Obummer began and continued the Afghanistan fiasco. Probably the only reason for their signing on is that they see which way the votes (polls) are going.
The only ones who will see justice done are the people. I agree it is the epitome of naivety to expect anyone to see the gallows working from within the system.
Exactly! The role of Democrats is to lie to the people then capitulate to the corporatists who are making money in Afghanistan. This article should be marked as disinformation.
The Republicans and Democrats too are enemies of the American People.
Stone, you got that right!
Thank you Visiting Professor, Stone and Stonepig.
The good cop, bad cop politicians are at it again trying to game us. This smacks of a desperate maneuver like the "reforms" the Saudis are talking about. LOL
You forget that the California Democrat Party sent Obama a similar resolution in 2009. http://www.progressivecaucuscdp.org/afghanistan_reso.html
Then voted to fund it. Still, it is good that some of the folks inside the boat are still set on rocking it.
Just like the R's suddenly getting concerned about the budget after their own personal spending orgy. I think that was just after the Dems took over.
Next? I read there's an admiral in the Pacific who thinks it would be easy to knock off China in their coastal waters.
Let the dog and pony show begin!
Dear Mr. Rvrwalker,
I want to let you know that equines such as myself, as well as those of the smaller genetic variety, take offense at the pejorative use of the term "dog and pony show."
Sir, I assure you, horses and ponies have much more integrity and self-respect than any Democratic politician ever could have.
In fact, I smile and whinny when I think back to my very first dog and pony show. I was so excited, I had stars in my blindered eyes. I’ll never forget it.
At one point, one of the judges almost overheard Wilbur and me talking about what we were going to have for lunch. Wilbur had to throw a blanket over my head and pretend that he was a ventriloquist. I even had to step on Wilbur’s foot several times because he kept mispronouncing the word, “prestidigitation”. He never caught on, but you can probably understand—Wilbur gets pretty flustered when he’s under pressure.
Anyway, I am compelled to request that, from this day forward, you use the term “dog and pony show” only as an expression of approbation. I hope that you will be kind enough to honor my request. As further encouragement in this direction, I will tell you right now that I have already Tweeted Secretariat, Man o’ War, Flicka (she’s a friend of mine) and Lassie the Wonder Dog about this egregious behavior, and we will be starting a FaceBook page about it this evening. We expect it to go viral.
The power of social media is not limited to those who travel on two legs, my friend.
Signed,
The Famous Mister Ed
I join those who opine that this is nothing more or less than grandstanding. To believe that Democrats will forgo the rather large checks written by the industries that profit rather handsomely from perpetual war, or open themselves up to the intense tide of propaganda from the right inevitably ensuing from any suggestion of withdrawal seems ludicrous.
Especially ludicrous in light of the Obama budget that INCREASES expenditures to an already bloated military budget. Nope, sorry, if we truly want an end to perpetual war we are going to have to look beyond two party politics.
Very true comment. It is just a game. They take turns being in charge. Used to be the DEMS did work for us, but it changed when the MICC got control of them
I would like to thank the commenter who suggested reading about the Kennedy brothers. It explains how the MICC came into power and how the thugs called Dems weak. Sad that they blew away the at least 3 of the most prominent leaders of the 60's. I wonder where the country would be today if Kennedy hadn't been shot?
I have many times posted that Barbara Lee's efforts should be supported.
She is the ONLY person to vote against Public Law 107-40, which allowed Bush to start the whole insane DAFT war to 'prevent future terrorism', a DAFT war that we are still mired in.
Hooray for Barbara Lee! She is a true Progressive hero.
Say what you will about the other Dems, but Lee is the real deal.
Sadly, Barbara Lee voted to fund the Afghanistan war recently. She deserves credit for what she first did right, but that's all spent now. Funding the war is supporting the war.
Here is a two-step ballot-box way to nonviolent revolution in the US : Huge turnout with selective voting; only vote for ballot measures and clear thinking candidates, leave people like Obama blank. Assume we see 80% turnout at the polls and that the usual 25.5% of total voting age people beats the usual 24.5% and either the democrat or republican wins. That leaves 30% of us able to see that we could have won even though our candidate did not have a billion dollars to spend. We can see from what's going on in Wisconsin what will happen if Sarah wins, bad but bearable. Then, four years later, the 20% who stayed out join the 30% who could have won and create an actual majority with new converts and defectors and toast the backroom wheeler dealers.
del
Wars end one way or the other no matter what system, one party or many.
This Moslem war is going to end.
Gorbachav sees what is happening to the West is what happened to Russia.
The people are going to win here too after the world is finished with our War Empire Economy giving them orders.
A World Peace Revolution is happening... it may take some years since We are not poor enough for peace yet but time is on our side.
It is inevitable.
See, folks, this is the point in time when the Democrat shills try to abide by what the majority wants, in order that we be once again, swayed by their bull shit that they want to see happen that will never happen ...as long as they and their Republican pocket pals are in those seats. If they think we are going to be fooled again, schmoozed again, lied to again, screw that. If they think they, or Obummer, will be elected again, screw that, too.
The fact that police officers chose to side with the protestors in Madison should shake to the very core of the conscience of those congressional demo-gogs, and show them that for real, we are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore.
OK, so now I went back and looked at who authored this, and I must say, I wish Barbara Lee would run for President. I don't know but she may be a rare person. We know she's a rare Democrat. But we have seen the sheeps' clothing before, so beware.
I just read the resolutions through and when I got to the end, I heard a voice that said:
"So we can go to war somewhere else."
I had the exact same thought, Stonepig, perhaps influenced by the recent neocon saber-rattling for a new "good war" against Libya.
You must have read about the two "crazies", McCain and Lieberman. Even though they blather about military action against Libya, it will always be about attacking Iran. We need to lock them in a closet and not let them out.
bingo!
Something fishy is going on here. Against war in Afghanistan but no mention in the resolution of returning that money for social needs in the US, instead a vague reference to the costs of war as "constraining job creation.". I believe the Campaign for Peace wants to see defense spending reduced by 20% and applied to our own needs at home. That's what would have some bite. Let's see even a small part of the progressive Caucus back that and I will begin to believe in the Democratic party again.
There is an elephant in the room.
No mention of the continuing corrupt domination of Iraq. The war based on blatant lies is now the occupation based on lies and greed.
This resolution is a political maneuver to win votes.
I applaud Barbara Lee's attempts to end this endless war for enrichment of the corporations and their lickspittle in The White House and Congress. Nevertheless, Barry will never pay any attention to this resolution. If the Democratic Party is going to survive, it must get rid of this weakling mouthpiece for the greedy rich.
In recent days Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has shown himself to be a likeable plain-spoken populist who could have mass appeal. From what I can tell so far, he offers a resonable approach to governing so lacking in today's right-wing extremism that permeates AmeriKKKan government.
Nothing here. Until you see a resolution to end the MIC and Wall Street, it will always be the same ol same ol from the fake opposition party.
Good for them!
I applaud Rep. Barbara Lee for leading the effort to end the war in Afghanistan. I can believe she did this out of principle. The others are party hacks who are only doing what they perceive to be necessary to bring disaffected Democrats back into the fold in time for the next election. They have no principles beyond political expediency.
Unfortunately, our legislative district has included similar resolutions for years in their platforms. Those platforms are routinely ignored as soon as the issue rises above the local level and the entrenched power structure takes hold.
If these alleged peace loving Democrats were actually sincere in wanting to bring U.S. soldiers home post haste, then they should be doing the right thing by bolting from the Savage Mules and forming their own independent party.
This is a nice touch, but in parliamentary systems which have more party disipline even, a party conference each year tends to be an opportunity to turn the party away from misguided policies. We could use some of that here in the USA with our half baked separation of powers system. The parliamentary system as a rule mandates more accountability from politicians. The exception has been British Labor and maybe some other social democratic parties of late in Western Europe and even to some degree true of the Canadian Liberals where the top level types between elections on their chose a new leader for the national party and one not that popular or really likely to bring the Liberals a victory at the next federal election as such are called in Canada.
The British Tories or Conservatives as they're called dumped Maggie Thatcher at their 1990 party conference and put in a more moderate party leader as well as one who actually had been at one time on the British dole. He went on to lead his party to victory in the 1992 general election.
We should be so lucky.
The complete withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq should be the prerequisite to any discussion of deficits and budgets cuts in domestic programs at both the state and federal levels of government. It is absurd to assume, as the mainstream media do, that the 50-percent of the national budget that is thrown away on these unwinnable wars and other unnecessary military expenditures does not impact our ability to feed, clothe and provide health care for the American people.
I didn't see anything in this resolution that really presses the Obama administration to do anything more than what they have already planned. It is not a shot across the bow, more of a mouse-squeak from the hold.
Exactly how stupid do the d-party hacks think we are?
Four years ago they were all slopping around Iowa in the snow in their shiny shoes, falling over each other convincing us schmucks that they were each the MOST anti-war of the possibilities.
To the credit of the people of this state, they were looking for an immediate end of the insanity in the middle east. Hillary went down because of her vote to approve the military adventure in Iraq. O-man came out on top because he created the impression that he was anti-war from the get-go. AND he was serious about health care. And they had a horrifyingly effective system to manipulate ego-driven delegates.
Well, here we are again. Same players. Same scam. How do we get a different outcome?
Re: "How do we get a different outcome?"
It seems we're facing a long-term battle to have representation apart from the Dems/Repugs. I don't see reform of the Dem party from within happening, as there is no example in history of that ever being successful. Barbara Lee, one of the "bettter" Dems on the wars, ended up voting to fund the Afghanistan war in the end. We need a party that will say "No" to that, and not offer some weak resolution after 10 years of funding illegal and unnecessary wars.
Only third-party support offers any hope. If nonvoters voted Green or Peace and Freedom, Dems and Repugs would start losing elections. Possibly, Repugs would win more elections in the short term, but we get the same policies anyway when Dems win. Should these Governor Walker scenarios pop up as a result of Repug wins, it would strengthen third-party efforts as the people rallied in opposition. Many times, people are just unaware now that the Dems are carrying out corporate-friendly policies or funding the wars because they heard an Obama "antiwar" speech. The Dems must be utterly rejected for their constant betrayals of their peopled constituency.
I know that people in Common Dreams commentary criticize the Greens (they support capitalism, are tied up in bureaucratic knots, etc.), but at least the Green Party is out there with a list of principles, an organization of sorts and candidates are often on the ballot. It would take a lot of money, people and time to repeat what has already been done and form a new party.
Thanks for the suggestions, TIA. My inclinations are in general along the same lines, But I still have a modicum of hope that we the people will coalesce into some sort of viable independent movement by next year. I think what we really need is to develop strategies that are effective in directing all the frustration and rage that is finally coming to the surface toward political organization.
I really appreciate the advice and opinions you share. Thank you.
Interesting, but this article fails to mention that Afghanistan (and Iraq) are corporate imperial hydrocarbon wars and that the occupations are designed to be permanent.
And especially in Afghanistan it the pipelines (to market Central Asian hydrocarbon resources throughout Asia with India as a primary market) are ever built they will need to garrison the entire country to prevent the type of sabotage that occurred when the Russians tried to export Afghan natural gas....etc. There are already hundreds of small military outposts in Afghanistan as well as a new $500 million embassy in Kabul under construction and a smaller embassy in Herat which is in the far Western part of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan (and Iraq) are multi-$Trillion dollar subsidies for Big Oil, if the occupations are successful. If not, the MIC has seen record profits including the new private contractor corporations feeding off our tax dollars, including criminal fraud, and saddling taxpayers with more debt.
But the strange truth is that we don't have the money to pay for these corporate imperial war crimes. Or as Sen. Mike Mansfield once said about Vietnam, "We don't have the money and we can't win".
In other words, imperial over-extension is already here.
Good, but its a moot point now. The war is clearly lost, people over there hate us more than ever, and the economy at home is obviously tanking deeper. The DNC is simply using this for political gain. They and their uncontrolled partners-in-crime at the pentagon have murdered, raped, pillaged and ransacked themselves into a dead end. Time to come home now.
"Its all good now, folks. Vote for us. We ended the war."
Weasels.
How about get the hell outta Iraq -
The war's over?
There are still over 50,000 troops and 150,000 private contractors there-
and we have over 1,000 military bases in over 150 countries -
But better cut heating oil for the poor, head start so we get more prisoners in the future and cut that social security!
Screw the DNC - what a bunch of lying fascist bastards....
One reason the wars will never end is that it's much easier to teal money that are in a warzone and foreign country than it is to steal it at home.....
democracy replaced by kleptocracy
More cheap theater from Democrats. They had the White House and both houses for 2 years and the only thing they did about the wars was ESCALATION.
Barbara Lee, who are you trying to fool? You're another piece of fraud like Kucinich whose only purpose is to keep idiotic liberals in the party.
If Democrats were serious about ending the wars, they would stop funding them, they would filibuster, they would expose Obama for his war crimes and his despicable covering up for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Powell.
One very small report in the papers said that a group of 100 Democratic House members tried to chop the money allocation for Afghanistan from $100 billion to $10 billion. It would be interesting how many of them were supporting it on principle, but their proposal was quickly shot down. The best weasel words of all that keep popping up is, "Final decisions will be conditions based". That means they can continue to dig themselves in deeper. As a confirmed cynics, this war helps support over 100 Nato and US Generals and their staffs in country. At least they don't try to repeat the old Viet phrase, "We can see the light at the end of the tunnel".
This resolution builds on one California Democrats delivered in 2009, http://www.progressivecaucuscdp.org/afghanistan_reso.html
I notice that mixed with it is a resolution "honoring" Impeachemnt's Off the Table Pelosi for her "work." Additionally, how can they express solidarity with Wisconsinites when they continue to support Obama's agenda that's quite similar to Walker's. By contrast, the Californian's resolution was more meaningful and sincere.
Get.
The.
Fuck.
Out.
NOW!
And once you are out of foreign wars, how about going to WI to support the working people who elected you?
I don't applaud Barbara Lee at all.
She is nothing but a tool in order to try to tempt progressives like us to run take a kick at the football one.....more.....time.
I won't play Charlie Brown to the DNC's "Lucy" again.
They have proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that none of them can be trusted ever again, including Barbara Lee.
I'm registering with the Citizens Party and I will never look back.
My days of working for, raising money for and voting for the Democratic Party are O-V-E-R.
Another dog and pony show to entertain the gullible.
If the DNC wants to impress me, get rid of Obama and put a true progressive into office.
Dear Mr. Rat4,
I want to let you know that equines such as myself, as well as those of the smaller genetic variety, take offense at the pejorative use of the term "dog and pony show."
Sir, I assure you, horses and ponies have much more integrity and self-respect than any Democratic politician ever could have.
In fact, I smile and whinny when I think back to my very first dog and pony show. I was so excited, I had stars in my blindered eyes. I’ll never forget it.
At one point, one of the judges almost overheard Wilbur and me talking about what we were going to have for lunch. Wilbur had to throw a blanket over my head and pretend that he was a ventriloquist. I even had to step on Wilbur’s foot several times because he kept mispronouncing the word, “prestidigitation”. He never caught on, but you can probably understand—Wilbur gets pretty flustered when he’s under pressure.
Anyway, I am compelled to request that, from this day forward, you use the term “dog and pony show” only as an expression of approbation. I hope that you will be kind enough to honor my request. As further encouragement in this direction, I will tell you right now that I have already Tweeted Secretariat, Man o’ War, Flicka (she’s a friend of mine) and Lassie the Wonder Dog about this egregious behavior, and we will be starting a FaceBook page about it this evening. We expect it to go viral.
The power of social media is not limited to those who travel on two legs, my friend.
Signed,
The Famous Mister Ed
"The conflict does not require a military solution."
This is music to my ears.
"adopting a resolution attempting to encourage the administration to move toward a speedier withdrawal from Afghanistan."
_______*
Bullshyte! Until I see a resolution that tackles MEDIA CONTROL, they're all wasting our time.