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Kucinich Forces Congress to Debate Afghanistan
On Thursday, Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced H. Con Res. 248, a privileged resolution with 16 original cosponsors that will require the House of Representatives to debate whether to continue the war in Afghanistan. Debate on the resolution is expected early next week.
Original cosponsors of the Kucinich resolution include John Conyers, Ron Paul, José Serrano, Bob Filner, Lynn Woolsey, Walter Jones, Danny Davis, Barbara Lee, Michael Capuano, Raúl Grijalva, Tammy Baldwin, Tim Johnson, Yvette Clarke, Eric Massa, Alan Grayson, and Chellie Pingree.
The Pentagon doesn't want Congress to debate Afghanistan. The Pentagon wants Congress to fork over $33 billion more to pay for the current military escalation, no questions asked, no restrictions imposed for a withdrawal timetable or an exit strategy.
Ideally, from the point of view of the Pentagon, Congress would fork over that money right away, before the coming Kandahar offensive that the $33 billion is supposed to pay for, because you can expect a lot of bad news out of Afghanistan in the form of deaths of American soldiers and Afghan civilians once the Kandahar offensive starts, and it would sure be awkward if all that bad news reached Washington while the $33 billion was hanging fire.
So it's a great thing that Rep. Kucinich and his 16 allies are forcing Congress to debate the issue, and it would be even better if more Members of Congress would be urged by their constituents to support Kucinich's resolution. That would be a signal to the House leadership that continuation of the open-ended war and occupation is controversial in the House, and the House leadership should not try to ram through $33 billion more for the war on a fast-track without ample opportunity for debate and amendment.
Every day the Afghanistan war continues is another day on which the United States Government plays Russian Roulette with the lives of American soldiers and Afghan civilians.
The British Government has more urgency than the U.S. government about ending the war - and is more supportive than the U.S. of a political solution to end the conflict - because in Britain there is greater public outcry.
If there were greater public and Congressional outcry in the U.S., we could be more like Britain, and get our government on board the train to a political solution, instead of prolonging the war indefinitely.
The first step towards bringing our troops home is for Members of Congress to hear from their constituents.
- Posted in
72 Comments so far
Show AllWe're never pulling out of Iraq.
Right. We are still in KOREA and GERMANY for gosh's sake! Long as there is oil in Iraq we ain't leaving -- if then. After all we got that huge "embassy" there to justify. And all those permanent looking bases with their KY Fried Chickens and Burger Kings; wouldn't want them to go to waste and deprive KBR of continuing juicy contracts to service them.
Gary
“Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yeah, Big Oil and the MIC aren't just going to walk away from all that oil, gas, and now I hear uranium(especially with American Goodwill, important in contract negotiation in tatters), but how those resources are distributed and utilized can be changed dramatically -- and that's where spirited contact with Congress can help.
Like your Emerson quote intimates, human communication is a tricky deal, but it can be done better with out the barrel of a gun aimed at someone or each other.
"What you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say". Ralph Waldo Emerson. Sounds like a perfect explanation of American foreign policy to me!
Yeah...it's a perfect explanation, but it's not the perfect policy - it's a policy based on human fear, a fear usually based on ignorance. A person is alone in a room and their point of view is universal, with no need to recognize and articulate their needs. Another person enters the room, and if both people are not cognizant of their total humanity then, "uh oh...how's that apple pie on the table going to be divided?" and fear enters the room too...along with great odds for hypocrisy in negotiating for that pie -- recognizing this will go a long way toward an amicable distribution and usage of natural resources based in the Middle East.
In my profession a similar fear/hypocrisy scenario plays itself out. Like the oil barons wanting the oil immediately, parents want their special needs child to be 'healed' immediately. Very well meaning parents and doctors then go about cutting(bombing, shooting), drugging(poisoning) and casting(occupying) the child until the child's natural ability is almost completely diminished: the parents and doctors wanted to do good, but they performed an ignorant hypocrisy. Instead they could have sat back, taken in a larger view of whom the child actually is, recognized a fuller humanity, and bit by bit encouraging the natural ability to help bring the child to their fullest expression.
The key is the fear that enters the imagination. Like the parents fearing that their child will not have an Ivy League Ph. d. by 12, the oil barons and MIC fear they may get left out of the oil game in the Middle East -- this is an unfounded fear. On reading My Meeting With Remarkable Men, Gurdjiff pictures how intricately socialized the humans populating, especially the areas around Afghanistan, in the Middle East have historically been. With a fuller human recognition made, an inclusive avenue for equitable distribution and utilization of the Middle East's natural resources can be had.
This fuller view of humanity is working wonders for special needs children destined by ignorantly hypocritical doctors and parents to be vegetables, and it can work for hypocritical oil barons that say bombing and occupying human populations are the best actions for bettering humanity. But it starts with a fuller human recognition once the other person enters the room: "well, I want a piece of that apple pie, so this other person probable wants/needs some of it too...I had nothing to do with it, but apples grow on trees, wheat grows in the field, and they keep coming up each spring...so since I need some of that pie, and this other person wants some of that pie...and it's a world of abundance...".
But it's tricky...once the other person enters the room, as Emerson noted, the game is on...best to take a moment to pause, let a few full breaths of air pass in and out...gather a fuller human view of both parties...then take action, with openings for re-actions...
Most of us are too busy to read such long-winded articles. Please summarize!
If a post is too long for your attention deficit plagued self, simply move on.. Please do not criticize people that take the time to compose thoughtful responses.
Human relations become more complicated once another person enters a room occupied by one. Thus, in all human relations it's best to take our time, find out as clearly as possible what the other person is feeling and intending, and express as clearly as possible your feelings and intentions; this includes taking the time to clearly express, as the main author encourages, your feelings, and recommendations for actions, on Afghanistan to your Congressional Representative.
The only way you can believe in that is if you believe in the Easter Bunny!
Well...if you understood that the human mind creates mythical constructs as part of it's basic function...you too might believe in the Easter Bunny! Hopefully Santa Claus too! And you might become a help to breaking down the mythical constructs and organizing principles of those like Barack Obama's belief in an "Evil" running rampant in the world, and George Bush's "Evil Inherently Evil" characterizations of humans.
The MSM does all it can to calm the American public on all issues.
The war and economy are no covered with the focus those news stories should be.
I remember the Vietnam war. Every night it was the lead story. Body counts of US and enemy dead were highlighted. People marched, not just on the college campus'.
Today, the news treats us to feel good stories. The Marines are feeding children, and securing the towns against the "insurgency."
The evil Taliban are killing friendly villagers, etc. etc.
If all the BS, how can the mass public get angry?
In the end the conversation over the coffee table trumps the MSM. With the hit to the US Citizen's wallet finally causing an action to slow down commerce, in the form of the student's protest in California, the truth about what the US Treasury is being invested in and the return on that investment is being examined closer and closer(assesment values in my neighborhood just took another -20k hit!)(right after Larry King did his Ray McGovern Fawning Corporate Media rendition with General Patraeus the other night, Tavis Smiley had on a lady, sorry not to have her name handy, promoting an Afghanistan Primer[not the kind Rove would write; though the behavior of lies revealed in his recent book will be interesting fallout]).
An interesting happening is the appearance of Al Jezzara news segments on PBS(World Focus), so the censorship of the facts on the ground in the Middle East is slowly being removed. So I'm focusing on critical masses as opposed to the mass public, and following the authors lead here of letting my Congressional Representative hear my views. While some people want to dehumanize politicians with juvenile slogans as their form of action(fine, that's where they're at, and it's something), remember a politician's greatest skill is bending in the wind to voter's sentiments.
You're right, DCH! The silence of the MSM on covering what we're doing in the Middle East is DEAFENING!!! WHICH IS A SURE SIGN THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HORRIFY US IN ITS MERCILESS BRUTALITY!
Considering the greatest peace march in history preceded the prosecution of the internationally CRIMINAL Bush Wars, writing Congress NOW is another futile exercise; Dennis should be pushing Pullosi Punch and and fellow misrepresentative "John" CONyas to IMPEACHMENT of Obama/plagiarizing Biden; and with a resultant Pelosi presidency, prosecuting the original perp Bushists in the Hague for their WAR CRIMES of COMMISSION! THAT would be US Constitutional MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!
- Rep. Kucinich and his 16 allies are forcing Congress to debate the issue -
This is a good thing. Using the War Powers Act is good. Examining the law that set off this insane DAFT war would be even better. Can someone mention Public Law 107-40, please?
- the war in Afghanistan -
The war is against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It is one global war. There are not 194 separate wars against terrorists (1 per country).
Pres. Obama: "Our war is against al-Qaeda".
Calling, once again, for the President to withdraw troops from an active battlefield is futile. It will not gain enough support.
Mr. K. will earn himself election talking points for his re-re-re-re-re-re-election.
The insanity will not stop, because this resolution aims at the wrong target (as usual, almost as if planned).
Public Law 107-40 must be dealt with and not ignored.
I love your Public Law 107-40 and It's One War mantras: Keep the argument simple and on topic so that the complexity of changing individual and mass human behavior can be achieved; though in stating "Our war is against al-Qaida" I would differentiate Our, in collective motives, and al-Qaida's motives; something General Patraeus couldn't do when Larry King asked him if the US and Afghanistan shared the same mission.
(come closer to election time Kucinich will probable come out with some retro-impeachment rant. Love you Dennis. I know you're doing the best a politician can do to stay in touch with humanity -- only The People can coerce the people representing in The People's House to stand in peace and for dignity and justice)
"Pres. Obama: "Our war is against al-Qaeda"."
Bullshit! The fear mongers use these words to exacerbate the fears of the ignorant.
It really means 'the base' or as the British Foreign Secretary (Cook) put it "a computer file of the thousands of mujahideen militants who were recruited and trained with CIA help to defeat the Russians"... This is probably where the phrase 'one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist' came from...
When the US Government decides to take over a country they usually follow a specific approach.
1st-send in 'good will' ambassadors to bribe their way in.. or extend credit and loans so they owe you...
2nd-if the 1st doesn't work send in jackals(cia) to create chaos and over throw the current regime...
3rd- send in the military...
Then the corporate powers that be can plunder all of the fallen countries resources..
Sound familiar?
Kucinich is amazing. Unfortunately, H. Con Res. 248 will just get buried in the "graveyard in Congress known as the US Senate" underneath all of the other 100's of bills passed by the House.
Nader on DemocracyNow (3/2/2010):
"Well, it’s just the latest manifestation of the graveyard in Congress known as the US Senate. There are over 100 bills, many of them fairly good, that the House of Representatives have passed, including financial regulation, that are buried in the Senate."
Debate on war? This is the Corporate States of Amerika. We don't debate on having a war. It is a given. It is permanent. It is profit. Patriotism IS militarism. It is who we are.
We all know what is coming next. "Light at the end of the tunnel", "Winning hearts and minds", "Clear and hold", "Turning the corner", "The surge is working", and above all, we must "Complete the mission".
Don't forget "Stay the Course".
"Mission Accomplished" and "Shock 'n' Awe"
Gee whiz call the damn bums, they can only highlight your profile so many times.
DU everyday, capture cities on the TAPI pipeline route.
The Pastun children on rooftops
Reminds me of the Native Americans whose women and children participated in the vain attempt to save their lands, although they did save some of them.
So similiar,so sad
Kucinich, his heart seems to be in the right place, and he has his supporters. But he knows the vast majority of his party, including the leaders, are voting for more money for more war.
So I'm ambivalent. I'm sure he brings home pork for his constituents, like the others do, and I'm sure if he was in charge, the Dems would be a different party, but he is not in charge and the more support the Dems get, the more war you will get.
"But he knows the vast majority of his party, including the leaders, are voting for more money for more war."
And those are the ones he wants to expose on an "up-or-down"!
But we could use that money for schools, infrastructure and, oh never mind. The defense contractors and their whores in Congress and the White House have already made the deal. All this nonsense about debate in Congress is simply window dressing.
Kucinich never fooled me, he's a sham designed to keep the left in the Democratic Party. This is more political theater, typical of him, and absolutely nothing will come out of it. He's most probably working in conjunction with Pelosi on this one too. The fools on Democratic Underground need to be kept hoping.
For starters Kucinich always ends up supporting a pro-war corporatist Democrat for president like he did in 2000 or 2004 or 2008. Then he cries foul each time, so he has absolutely no credibility with me. Of course, he talks a good game, but that's a Democratic trademark, all rhetoric, no action.
I've said repeatedly that the only way I'd take him seriously is if he denounced Obama, Reid and Pelosi as war criminals, left his corrupt party and ran as an Independent.
Vote Republikan next time. You obviously are blathering your opinion rather than facts. When you get some--FACTS--post again from an"educated and documented" put down of a man who CONTINUALLY works for "We the People". I assume you voted O'bummer? Where has that proven out on the "rhetoric/no action scale"?!
More Lesser Evilism and Dem Party Apologism? And what makes you think I voted for the Uncle Tom?
And why would do you apologists always tell us to vote Republican? Have you heard of third parties? McKinney? Nader?
You want facts? Here are some: Kucinich supported Obama for president in 2008, the current war criminal sitting in the White House. Kucinich supported Obama for president in 2008 KNOWING that Obama voted for the FISA bill after saying he would NEVER, voted twice to fund Bush's illegal wars and overall had a voting record to the right of Nixon. Kucinich has no shame. He's a gatekeeper for the DNC and NOT a man who works for "we the people", he works for himself. And don't get me started on his trophy wife.
He talks a phenomenal game, he's a Democrat, which means Republican. Case closed.
Please, by all means do not get started on his "trophy wife"...Drat, too damn late. I remind you that this is a political forum and not a supermarket tabloid .....
Ardath is right.I like the guy but if he sticks with the Dems--he's just a paper tiger.
My guess is our misrepresentatives have already heard from their "constituents" who give a damn about our criminal involvement in Afghanistan. It's the same 5% or so who have been calling, emailing and writing them for about 8 years now to get the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan. And the same 15 or so members of congress listen that listened 8 years ago. That leaves around 420 of them who never listen at all to what their alleged constituents say. This situation never changes. Kucinich is always there to rattle the cage of complacent Democrats, but they never bother waking up and he never bothers to detach from that worthless party that has no time for him. This too is part of the circus act. Two or three congress members with a conscience to make it look like the people's will is ever taken seriously. Soon enough the people cease caring one way or the other because they know they'll never be listened to anyway. Ain't democracy just dandy!
Yes, Kucinich needs to stand up to Obama or this is a waste of time. I like the guy but he needs to speak truth to this horrid Administration and go Indy already--I know I keep saying that :)
Way to go Dennis. At least you're doing what a Representative is supposed to do. I don't give you much of a chance of victory, but at least you keep knocking at the door.
Maybe I'll move to Cleveland.
During the recent primary elections I did not vote for Sheila Jackson-Lee and I will not vote for her in the 2010 elections. I may change my mind if she co-signs this resolution.
During the run up to the primary vote I got a call:
"Please contribute to the campaign fund of SJL".
I: No
Q: Why?
I: Because she voted funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan.
I am under no illusions that SJL will change her votes on the wars. Nevertheless I believe that this is by far the most effective way to let her know my disgust of her.
Indeed you are correct. Another thing about SJL, she once co-sponsored HR-676 but the turned around and voted YES on the House health care deform bill.
At least Dennis Kucinich and Eric Massa voted NO on that crappy bill as they are supporters of HR-676.
SJL sold out--as did several others--Waters too.
Hey look! The "whore with a heart of gold" got all the other whores together to talk about how much they were spending "servicing" their "Johns" (... you know... We the People.)
They are all still just corporate whores... ALL OF THEM. Even Kucinich!
It's completely false to include Kucinich with the greedy money-grubers/
I agree but Dennis does himself no favors by staying in that Dimocrat Party of Wall St. sharks.
We should call him--suggest that he become an Indy.
You are WRONG, Homeless Bob, so why don't you do your research to prove your point? Because if you DID your research, you would find that DENNIS KUCINICH HAS NEVER ACCEPTED ONE CORPORATE DONATION -- NOT ONE FREAKIN' PENNY. So before you go off showing your ignorance, DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
Say what you will but out of the 535 crooked people in Congress; there are only two I would trust regardless of their politics and that is: Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul!
..and you would be half right.
What? You do not trust Dennis Kucinich?
Hee.....I think you know which I find unsuitable for my support. But humor is always welcome.
Dennis has NEVER taken a penny of corporate money and pledges that he never will; he has the track record to prove it.
Get a grip and get some facts before you turn your anger toward one of the "good guys" who works hard for "We the People" everyday. People with blind comments like yours disgust me and are part of the reason this country is still in the hands of "Politics-as-Usual"! Grow up and wake up!!!
In a sad way it matters not how principled Dennis Kucinich might be. That he believes that we can change the inequalities and injustices so common in our governance today by remaining in, and working with, the Democratic Party dooms his attempts at reform to failure.
I agree. For Kucinich to be effective, he must leave the Democratic Party and become an Independent.
I think the same holds true for Paul.
Home is where the heart is. I'm sorry you are without.
We who think Dennis Kucinich is a great man may someday be proven wrong, but at this time, you are crashing your plane into an empty building.
The Pentagon is an armed robber
Paul/Kucinich 2012!!!! Maybe we'll finally get the change we need! For people who don't see how libertarians and progressives have enough of the same goals just look at the voting records of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. It is not about progressives vs. libertarians, or conservatives vs. liberals, or Republicans vs. Democrats, it is Paul and Kucinich and anyone honest and courageous enough to stand with them against corporatism, imperialism, curtailing civil liberties, war, torture, bailouts, robbing the poor, bankrupting the country etc.. etc...
Paul on Kucinich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJcnoDfFWhM
Kucinich on Paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py8cXlLyX18
"Paul/Kucinich 2012!"
Won't happen. They both made it clear in the last "stolen-by-lies" election. I recommend you reverse that order and do some more research into some of Paul's positions. I like him too but there are certain questions....