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An effort in the House of Representatives to prevent combat operations in Iraq, championed by war critic Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), was defeated Thursday night, in what critics warn further clears the path for a new war.
Lee on Thursday introduced amendments to the 2015 Department of Defense appropriations bill to cut off federal funding for a potential renewed war in Iraq and the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq.
"We must not let history repeat itself in Iraq," Lee declared in a press statement about the amendments. "Because the reality is there is no military solution in Iraq."
Lee, who issued the only congressional vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq War since before it started, was defeated on both measures Thursday night, with her bid to cut off funding for combat operations in Iraq rejected 165 to 250, the Hill reports.
Stephen Miles of Win Without War told Common Dreams, "Americans, by wide margins, want to see our troops home from Afghanistan and do not support restarting the Iraq War. Unfortunately, some in Congress seem all too willing to put Americans back into the middle of a civil war in Iraq."
Lee also introduced an amendment to end the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force--which has been interpreted expansively to justify war in Afghanistan, secret renditions, drone strikes and more--at the end of this year. That measure was defeated 157 to 260.
The defeats came the same day that President Obama announced he is deploying 300 special operations "military advisers" to Iraq, preparing for potential strikes, and increasing intelligence cooperation with the Iraqi government, in what critics warn constitute serious steps towards military attacks, including drone strikes.
"The biggest disappointment is seeing Obama sitting there saying there is no military solution in Iraq while making moves for military intervention," said Maggie Martin of Iraq Veterans Against the War in an interview with Common Dreams. "It is upsetting that even though the public doesn't want this and it's not the will of the people, it feels like we're powerless to stop it."

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Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
An effort in the House of Representatives to prevent combat operations in Iraq, championed by war critic Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), was defeated Thursday night, in what critics warn further clears the path for a new war.
Lee on Thursday introduced amendments to the 2015 Department of Defense appropriations bill to cut off federal funding for a potential renewed war in Iraq and the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq.
"We must not let history repeat itself in Iraq," Lee declared in a press statement about the amendments. "Because the reality is there is no military solution in Iraq."
Lee, who issued the only congressional vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq War since before it started, was defeated on both measures Thursday night, with her bid to cut off funding for combat operations in Iraq rejected 165 to 250, the Hill reports.
Stephen Miles of Win Without War told Common Dreams, "Americans, by wide margins, want to see our troops home from Afghanistan and do not support restarting the Iraq War. Unfortunately, some in Congress seem all too willing to put Americans back into the middle of a civil war in Iraq."
Lee also introduced an amendment to end the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force--which has been interpreted expansively to justify war in Afghanistan, secret renditions, drone strikes and more--at the end of this year. That measure was defeated 157 to 260.
The defeats came the same day that President Obama announced he is deploying 300 special operations "military advisers" to Iraq, preparing for potential strikes, and increasing intelligence cooperation with the Iraqi government, in what critics warn constitute serious steps towards military attacks, including drone strikes.
"The biggest disappointment is seeing Obama sitting there saying there is no military solution in Iraq while making moves for military intervention," said Maggie Martin of Iraq Veterans Against the War in an interview with Common Dreams. "It is upsetting that even though the public doesn't want this and it's not the will of the people, it feels like we're powerless to stop it."

_____________________
An effort in the House of Representatives to prevent combat operations in Iraq, championed by war critic Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), was defeated Thursday night, in what critics warn further clears the path for a new war.
Lee on Thursday introduced amendments to the 2015 Department of Defense appropriations bill to cut off federal funding for a potential renewed war in Iraq and the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq.
"We must not let history repeat itself in Iraq," Lee declared in a press statement about the amendments. "Because the reality is there is no military solution in Iraq."
Lee, who issued the only congressional vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq War since before it started, was defeated on both measures Thursday night, with her bid to cut off funding for combat operations in Iraq rejected 165 to 250, the Hill reports.
Stephen Miles of Win Without War told Common Dreams, "Americans, by wide margins, want to see our troops home from Afghanistan and do not support restarting the Iraq War. Unfortunately, some in Congress seem all too willing to put Americans back into the middle of a civil war in Iraq."
Lee also introduced an amendment to end the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force--which has been interpreted expansively to justify war in Afghanistan, secret renditions, drone strikes and more--at the end of this year. That measure was defeated 157 to 260.
The defeats came the same day that President Obama announced he is deploying 300 special operations "military advisers" to Iraq, preparing for potential strikes, and increasing intelligence cooperation with the Iraqi government, in what critics warn constitute serious steps towards military attacks, including drone strikes.
"The biggest disappointment is seeing Obama sitting there saying there is no military solution in Iraq while making moves for military intervention," said Maggie Martin of Iraq Veterans Against the War in an interview with Common Dreams. "It is upsetting that even though the public doesn't want this and it's not the will of the people, it feels like we're powerless to stop it."

_____________________