How Kucinich Resolution Will Help End Afghan War

[davidswanson]

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 4, Congressman Dennis Kucinich plans to introduce a privileged resolution to end the Afghan War. The resolution requires that the House debate, within the next week, the continuing war in Afghanistan, now the second longest war in American history.

While we may not win a majority vote in the House on this first go-round, and would still have to get past the Senate and the President (a good time if ever there was one to throw Scylla and Charybdis into a blog), we will completely change the conversation and put many congress members on record claiming to oppose the war. While the president can send congressional Democrats out to fall on their swords for unpopular wars and healthcare mandates, they may be less willing to do so if the end of their careers is held up to their noses. To keep their careers alive, congress members in progressive districts will have to claim to oppose the war in/on Afghanistan.

Once they've done that, however, it will be much harder for them to turn around next month and vote for another $33 billion to escalate the same war they just pretended to oppose. It's already harder for them than it was last June when we came within 8 votes in the House of stopping the war money. They can't lie that they're voting for a war supplemental "because it's the last one" because nobody can be found who will believe that again (yes, I checked, and even Sarah Palin calls BS on it). They can't lie that they just want to support their new president, because he's not new anymore, he's not up for reelection like they are, and voters are demanding that their representatives choose jobs and healthcare and green energy instead of war.

Last June, all the Republicans in the House voted No because of unrelated measures included in the bill. That may happen again this time. But whether it does or not, and whether we block the money this time or not, we are building a movement that will eventually do so, and next week's debate on the floor of the House will be a huge step forward. If you can get to Washington, D.C., I recommend being there. If you can't, get C-Span and record what your misrepresentative pontificates. You're going to need that tape next month. Specifically, you're going to want to bring it to your local Brown Bag Vigil on March 17th.

On Tuesday night, March 2nd, Rep. Kucinich recorded a special message for Progressive Democrats of America. Click here to listen to it and to an hour-long phone call with activists from around the country organizing efforts to defund the war. You can find and contribute to a whip list of congress members' positions on Kucinich's resolution and on voting for the next $33 billion at http://defundwar.org.

Please also, right now, contact your member of Congress and ask them to be an original co-sponsor of the Kucinich resolution. Then use the link to ask your friends to do the same.

Here's the text of the resolution, which will not have a number on it until Thursday:

(Original Signature of Member)
111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. ___

Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers
Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. KUCINICH submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on _________

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers
Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM AFGHANISTAN.

Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C.
1544(c)), Congress directs the President to remove the United States
Armed Forces from Afghanistan—

(1) by no later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning on
the day on which this concurrent resolution is adopted; or

(2) if the President determines that it is not safe to remove the
United States Armed Forces before the end of that period, by no later
than December 31, 2010, or such earlier date as the President
determines that the Armed Forces can safely be removed.

[G_j]

Ask your Representative to become an original co-sponsor

Ask your Representative to become an original co-sponsor of Rep. Kucinich's resolution establishing a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

This week, Representative Kucinich plans to introduce a privileged resolution invoking the War Powers Act to force the President to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan this year. Because it will be a privileged resolution, Congress will be forced to debate the issue of the open-ended U.S. war in and occupation of Afghanistan.

Will you ask your Representative to become an original co-sponsor of Representative Kucinich's resolution?

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/kucinich

U.S. soldiers and Afghan civilians continue to die needless deaths in Afghanistan because of the failure of Congress to act to bring the war in Afghanistan towards a close, or even to debate it. On February 24, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said it had confirmed 28 civilian deaths from the U.S.-led assault on the Afghan village of Marjah,<1> a town of some 80,000 people. At least six U.S. soldiers have been killed in the offensive.<2> But the assault on Marjah is merely a "prelude" to the planned U.S.-led assault on the Afghan city of Kandahar, ten times the size of Marjah, the Washington Post reports. <3>

It is virtually certain that the Kandahar offensive will result in many more American and Afghan deaths -- deaths that could be avoided if the U.S. would adopt a political strategy to end the war, instead of the current military escalation.

The next step towards ending the war is to force a real debate in Congress. Will you join us in supporting Representative Kucinich's effort to force a debate by asking your Representative to become an original co-sponsor of Rep. Kucinich's resolution?

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/kucinich

Thank you for all you do to help bring about a just foreign policy,

Robert Naiman, Chelsea Mozen, Megan Iorio and Sarah Burns
Just Foreign Policy

[bigtree]

1. but, but, Kucinich never does anything but talk

:sarcasm:

I like the fact that the Speaker has said this will be THE primary bill coming out of the House on Afghanistan.

K&R

[Robb]

4. 5(c) requires a concurrent resolution

...e.g. both the House and Senate.

That seems to have a likelihood of zero.

[Bumblebee]

5. seems? does. like everything he proposes.

[RufusTFirefly]

7. Good point. Return to your desks.

Don't let that little man distract you from your duty as corporate citizens.

[bigtree]

10. it's not as if you actually want an open debate

. . . but that public discussion will have an impact on the future of the 'pollyanish misadventure'.

[Echo In Light]

2. k/r

[pleah]

3. K&R

[earcandle]

6. I called and was questioned and then redirect to a voice message machine and

left a message.

Thanks for the heads up!

[bamacrat]

8. I love Kucinich but anything with his name in it will never pass.

He is like the hamster in the wheel. He has a great idea for how to move forward but every time he tries he stays still and isn't allowed to move. I would love to see these wars end. My wife asked me why we are still in Iraq and Afghanistan (she doesn't like news or politics) I tried to explain. She just said that it didn't make sense and there apparently was no reason. So then I said you are right, we are fighting a ghost. Nothing we do will remain when we leave and thats when I just said, thats the point we will never leave.

There is no reason to stay. I get it surge and try to establish a government in Afghanistan it's the least we can do after demolishing their country but it will go back to what it was in 2000. Why? Because that is how it has been for 2000 years.

[hayu_lol]

9. This is what Dennis had to say this week...

last week it was something else, next week it will be something else again. He NEVER follows up on what he has talked about. Hot Air only flies balloons.

Dennis is the guy in the box who jumps up when you turn the crank on the side of the box long enough...Pop goes the Dennis.

Worthless guy should retire.

[G_j]

11. lies

he has been more consistent in his opposition to war funding than ANY other member of Congress.
He is also completely consistent in EVERY one of his positions.



is there a reason you are telling lies about him?

[timtom]

12. We may only suppose...

K & R for Dennis!!!

Where do these detractors get off with their transparent stuff???

[hayu_lol]

23. G_j, Lies you say? Dennis Do Nothing Has Passed Only...

ONE bill in 15 years. That has to be some sort of record for non-achievement.

[Capt. America]

13. He's my Rep! Go Dennis!

[Capt. America]

14. He's my Rep! Go Dennis!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Congress ended Nixon's lost war by defunding it. Now, it's time for congress to end Obama's war.

[Solly Mack]

16. k/r

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RufusTFirefly]

18. Whatsamatta? You got a problem with Hope and Change (TM)?

Our president was a proud recipient of the Association of National Advertisers's Marketer of the Year award. Who could ask for anything more?

[Jefferson23]

20. LOL, that was well stated. n/t

[Kaleva]

22. If he can't get the liberal base to support him in the primaries,...

what chance does he have in a general election?

[gimama]

19. thanks, DK & David Swanson!

& to YOU for posting!

www.march20.org

[SlingBlade]

21. K & R

[bigtree]

24. .