The House of Representatives is about to debate approval of an additional $100 BILLION to continue the war on Iraq. At a Democratic function this weekend, I listened to Rep. Bob Filner explain that this "supplemental" will be the first time any kind of timeline has been tied to the war. He sees this as progress. The timeline calls for withdrawal by August 31, 2008. Sorry Bob, that’s not progress and it’s not acceptable to Progressives.
August 31, 2008 is 530 days from today. Let’s do the math – 213 U.S. troops have died since the new Democratic Congress was sworn in 70 days ago. (source: http://icasualties.org/... If the situation in Iraq doesn’t get worse, another 1,600 families will be grieving the loss of their loved one by the proposed pull-out date.
We know that nothing good can come from being in Iraq one more day. We will get no closer to victory (whatever that would look like). We will not prevent the civil war. We will not do anything to end terrorism. We will not rebuild anything in Iraq. We will not save the lives of any Iraqi civilians. We will not do anything positive for the economy of the U.S. (with the exception of the war profiteers). Another 15,000 U.S. troops will be wounded. At the current rate, we will be putting our grandchildren in debt for an additional $200 billion.
So let me ask the people of America this question – How many families out there are willing to sacrifice their son or daughter for this lost cause? Do I see 1,600 hands going up?
This supplemental bill is unacceptable. August 31, 2008 is an unacceptable end date. There IS another option that we’re not being told about. Even MoveOn, the peace organization that is staging vigils around the country today (I’ll be attending the one here in Oceanside at the Pier at 5:30 PM) deliberately isn’t telling you about the option proposed by Rep. Barbara Lee and they are not explaining the disastrous loopholes in the Democratic plan. (MoveOn knew about it because it was discussed at a peace summit this weekend with representatives from all of the major peace organizations, including MoveOn.) In a "poll" MoveOn sent out this weekend, they asked members to vote on whether or not they supported "The Plan". They did NOT describe the plan, nor did they mention alternatives. They said that "Most, but not all, of the progressives in Congress are planning on voting for the bill." Their question is misleading and the results are predictable, but not valid, with over 80% voting to support the bill.
As explained in an email from CodePink, this bill has terrible flaws, including:
• It will keep the war going well into 2008;
• It omits Cong. Barbara Lee's amendment, which would have fully funded withdrawal by the end of the 2007;
• It gives the President the right to waive requirements that troops sent to Iraq must be properly trained, equipped and rested;
• The funds can be used for attacking Iran, since the final version removed language saying the president had to get authorization from Congress before attacking Iran.
Rep. Barbara Lee has proposed an ammendment) that would require that all funds appropriated for Iraq could be used only for the following purposes:
* to complete the withdrawal of all US Armed Forces and military contractors from Iraq by December 31st, 2007.
* to provide for the protection of those forces and contractors during the course of that withdrawal.
While this would effectively end our military occupation of Iraq, Lee’s Amendment would not prohibit or restrict funds from being used for diplomatic efforts or reconstruction.
Rep. Filner explained during his speech that the supplemental bill will be vetoed by Bush. If that’s the case, why not at least put forward a bill that asks for what we really want. A speedy withdrawal from Iraq. Maxine Waters proposes Dec. 31, 2007. That’s my birthday. Join me in asking Bob Filner and the rest of the Democrats we worked so hard to get elected in November, that we want our troops to celebrate their next birthday here at home, alive and in one piece. And show George W. Bush, with your conviction on this, that he’s one veto away from impeachment.
Please join Progressive Democrats of America in telling MoveOn and your representatives that you oppose The Supplemental Plan and you want them to support Rep. Barbara Lee’s efforts to bring an amendment to the floor for a fully-funded, orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops and military contractors by the end of 2007.
To send your representative an email: click here
Or call Congress at 1-202-224-3121 or toll-free 1-888-851-1879.