KUCINICH INTRODUCES WITHDRAWAL MOTION
On Thursday, March 4, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is expected to introduce a motion based on the 1973 War Powers Act to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year. This legislation provides Congress with the right to end a war.
Kucinich's motion will be defeated of course, but it is a first important congressional endeavor to truly end this unnecessary and absurdly long war.
We recommend that Hudson Valley readers contact their Member of Congress right away and urge backing for Kucinich's motion, particularly Reps. Maurice Hinchey and John Hall who both support the Afghan war.
At the least they will be reminded that many of their constituents remain within the antiwar fold, in terms of opposing unjust wars, regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats preside over the White House and Congress.
Following is Kucinich's statement of intention, plus a link to where you can sign a petition supporting his call to defund the war (plus the text of the petition).
KUCINICH TELLS CONGRESS: DEFUND THE AFGHAN WAR
By Dennis Kucinich, March 2, 2010
Washington has a lot of money. It has trillions for war, but no money for housing. Money for war, but no money for health care. Money for war, but no money for education. Money for war - no money to rebuild our cities. No money to create jobs, but money for war.
The Democrats took control of the Congress in 2006 with a promise to end the War in Iraq and it's not enough for this Administration to slow-walk the end of the war, which could continue for years to come. And it's not enough for a Democratic Administration to escalate a war in Afghanistan at a time when there's no clear objective and no end in sight of the contribution of blood and treasure, to a region which has never been conquered by any foreign country.
It's time that we take a stand as citizens. And its also time to force Congress to take its Constitutional responsibility seriously. Article 1, Section 8 requires that Congress has the war-making power. It is absolutely imperative that Congress be required to assert it's responsibility on behalf of the American people. Congress is directly elected by the people. And Congress has to respond and step up to its responsibility to decide if we're going to stay at war in Afghanistan. And so, soon, I will bring to the Floor of the House a Privileged Resolution which will force a vote as to whether or not we stay in Afghanistan.
I ask your support for this Resolution. I ask you to go to that page on our website where you can sign-in and pledge your support to the effort to get out of Afghanistan; and where you can circulate far-and-wide the petitions that will enable us to be able to build a rising, civic movement for peace and social justice in America.
Money for war: Isn't it time that we demanded that the resources of our country be used to create the society that we know that we're capable of building.
THE PETITION
Here is the text of Rep. Kucinich's petition. To sign it click on http://www.kucinich.us/#
A Petition Requesting the U.S. Congress
to Stop Funding Additional Troops in Afghanistan.
Whereas, Congress has the responsibility to decide whether to go to war under Article I, Section 8; and
Whereas, it’s not up to the United States to be able to choose the government of other countries; and
Whereas, Congress has the responsibility to focus on conditions at home in America, addressing infrastructure, putting millions of Americans back to work, saving millions of people from foreclosure and helping 47 million people to receive health care; and
Whereas, Congress must acknowledge public sentiment in our communities, where people are desperate for jobs, trying to protect their wage levels, worried about their investments, their savings, their security; now therefore,
I STRONGLY URGE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO VOTE AGAINST ANY FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN AND THAT CURRENT FUNDING BE REASSESSED AND REDIRECTED TO THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF AMERICANS AT HOME.
