[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [Ufpj-disc] Re: [Ufpj-legislative] Thoughts on
strategy
Morton K. Brussel
brussel4 at insightbb.com
Sun Feb 25 21:12:37 CST 2007
An interesting approach to stop funding for our wars, from the UFPJ
email list. Other commentaries from that list…
Begin forwarded message:
> From: John Walsh <jvwalshmd at gmail.com>
> Date: February 25, 2007 3:17:16 PM CST
> To: David Swanson <david at davidswanson.org>
> Cc: Kevin Zeese <kzeese at earthlink.net>, Hiscze at aol.com, UFPJ-
> Discussion <ufpj-disc at lists.mayfirst.org>, ufpj-
> legislative at lists.mayfirst.org
> Subject: [Ufpj-disc] Re: [Ufpj-legislative] Thoughts on strategy
>
> **Please see footer for list protocol**
>
> David says:
> 'But on Iran, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think anyone's yet
> figured out how to make bombing Iran be about "supporting the
> troops."'
> That is precisely the argument that Bush and Cheney are making. They
> will attack Iran, because Iran is behind many of the attacks on the US
> troops in Iraq, providing weapons to insurgents, etc. So it will be
> presented as part of the war on Iraq with the added benefit of wiping
> out Iran's "WMD."
>
> I think we have all the Senate votes we need for a flibuster.
> Interesting John Kerry called for a filibuster during the Vietnam War
> to end the funding and prevent the loss of more lives. We have the
> votes amongst our "friends" in the Senate - but not one Dem Senator
> will so much as talk about it.
> jw
>
>
> On 2/25/07, David Swanson <david at davidswanson.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I agree with all that, especially 5. Congress appears to be on a
>> track to
>> partially nonbindingly oppose the Iraq war sometime in the next
>> year and a
>> half or so. And part of the reason is the "support the troops" BS.
>>
>> But on Iran, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think anyone's
>> yet figured
>> out how to make bombing Iran be about "supporting the troops."
>>
>> If Congress would oppose bombing Iran, maybe Congress would grow a
>> spine on
>> the Iraq issue and others issues when Bush and Cheney do bomb Iran.
>>
>> We should reach 100,000 signatures on www.dontattackiran.org sometime
>> tomorrow probably. Any ideas on ways to announce or make use of
>> that?
>>
>> David
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Hiscze at aol.com
>> To: ufpj-legislative at lists.mayfirst.org
>> Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 2:38 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Ufpj-legislative] Thoughts on strategy
>>
>>
>> John Murtha's very moderate approach to winding down the war is fast
>> disappearing under a withering attack from conservatives. It is a
>> useful
>> reminder that despite the midterm elections, there are great
>> obstacles to
>> effective Congressional action. Apart from the Republicans, there
>> are a
>> significant number of Democratic Representatives and Senators, who
>> are
>> willing to play politics with the war but not take any steps to
>> stop it.
>> (Rahm Emanuel as one case in point)
>>
>> Before the midterm elections, half of the Democrats in the House were
>> unwilling to sign on to Murtha's call for a rapid redeployment.
>> Folks in the
>> peace movement may have perceived that earlier initiative as very
>> lame, but
>> within the Congressional context it was seen as too radical. Despite
>> considerable pushing from Pelosi and Murtha, they could not bring
>> those
>> Democratic colleagues along. And most of those colleagues
>> are back at their posts, still obstructing anything substantive.
>>
>> As we go forward, I think its important to keep some of these
>> sobering
>> circumstances in mind. (not to make ourselves depressed, but to
>> maintain a
>> clear focus on the hard job ahead )
>>
>> Some suggestions:
>>
>> 1/ That we not dissipate our energy attacking other peace
>> advocates (either
>> in Congress or other organizations) for being too moderate. We
>> need friends
>> and allies, who are willing to work with us. That doesn't mean
>> endorsing
>> ideas that seem unwise or objectionable.but keeping the pressure
>> on those
>> officials
>> (like Rahm Emanuel, as one pertinent example) who are the real
>> impediments
>> to effective Congressional action..
>>
>> 2/ That we keep emphasizing the need for Congress to use "the
>> power of the
>> purse" to compel a rapid troop withdrawal.
>>
>> 3/ That we look for ways to strengthen our organizing in
>> Republican states
>> and districts, and in the states and districts of those Democrats
>> who are
>> quite openly opposed to any Congressional interference with the war.
>>
>> 4/* That at the local and national level, that we prioritize
>> coalition-building with organizations concerned with domestic
>> programs. The
>> Supplemental is not the ideal vehicle for this, although it can be a
>> beginning, but the FY 2008 budget is.. Right behind the
>> Supplemental, is the
>> President's DOD request for
>> $647.2 billion (which includes new costs for Iraq and
>> Afghanistan). To pay
>> for that, Bush is seeking cuts in a
>> wide variety domestic programs. There's nothing new in making the
>> point that
>> money for guns is less money for "butter." But what we have not done
>> sufficiently is to build the organizational coalitions that can
>> give that
>> sentiment some clout. I think these broader coalitions are
>> essential, if we
>> are to increase the pressure on the "moderate" Democrats and
>> Republicans.
>>
>> and
>>
>> 5/ *But not least, I think we ought to be giving more weight to
>> mobilizing
>> Congressional opposition to a new war on Iran. I know there is wide
>> agreement on this, but somehow this item keeps slipping away.
>>
>>
>> Rusti Eisenberg
>> Brooklyn Parents for Peace
>>
>>
>>
>>
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