[Peace-discuss] [Fwd: How Kucinich's Resolution to End the War Will Help Us End the War]

[C. G. Estabrook]

	*How Kucinich's Resolution to End the War Will Help Us End the War*
	http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/50486
	By David Swanson

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 24th, 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...

On Tuesday night, March 2nd, Rep. Kucinich recorded a special message
for Progressive Democrats of America. Click here
<http://blog.pdamerica.org/2010/03/iot-end-war-and-occupations-redirect-funding-march-call> 

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
<http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/callalert/index.tt?alertid=14751286> 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.

-- 

David Swanson is the author of the new book "Daybreak: Undoing the
Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union" by Seven Stories
Press.  You can order it and find out when tour will be in your town:
http://davidswanson.org/book.

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