[Peace-discuss] WILL News: At Rally, Fmr. Rep. Johnson Speaks Out Against Possible Military Strike

[Robert Naiman]

http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/at-rally-fmr.-rep.-johnson-speaks-out-against-possible-military-strike

>From WILL - News - September 09, 2013
At Rally, Fmr. Rep. Johnson Speaks Out Against Possible Military Strike
By Sean Powers

 Ahead of President Obama’s speech Tuesday night on Syria, about 80 people
joined a candle light vigil Monday in downtown Urbana in opposition to a
possible military strike.

The event was put on by a series of progressive organizations, including
MoveOn.org. Similar vigils also took place in other cities across the
country.

 Former U.S. Rep Tim Johnson (R-Urbana) is a critic of the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and he urged Illinois’ Congressional delegation not to support
going into Syria.

“It’s not our obligation nor our position to impose our values, our way of
life on people around the world through killing people,” Johnson said to
applause. “The costs in an overall sense to our involvement from Korea
through Syria are mind boggling.”

Johnson served six terms in Congress before retiring last year. His
successor, Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville), has said President Obama has not
made a case for attacking Syria. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville) has
stated his opposition to military action. But U.S. Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)
and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have expressed their support for a military
response.

“My message to Sen. Durbin, Sen. Kirk, Rep. Davis, Rep. Shimkus, and all
the other members of Congress is you need to stand up for principle,”
Johnson added. “We need to stand up for human lives. We need to stand up
for decency. We stand up for our pocketbooks; none of which are being
achieved by this bi-partisan war mania.”

President Obama has not said what he would do if lawmakers reject his call
for military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Still, Robert Naiman, who organized the Urbana rally, said the public has a
unique opportunity to get their voices heard on the issue.

“I would say I’m against the war, and would want to stop it, but whatever
your view, it is important to engage Congress,” Naiman said. “That’s the
way we have the opportunity to participate in this decision.”

President Obama’s address begins Tuesday at 8:00pm CT on WILL-TV and 580 AM.

-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
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