Here's where the hypocrisy hits the highway. On July 1st, 162 congress members voted to require a withdrawal plan and end date for the occupation of Afghanistan, and 100 voted to fund only withdrawal, no continuation of war, while 25 voted to simply stop dumping any money into this war.
Now all of them must vote yes or no, probably on Tuesday, on whether to fund a major escalation of the war in Afghanistan. You won't hear anyone mention it, but this $33 billion is to add 30,000 troops plus contractors to the war.
Can you want a withdrawal plan or to fund only withdrawal, and nonetheless vote to fund an escalation? The Queen told Alice: "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Congress members have been known to do eight.
90,000 new documents exposing the criminality of the war won't change that (but see link to them below). What will change it is the threat of unelection.
The House will likely now vote on the Senate version of the war escalation supplemental. This will likely mean something quite unusual: a straightforward vote in which yes means yes more war, and no means no.
Whether we block the bill or not, we will now be able to identify clearly and unambiguously the war supporters and war opponents. They will need to be punished and rewarded while they're home for August and at the polls in November. If the majority of Democrats vote against the war funds, we will be able to point out that opposition from the President's own party. And the closer we come to defeating the bill the more we will have to build on as the peace movement joins with the labor and civil rights movements this fall.
Our message is simple:
Vote no on funding this escalation of war, regardless of whether it's a procedural vote, and regardless of any good measures attached to it. If you vote yes, plan on getting a different job in January.
FCNL has a toll-free number to call your representative: 1-888-493-5443, or use the standard number (202) 224-3121.
Pull U.S. Troops Out of Pakistan
The House is expected to debate and vote on Tuesday on a privileged resolution (HCR 301) introduced by Congressmen Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul to remove U.S. forces from Pakistan. The resolution directs the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Pakistan. On this one we want to ask for Yes votes.
Call Congress (202) 224-3121.
Resources
Afghanistan war logs: Massive leak of secret files exposes truth of occupation
Six Facts No War Supporter Knows
Video of Congressman Kucinich discussing both of the votes described above: http://pdamerica.org
David Swanson and Dennis Kucinich will be on Lila Garrett's radio show on Monday.
Get resources from http://defundwar.org
What Happened in Albany, Cleveland, Las Vegas
This weekend, many of you attended the peace conference in Albany or the PDA conference in Cleveland, if you weren't at the Netroots conference in Vegas. They can all be watched online for those who missed them:
National Peace Conference
PDA Conference
Netroots Nation
Resolutions passed at the National Peace Conference will be posted ASAP at http://warisacrime.org
On August 28th the peace movement will join with the movements for jobs, economic justice, and civil rights to march in Detroit, Mich., and Washington, D.C., to launch campaigns for Jobs, Justice, and Peace that will build to a massive March on Washington on October 2nd.
Mark your calendars and get ready!