A View From The Left-Stop The Endless Wars Of The American Empire- NEW WARS / OLD WARS – What Could Possibly Go Wrong

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NEW WARS / OLD WARS – What Could Possibly Go Wrong

SANDERS AND OTHER SENATORS PUSH FOR VOTE ON YEMEN WAR

In announcing the resolution, Sanders argued that “it goes without saying that every armed conflict that the United States of America is engaged in must be consistent with the Constitution of the United States and be lawful.”  … Washington has provided logistical and intelligence assistance to the Saudis and Emiratis since they unleashed their military campaign against a Houthi-dominated insurgency in March, 2015.  If the resolution passes—and there’s no way to gauge its support at this point—Washington’s  role with respect to the multi-faceted and calamitous conflict in Yemen could change dramatically. A privileged resolution is guaranteed a vote on the floor of the Senate, though that status could be stripped from the measure by the Senate leadership. Shortly after the Sanders-Lee press conference, the Huffington Post reported that the Trump administration has actually begun efforts to persuade the Senate leadership to block the measure.   More

The bill number is S.J.Res 54: Introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders [I-VT]; Cosponsors so far Sen. Elizabeth Warren, [D-MA]; (but not Markey)  Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]; Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Reps. Barbara Lee And Justin Amash:

CONGRESS OWES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A WAR DEBATE

Sixteen years after the “war on terrorism” began, we are locked in deadly quagmires in Afghanistan and Iraq, creeping toward all-out war in Syria, and assisting in military conflicts in Yemen, Libya and Somalia. And as the tragic ambush in Niger showed us, Congress has been left in the dark about many of our operations.  This is not what our Founding Fathers intended. The Constitution is clear: Congress, not the president, has the power to declare war. Yet Congress has abdicated this responsibility for more than a decade. In the days following the 9/11 attacks, Congress passed into law a 60-word sentence that set the stage for perpetual war. This 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) contains no time limits, no geographic constraints, and no exit strategy. It has effectively become a blank check for any president, at any time, to wage war without congressional consent or oversight.    More

Protest Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at MIT

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The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia – a country that has been responsible for the bombing of Yemen and its humanitarian crisis, the worldwide diffusion of a virulent form of WahhabiSunni Islam, the arming of rebels in various countries, and human rights violations in its own country – will be visiting MIT on or soon after the 10th of March. We call on all those who oppose militarism, war, and extremism to urge MIT to cancel this visit. If MIT doesn’t meet this demand, we call on you to to oppose this visit with us by protesting at MIT.

NORMALIZING NUKES, PENTAGON-STYLE

Behind the new policies to make nuclear weapons more “useable” lurks a familiar urge to spend taxpayer dollars profligately.  The Nuclear Posture Review’s version of a spending spree, meant to cover the next three decades and expected, in the end, to cost close to two trillion dollars, covers the works: the full nuclear “triad” -- land-based ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ones, and nuclear-armed strategic bombers.  Also included are the nuclear command, control, and communication network (NC3) and the plutonium, uranium, and tritium production facilities overseen by the National Nuclear Security Administration.  The upgrade will run the gamut.  The 14 Ohio-class nuclear submarines, the sea-based segment of the triad, are to be replaced by a minimum of 12 advanced Columbia-class boats.  The 400 Minuteman III single-warhead, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, will be retired in favor of the “next-generation” Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, which, its champions insist, will provide improved propulsion and accuracy -- and, needless to say, more “flexibility” and “options.”     More