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Dear
All,
As
you know, last night the U.S. bombed Syria in what is likely to become another
long war in the Middle East. Last year, we forced the Obama administration to
rightfully ask Congress for authorization to bomb Syria. That authorization
never came because of staunch public and congressional opposition. Now there is
a new target and mission. Yet, there are three reasons to pause and oppose these
bombings.
First, it is unclear whether these bombings are legal under
international law. Second, the Obama Administration claims it has
Constitutional authorization from the 2001 congressional vote after 9/11, but
not all in Congress agree. And lastly, expert upon expert say that military
escalation will fail to solve these problems in the long run (even the CIA is
skeptical).
Please take a few moments and call your Representative and
both Senators at (202) 224-3121 and say:
“I am a constituent and I
want Congress to fully debate a new authorization (AUMF) that deals with Syria,
Iraq and ISIS. And when the vote comes, I want you to vote no.”
Under
Article 51 of the UN Charter, a country under attack has the right of
self-defense, but that only applies to actual or imminent armed attacks, not
potential or possible attacks. The U.S. claims it was thwarting terrorists from
the Khorasan Group from a plot on America. Yet we don’t know the details of this
so-called imminent attack. What was the weapon? When were they going to use
it, and where?
Pick up the phone and call your Representative and both
Senators at (202) 224-3121 and use the script above.
Congress has
not voted on a war authorization regarding terrorism since 2001. Things have
changed and many members in Congress agree it is time to have a full and fair
debate and for Congress to take back its Constitutional authority to declare
war. This debate and vote should happen ASAP.
Your calls to your
Representative and both Senators at (202) 224-3121 can make a
difference. Use the script above.
President Obama is right when he says
that there is no military solution to ISIS. Yet it seems that most of the U.S.
energy is directed towards a failed military strategy. Already there are
reports of innocent women and children being killed in the U.S. attack last
night. We know this tends to create more enmity toward our country. Regional
diplomacy that includes the UN and efforts to end the Syrian civil war, cutting
off ISIS’s oil revenues and access to weapons, and humanitarian aid to refugees
in Iraq and Syria will be far more effective in dealing with ISIS and other
terrorists than military escalation.
Make three calls to your
Representative and both Senators at (202) 224-3121. Use the script
above.
Finally, we need to take a step back and get at the root of
terrorism by supporting tolerance, education, poverty alleviation and justice.
Additionally, limiting the amount of lethal weapons that end up being used by
the wrong people will remove some of the fuel from the terrorist fire.
Humbly
for Peace,
Kevin
Martin
Executive Director
Peace Action
P.S.
- Make your voice heard to your Representative and both Senators at (202)
224-3121 and tell them:
“I am a constituent and I want Congress to
fully debate a new authorization (AUMF) that deals with Syria, Iraq and ISIS.
And when the vote comes, I want you to vote no.”
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