AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Friday, September 26, 2014

Turn Public Opinion Against This War
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Dear Al,
The U.S. attacks on Syria launched Sept. 22 are a disastrous setback for peace, for the rule of law, and for sound U.S. foreign policy.
The CIA and the Department of Homeland Security have said that ISIS is not an imminent threat to the United States.
President Obama told the nation two weeks ago that there is no military solution to the problems posed by ISIS, but he has failed to observe his own words of caution.
Instead of military action, the Administration should be focusing on intensive UN-backed diplomacy with all regional parties at the table (including Iran and Russia), pressing our allies in the region to stop arms shipments to the belligerent parties, and shifting war funds to a massive increase in humanitarian assistance.
The US invasion of Iraq has taught us that the more we intervene in the Middle East the worse it gets. Compare Iraq’s stability and security before invasion with the present time.
Over a year ago, President Obama rightly asked Congress to vote on whether he could use air strikes in Syria; now, he has ordered them unilaterally. It is a violation of the U.S. Constitution for the President to order military attacks on a foreign country without explicit Congressional approval. The claims of the Administration that it has authorization under previous Congressional votes over a decade ago are legally questionable and unacceptable.

It is likewise a violation of the UN Charter, a treaty which is the law of the land in the United States, for the United States to wage war on any nation without Security Council authorization.
Call your representative and Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren at (202) 224-3121 and say:

“I am a constituent and I want Congress to fully debate a new authorization for use of military force (AUMF) that deals with Syria, Iraq and ISIS. And when the vote comes, I want you to vote no.”

For peace and sanity,

Shelagh Foreman
Program Director

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