Peace Groups Challenge Congress to End the War
June 112010
On Sept. 5, 2007, at noon, on the West side of the U.S. Capitol, representatives of various Peace Groups challenged the U.S. Congress to end the Iraq War. The activists held a public signing of letters seeking a meeting, and a dialogue, with Congressional leaders. The Peace Groups want Congress “to cut off funding for the war in Iraq and to safely and swiftly bring the U.S. troops home.”
The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR) coordinated today’s event. Participating were activists from Code Pink, Declaration of Peace, Democracy Rising, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Gold Star Families for Peace, Jonah House, Peace Action, Veterans for Peace, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Voters for Peace and the Washington Peace Center. Check out the Declaration of Peace’s web site at: http://declarationofpeace.org/ for information on the “9 Point Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq,” which is referenced in the letters to the Congressional leadership.
Text-Letter to Members of Congress
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, 235 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Sen. Harry Reid, 528 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Rep. John Boehner, 1011 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Sen. Mitch McConnell, 361-A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator or Representative:
As representatives of peace and justice organizations, we are writing to request a meeting with you as soon as possible at your convenience to discuss a most urgent issue. We are facing one of the greatest crisis of our times–the unmitigated disaster caused by the war and occupation of Iraq. The untold suffering in Iraq, in that region and here in the United States will be with us for decades to come. The healing of Iraq cannot begin until all occupation forces leave the country.
Many of our elected representatives express concern for the troops in Iraq. However, under a false premise, they vote to fund the war in order to “support the troops.” In reality, not much of the funding of the war actually went to the troops or the many veterans who returned home broken and damaged by what they experienced in this illegal war. Instead funding the war meant more money for profiteers like Halliburton and corrupt Iraqi officials. And funding the war inevitably led to more dead and wounded U.S. soldiers.
We urge you to be a leader in ending this dishonorable war. The continuation of this illegal and futile occupation is a refusal to accept the November 2006 mandate of the people to end this war. As you are aware, an astonishing $12 billion is wasted each month on the war in Iraq. The money going down the rabbit hole in Iraq is funding denied to the poor and the working middle class. Money for war is money denied to children, many of whom have no access to health care. Money for war is money denied to our struggling public schools. Money for war is money denied to desperately needed social services.
All of us, both legislator and peace activist, must act to end this ignoble crisis. Let us meet to discuss how best to end the occupation of Iraq as soon as possible.
The Declaration of Peace has developed a framework for a 9-point Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq, which we would like to discuss with you at the meeting:
1] An end to all funding for U.S. military operations in Iraq.
2] Safe and rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops and coalition forces from Iraq, with no future deployments.
3] No permanent U.S. military bases or installations in Iraq.
4] Support for an Iraqi-led peace process, including a peace conference to shape a post-occupation transition.
5] Return control of Iraqi oil and sovereignty in their economic and political affairs to the people of Iraq.
6] Support for reparations and reconstruction to address the destruction caused by the U.S. invasion, military occupation, and 13 years of economic sanctions.
7] Establish a U.S. “peace dividend” for job creation, health care, education, housing, and other social needs at home.
8] Increased support for U.S. veterans of the Iraq war.
9] No war against Iran or any other nation.
The peace community warned the government not to invade Iraq. The peace community argued that the reasons for going to war were lies. The peace community predicted that the invasion and occupation of Iraq would become a quagmire. Following the current path will only mean more death and destruction.
So representatives of various peace groups hope to speak with you, and through dialogue let us find a solution to the crisis. Please contact us and let us know when you are available to meet. We look forward to your response.
In peace,
Max Obuszewski
on behalf of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Duration : 0:8:20
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June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
HOW IS THIS WAR …
HOW IS THIS WAR ILLIGAL????
HEY MORONS WERE YOU STONED AT THE TIME OR DID YOU MISS
THE FACT….
THAT the congress and the senate both VOTED AND ISSUED BUSH THE RIGHT TO USE FORCE!!!!!!!
And in case you missed it HILLARY, BIDEN AND MANY OTHER DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR THIS…
SO IS THE VICE PRESIDNET BIDEN A WAR CRIMIAL….
I GUESS SEC OF STATE CLINTON IS A WAR CRIMINAL TOO!!!!!
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
OK MORONS!!!!!
I …
OK MORONS!!!!!
I am not even going to begin arguing with people so insane as to believe that 911 was an iside job but I ASK YOU THIS………
IF THIS IS ALL THE FAULT OF BUSH….
WHY THE ARE WE STILL THERE???
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL OF THE CONGRESS AND THE SENATE SINCE 2007……
NOW THEY HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE TOO…
SO THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE OF 3 out of 3
IF THEY WERE SO AGIANST THE WAR THEN WHY THE ARE WE STILL THERE????
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Explained with …
Explained with English, does not use the energy the electricity generation,solves the invention which the Earth warms, does not use the innovation which all energies possibly generate electricity your government, must be the national person makes this innovation if you did not understand that I said anything I ask you to tell you the National intelligence Organization completes this innovation I do not spend money to give your country In you tubeessential character a661333
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
9/11 Was an inside …
9/11 Was an inside job.. let’s get out of Iraq and end the ‘War on Terror’ ASAP.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
A few years ago, …
A few years ago, two parents went out for dinner. A few hours later, the babysitter was calling to ask if she could cover up the clown statue in the kids’ room, the father said,”Take the kids and get out of the house. We’ll call the police, we don’t have a clown statue.” The “clown statue” is really a killer that escaped from jail. If you don’t post this letter on to 10 videos tonight, the clown will be in your bed at 3:00 am with a chainsaw in his hand
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Scuds arent WMD . I …
Scuds arent WMD . I imagine most if not all of those Middle East countries have them they were no threat to us. A scud could never reach us not even close.
Its not out job to now defend Arab countries from each other .I dont care who Saddam invades they are all in constant way anyway again we invaded based on lies .
Scuds are not WMD
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Your right but …
Your right but those are the Saudis they are the ones who are the enemy greater enemy than Saddam was yet we support them and keep that vile family in power while their own people pray to overthrow them.
The Saudis flew the planes into the towers they arm our enemies they are the problem again Iraq was a country we did not have any reason to invade.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
We need to address …
We need to address the infectious teachings of Wahhabism – being taught in northern Virginia, by the way – 80% of mosques in the US funded by Saudi Arabia – and no Bible permitted anywhere in Saudi Arabia.
Here is a legitimate free speech limitation argument. It is no man’s right to preach the murder of others due to their faith, or to preach violent overthrow of the democratic government of the nation where he lives and could speak freely against.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
No Nazis in Japan …
No Nazis in Japan either – right?
I mean, there was that one German on the Japanese submarine in the movie 1941 – but really, Nazism did not motivate the attack on Pearl Harbor.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I will give it to …
I will give it to you again.
The rationale was WMD. He had them. he used them to kill 400,000 of his own people. He had launched theater ballistic missiles to neighbors with whom you might say he was at peace – 27 of them.
It is child’s play to put nerve agent in a SCUD. He had and hid, SCUDs.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Hitler probably …
Hitler probably hated Hirohito as well – after all, he was only an honorary Aryan.
Believe me, I know better than most the costs of invading and conquering a country.
But we were perfectly justified in deposing Saddam, and had Land Power leaders had better access to the President, versus Navy people like Rumsfeld – we would have made the proper investment in reconstruction at the start.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
involuntary Taxes, …
involuntary Taxes, failing to support unjustified Entitlements such as Social Security – and all the new ideas and new deals, outside the responsibility of Constitutional government, are what endanger us most.
I’m glad we invaded it, and hope we would do it again – but with more focused effort on winning domestic popular support.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Well-studied …
Well-studied generally refers to a person such as myself, who, through either personal experience, scholarly work, or individual research – or, optimally, the combination of all of these – arrives at his conclusions.
There are both powerful evidences against your theory, and very little evidence for it.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I like the opening …
I like the opening attack – as though it were a fault to be passionate about life and death matters – it is not.
Frankly, I doubt Bush invented the term – but I have read all one needs to understand Islamofascism from the primary source material – the Holy Qur’an, and from history.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
By the way I dont …
By the way I dont support those Peace freaks who think everyone is great but America but I dont support fighting,invading countries for the sake of it based on lies.
I disagree a lot with those people as many times they are hypocrites but this time they are correct . We had no reason to invade Iraq it was all lies .
Same lies my dad told me if I got good grades he would pay for 1/2 my car ALL lies lol .
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
If there is such a …
If there is such a thing as Islamo facist it certainly wasnt in Iraq . Saddam killed them they ran to Iran or afghanistan they feared him.
He wouldnt tolerate it as it was a threat to him. So lets say just to make a point there is Islamo facist than removing Saddam was a mistake .
Al queda wasnt in Iraq (they are now) because Saddam would wipe out a village at the scent of Al queda .
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I believe the …
I believe the buildings did fall due to the planes everything that could have gone wrong for us and right for Osama and his bunch did that day.
However Osama is not Saddam they infact HATED each other . Thats my prob with Bush and Iraq . Its no joke invading another country its not to be taken lightly and Saddam has vile as he was had nothing to do with 9-11 nor had WMD .
Every month Bush had a different reason for invading .
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
iraq is a financial …
iraq is a financial anchor on our neck its draining us the people as a whole have lost confidence in BOTH political parties-The stock market has suffered and we have lost world credebility by invading Iraq.
I dont care about the rest of the world but I cant argue when we did INVADE a country that had nothing to do with 9-11
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Ever heard of WTC 7 …
Ever heard of WTC 7? What caused that building to free fall? Larry Silverstein admitted to “pulling” it on Frontline. Explain that “well-studied”.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Get off the Red …
Get off the Red Bull Jeff. There is no such thing as an Islamo Fascist. Your president made that up to incite you. And I see it worked! Saddam had no WMDs. We illegally invaded his country and started a war. We have killed far more Iraqis than Saddam has. And nearly 4000 of our soldiers are DEAD.
Support the troops. Bring them home alive. And soon.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
These Peace monkeys …
These Peace monkeys demand a unilateral cessation of a fight without any notion of what to do about the enemy. Insanity.
Is the enemy not evil? Do they not carve off the heads of their living political and religious enemies? Do they have a LEGITIMATE point, or desire, or interest?
No.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
By the way – this …
By the way – this so-called “Peace Community” gained THEIR legitimacy exactly how?
They counsel a unilateral to a fight which is ongoing, and in which we assist allies, not in destroying formations of ebemy troops, but in standing guard over a society which is in the cross-hairs of maniacs and child murderers.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
.48% of America …
.48% of America wears a uniform, as few as during any war in our history. We invaded and conquered Mexico, and took all the Spanish colonies worldwide with a similar percentage.
I’d like to have more – but so far, those we have are doing exceptionally well, in my view – of course, I am hopelessly biased though.
Why don’t you suggest we decommission three or four aircraft carriers?
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I have seen dead …
I have seen dead people’s votes in North Carolina, and manslaughterers serving in the US Senate.
We gave Saddam intelligence to help him fight the Iranians, according to Rashid Khalidi.
How is being in Iraq year after year a threat to us? We make progress every day, man. The Iraqi Police and Armed forces are more capable each day. We’re getting out as soon as we can.
June 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Lol I agree America …
Lol I agree America will NEVER have a gvmt that isnt corrupt but nothing like the Arab countries not yet anyway lol.
What weapons did Saddam have that he used . He used gas against Iran . Thats a bad thing ?. Let them destroy each other by going into Iraq we now are the referee in that never ending mess of Arabs.
It will destroy us . He was no threat to us but being in Iraq year after year is a threat to United States.