Stop War Against Iran Update

Impeachment/Stop War Resources

March 4, 2007

By Joe Miller

As I indicated in my post of February 25, we desperately need to impeach Bush and Cheney for the massive lies they've told and destruction they've caused, both abroad and at home. On the 25th I included links (1, 2) to two articles describing developing impeachment initiatives.

John Nichols has an excellent article (3) in The Nation magazine on March 3 describing the meetings that will be held in many Vermont towns on the 6th to debate the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. "Last year, seven towns voted to impeach." Town meetings will also be held in New Hampshire and Massachusetts this spring to consider impeachment.

All the above are excellent developments, but because impeachment won't happen rapidly, and because Bush and Cheney seem more intent than ever on attacking/provoking war with Iran (e.g., 4, 5), we need binding legislation that would require Bush to receive Congressional authorization before launching yet another war.

On the 25th I provided a link (6) to a Friends Committee' action site to support legislation introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (H.J. Res 14) that "would require the president to obtain congressional approval for any use of force against Iran, barring an attack or "a demonstrably imminent attack" by Iran on the United States or its military. The resolution also states that no measure previously passed by Congress gives the president authorization to take military action against Iran." As of the 25th, the legislation had 40 cosponsors. As of March 1, the legislation has 51 cosponosors. Progress!

For a listing of current "Anti-War Legislation in Congress" (7), and to support such legislation, see the following section [in brackets] from Yes Magazine's excellent collection of resources and action aids (8) entitled "Who Can Stop the War? We the People!"

Anti-war Legislation in Congress

In the House, Representatives Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters, and Lynn Woolsey have introduced the Bring Our Troops Home and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act of 2007. (HR 508) requires that U.S. military personnel and contractors be withdrawn within 6 months, that no permanent U.S. military bases be established, and that health insurance for veterans be fully funded.
Republican Representative Walter Jones of North Carolina introduced Joint Resolution 14, requiring congressional authorization before using military force against Iran.
A nonbinding resolution, which has passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, S. Con. Res. 2 expresses the view that it is not in the national interest to escalate the conflict in Iraq. It is now being taken up by the full Senate.
Senator Kennedy's S. 287, also H. R. 353 introduced by Rep. Edward Markey in the House, prohibits the use of funds to escalate the U.S. military force in Iraq.
S.121, introduced by Senator Russ Feingold, calls for a redeployment of U.S. forces out of Iraq within six months, while leaving minimal forces there to .engage in targeted counter-terrorism activities and train Iraqi forces..

In addition to resources on "Anti-War Legislation in Congress," the Yes collection above also includes suggestions on "12 Ways to Stop the War," and many compelling articles and interviews on "America at War" and "Making Peace."

For an outstanding collection of articles and resources on the theme "Is the U.S. Ready for Human Rights: Creating the Country We Thought We Were," see the Spring, 2007 edition (9) of Yes Magazine -- much of which is available online.

Previous Updates

Past posts on stopping the ramp-up to war against Iran (with thanks to the St. Joseph Valley Greens):

Challenges/Rebuttals/Resources 2/16/07
http://www.sjvgreens.org/current/challengesRebuttals.shtml

Rebuttals to Bush's Iran Claims 2/15/07
http://www.sjvgreens.org/

Stop War Against Iran 2/10/07
http://www.sjvgreens.org/current/stopIranWar3.shtml

Stop War Against Iran Update (2/4/07)
http://www.sjvgreens.org/current/stopIranWar2.shtml

Stop War Against Iran (2/1/07)
http://www.sjvgreens.org/current/stopIranWar.shtml

US/Israeli Plans to Attack Iran (1/21/07)
http://www.sjvgreens.org/current/iranAttack.shtml

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Joseph Miller
Department of Psychology
51 Madeleva
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Office Phone: 574 284-4532 (4534)
Fax: 574 284-4716

St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN

SJVGreens

Impeachment/Stop War Resources

Anti-war Legislation in Congress

Links

Previous Updates