Congresswoman Barbara Lee - September 14th, 2001

[peppertree]

[IronLionZion]

1. "be careful not to embark on an open-ended war with neither an exit strategy nor a focused target"

She felt the authorization to use force as written gave the president way too broad of powers to wage war against anyone anywhere when the facts were not yet clear on the situation. She was the only one who voted no but shouldn't have been the only one who felt there should be some scope to define the mission more clearly.

Afghanistan was blatant mission creep

[wackadoo wabbit]

2. She may have been the only one who voted "no," but she shouldn't have been

She was logical and thoughtful, while all the others apparently fell for the hysteria and drumbeating. I have immeasurable respect for her.

[peppertree]

3. +1

I'm reminded of a quote from Gandhi, who pointed out that "even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth."

And 20 years later, here we are.

[wackadoo wabbit]

4. That's a lovely quote /nt

[peppertree]

5. Isn't it though

As you know, she was so brave to say that when she did - when almost no one would say it (at least publicly).

Now, if we could only recoup the $1 trillion+ pilfered in this boondoggle (since the 6,000 U.S. lives, we can never).

But then, that's the point of all boondoggles: the money.