Progressive Democrats Support New Legislation For Comprehensive Strategy Against ISIL

[eridani]

Progressive Democrats of America announces support for Congresswoman Lee's and congressman Honda's new legislation to establish a comprehensive strategy against ISIL and to stop a new American ground war in the Middle East

Feb. 11, 2015 - WASHINGTON -- Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is endorsing the “Comprehensive Solution to ISIL Resolution” (H.J.RES. 30), introduced on February 10th of 2015 by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13). PDA supporters will deliver 100s of letters to Congressional offices, urging Representatives to vote for this resolution, and other progressive priorities next week.

Progressive Democrats of America National Director Conor Boylan said, "The United States has had large-scale military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan for over a decade. What is the result of all of this effort? The spreading of terrorism, the death of thousands of Americans, the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Afghanis, and others throughout the region; while leaving the Middle East unstable with millions of people in refugee camps, loss of trillions of dollars to the U.S. economy, no significant lasting contribution to civil society in this region and the potential for an endless cycle of war that could spread to other nations."

Boylan added, "The time has come for a comprehensive strategy to stop the endless war in the Middle East. PDA strongly opposes sacrificing more blood of men and women of the United States Armed Forces through a new war in the Middle East. We cannot continue to request life sacrifices of military personnel, aid workers, journalists, and others over battles that American ground troops should not have to fight, over resources that are not ours to control, and over disagreements that could be handled using diplomacy, economics, and politics, rather than bullets and bombs."

PDA Advisory Board Member Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) said, “I am troubled by the Administration’s request, which I believe is far too open-ended and does little to constrain this or the next Administration from engaging in sustained combat. We should be doing much more to promote a legitimate and lasting political solution in the region.”

PDA Advisory Board Member Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) said, “[W]e must be comprehensive in our strategy. National security experts have clearly stated that there is no military solution to ISIL. In order to ultimately degrade and dismantle ISIL, we must craft a robust regionally-led, political, economic and diplomatic strategy.”

PDA invites all Americans to join the PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA in calling for real and lasting solutions to this conflict and to OPPOSE A NEW AMERICAN GROUND WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. PDA asks all Americans to contact their member of Congress and ask them to cosponsor and vote for H.J. RES. 30.

For more information please see: www.pdamerica.org and visit the Educate Congress page, or contact PDA directly at [e-mail]

Media Contact
Conor Boylan, Progressive Democrats of America
206-965-0802
[e-mail]

[Scuba]

1. Kick.

[Enthusiast]

2. Kicked

and recommended a whole bunch!

[stillwaiting]

3. Sanity in the morning. Feels good... nt

[aspirant]

4. This loses me

when they recommend calling Congress. IMO this doesn't work. I call and e-mail my reps and if I even get back a response it's some unrelated goobly-goop that translates into nothingness.

A DU'er said she and some others protested at their state reps offices and got temporary results, but as soon as they left the ignoring game returned.

Protesting at our Senators and Reps homes could be the most effective. It appears to have worked against Tom Wheeler and the FCC and it only takes a handful.

A few weeks ago I called both of my senators to find out how they were voting on Fast Track. Response, neither have taken a stance as of yet. Translation = haven't counted all the potential corporate donations so they can possibly sneak in their vote at the last minute.

I'm as anti-war as anyone but the attention and pressure with petitions needs to be on Obama.

[sabrina 1]

6. I agree to an extent, most of the time they don't care what the people think. However sometimes

public pressure does work, if there is enough of it. Dems who were almost guaranteed, and many said so, to support the Netanyahu/Boehner plot undermining the Iran policies of the President, began to waver after hearing from constituents. Admittedly the WH was outraged also. Still without the public's support Dems might not have paid much attention to that as they already knew the policies of the WH and were willing to go along with the plot.

[aspirant]

8. Sabrina,

your example has the WH and the anti-Netanayhu people on the same team.

Here Obama has changed positions from withdraw to re-engage in Iraq and is in conflict with the anti-war politicians.

I hope it works.

[yallerdawg]

5. I hope no authorization.

I am hoping Obama is testing the will of the American people, like Obama did with Syria's Assad gassing his people. We used diplomacy to get the chemical weapons and didn't have to bomb anyone.

I'm sure brilliant minds are advising Obama on the best way to proceed against mad dog terrorists like ISIL, and the Jordanians, UAE and Kurds have all stepped up. One things certain, the Arab world does not like our boots on anything, and hopefully we the people don't like it either.

[sabrina 1]

7. I can't imagine that they had to spell out the total failure of Bush/Cheney/neocon policies in the

ME, but apparently they do.

"The United States has had large-scale military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan for over a decade. What is the result of all of this effort? The spreading of terrorism, the death of thousands of Americans, the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Afghanis, and others throughout the region; while leaving the Middle East unstable with millions of people in refugee camps, loss of trillions of dollars to the U.S. economy, no significant lasting contribution to civil society in this region and the potential for an endless cycle of war that could spread to other nations."

Most intelligent people knew this would be the result before it began.

And I have a feeling so did the War Profiteers.

An 'endless cycle of war' is what they want. Someone has to stop them.