Tell Our Congress To Rescind Bush's War Starting Powers

[Demeter]

OpEdNews.com

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_thepen_061128_tell_our_congress_to.htm


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November 28, 2006

Tell Our Congress To Rescind Bush's War Starting Powers

By thepen

ACTION PAGE: http://www.peaceteam.net/aumf.php

The history of the last four years has proven that the Bush administration cooked intelligence and lied to obtain the original Authorization for Use of Military Force ("AUMF"), which was then immediately abused to launch an unprovoked and unwarranted invasion and indefinite occupation of Iraq. Yet, even as the strategic disaster in Iraq lurches further out of control day by day, the Bush administration is still talking about even more irrational plans to light a bigger powder keg in Iran. As reported by Seymour Hersh, Cheney arrogantly stated just before the elections that even were the Democrats to take back the Congress they would find some way around any legislative restrictions to pursue their insanity option in Iran.

Well we DID take back Congress. And the first thing Congress must do to reassert adult control over the petulant White House is to cancel the 2001 AUMF. Not only was it used to justify preemptive imperialism in Iraq, it has been trotted out incessantly since to excuse the illegal domestic wiretaps, the program of torture and secret detentions in violation of the Geneva convention, and every other manner of defiance of Congress and the federal courts since. It was NOT an authorization to unilaterally violate the Constitution, but it has been taken as such, and accordingly it MUST go.

A simple majority of Congress is all that is required to restore the appropriate and just balance of powers, to at least require the executive to have the express consent of Congress before any ill-advised new military misadventure. Only withdrawing the AUMF can send a message that foreign policy run amok will no longer be the order of the day.

The one click form below will send your personal message to all your government representatives selected below, with the subject "Terminate the Authorization for Use of Military Force." At the same time you can send your personal comments only as a letter to the editor of your nearest local daily newspaper if you like, and be added to the Voters For Peace Pledge.

ACTION PAGE: http://www.peaceteam.net/aumf.php



Authors Website: http://www.peaceteam.net

[Peace Patriot]

1. This is the heart of the matter, for sure. And PeaceTeam walks right in

the door, all guns blazing (ahem...so to speak).

The. Balance. Of. Powers.

Go, Team!!!!

[Peace Patriot]

2. Here's my personal comment for the petition:

"The Bush regime has grossly abused the Authorization for Use of Military Force ("AUMF") granted to it by Congress in 2002. Our country has been dragged into a Vietnam-like catastrophe in Iraq, against the will of the American people, by use of this wrongful "authorization." Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been slaughtered in our name. The "AUMF" has also been used to justify the crimes of torture and pervasive domestic spying, as well as unwarranted government secrecy and lack of accountability. Congress should rescind the "AUMF," and restore the critically important "balance of powers" in our government. This presidency is the nightmare that the Founders of our country tried their best to prevent, by giving the power to declare war solely to Congress, as well as the pursestrings for war. If we are to continue as a democracy, Congress must reassert its Constitutional rights and duties immediately and in no uncertain terms, by terminating this president's excuse for conducting wars of choice and for grievously violating laws and treaties. Rescind the "AUMF" now!"

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I can't get the sign the petition page to work. When I hit "send your message(s)," nothing happens. Anybody else having this problem?