6-16-06, 9:23 am
Today (June 15) we learned that the death toll of US. servicepeople in Iraq has now reached 2,500. And today the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives used their control of the rules to block an open debate on alternatives to U.S. policy in Iraq. With a majority of the people of this country wishing to change course, the Republicans will only permit a pro-Bush resolution to be considered.
'The House leadership talks about democracy in Iraq, but won't allow it here,' commented Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator of UFPJ. 'Our young people keep dying in a senseless war, but our elected representatives are denying the public a chance to debate and change policy. The abuse of power is a travesty.'
Under rules imposed by the House leadership, only 10 hours of debate will be allowed and members will not be allowed to offer or vote on amendments. The ploy will only allow a rubber stamp of the Bush administration policy in Iraq.
Last week, a broad coalition of peace groups, led by United for Peace and Justice and its member groups, participated in a national call-in day to Congress. Activists across the country called their Representatives to support H.Res.543, which mandates an open debate on Iraq, under rules which would allow all members to offer and vote on alternatives to the failed Bush policy in Iraq.
'The House leadership has responded to this call for meaningful dialogue with a familiar political ploy: hastily write a resolution long on political spin, but short on solutions and offer it up for a debate and vote. They did it last winter in response to Rep. Murtha (D-PA), who called for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, and they are doing it again now. It is nothing more than an offensive publicity stunt,' said Cagan.
According to The Washington Post (6/9/06), Rep. Boehner, the House Majority Leader 'told reporters ... that the House will consider some kind of resolution ... supporting the mission in Iraq, setting up a vote aimed at embarrassing anti-war Democrats.'
The resolution relies on the Bush administration tactic of falsely equating the quagmire in Iraq with the greater 'war on terrorism,' emphasizing that terrorists 'have called Iraq the central front in their war.' It fails to say that the U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq are the primary reasons the country has become a breeding ground for terrorism.
