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Departments National Issues Who SHOULD Decide About War? Who actually does: the media, weapons companies, the permanent government, presidents (including simply by decreeing a "war on terror", through misspending, lying, simply acting, signing treaties), political parties, culture (the one Biden lives in, in which Israel's sovereign right to attack Iran is uncontroversial), soldiers who obey illegal orders and the culture that leads kids to that place. Who should decide: we the people of the world, through democratically created and enforced international and national and state laws. This is complicated by another question: what does the law say? But we may give too much importance to that. Laws violated for decades can be as hard to enforce as laws not written yet. But getting old laws enforced and new laws created has to be part of our strategy. Which is why I wonder about proposing public referenda on wars. I'm not opposed, but undecided. With the communications system and government we have now, the public might have voted to attack Iraq in 2003. However, if required to vote again each year, the war might have lasted only one year instead of six and counting. But the initial invasion would still have been illegal, immoral, and catastrophic. With a better communications system and election finance system and party system and voting system and congressional checks on presidential power -- in other words with everything we'd need in order to control Congress and create public referenda on wars or anything else -- we might see wars blocked by referenda. But if we're making exceptions for defensive (legal) wars, then why vote the illegal ones up or down, why not (given our hypothetical ability to control Congress) deter war criminals through impeachments, including the impeachment of attorneys general who refuse to prosecute them? And why weaken the already unconstitutionally weak War Powers Act in the manner proposed this morning by Morton Halperin and taken from "Deciding to Use Force Abroad" by the Constitution Project, which effectively would limit Congress to deciding on whether or not to fight each aggressive war? Why not ban all aggressive wars by enforcing the laws that already do that? Or why not leave Congress the undiluted power to decide on all wars, as spelled out in the Constitution? I'm just asking. If you have to have a war powers act, why not at least limit the exceptions to congressional approval to cases of immediate defense of the United States? And then, what other wars should there be? So, how DO we the people get the power to decide about war? Through education. Through counter-recruitment including countering mercenary recruitment. Through systemic reforms (including restoring all but the 3rd amendment -- the one still left standing; and think about why that is). By forcing our representatives in the House to reclaim and accept power on our behalf that they do not want. By forcing them to use the power of the purse. By forcing them to use the powers of impeachment and inherent contempt. (Barbara Lee was right on Thursday to introduce a bill to block funding an escalation, but so was John McCain the same day to advocate Congress bringing a general in for questioning. We need testimony from current war makers and from recent criminals.) By holding war criminals accountable through national, state, local, civil, foreign, or international suits. By thinking of 3 branches rather than 2 parties. People who wanted Congress to end Bush's wars want it to leave Obama alone. By exposing the lies that Congress debated 7 years ago this week. By restoring to Congress the power to make laws, wars, treaties, appointments, and spend all public money. By dismantling the empire of bases and the military industrial media CIA/DIA complex (including the banning of any US military presence in foreign nations). By amending the war powers act to disallow war without Congress, to require annual reauthorization, and to make violations impeachable offenses and felonies. And not to further weaken it by giving Congress the role of consultants. By instituting a fair draft in time of war. By making war profiteering a major felony and banning the ownership of war companies by elected officials. By banning the use of mercenaries. By passing Rep. Betty McCollum's ACORN Act (Against Corporations Organizing to Rip-Off the Nation). By passing Rep. Jim McGovern's bill to require an exit strategy for Afghanistan. By banning war propaganda (including a lot of recruitment ads and the Army Experience Center). By requiring that family members of presidents and congress members who vote for wars participate. By limiting to 25% the portion of the public budget that can go to the military and requiring a balanced budget. And by creating a separate line on income tax forms for military and war costs. By requiring free comprehensive healthcare and education be provided to all military veterans. By protesting at the White House on Monday, October 5th, along with http://www.nogoodwar.org By working toward the vision Ben Manski presented today at http://www.whodecidesaboutwar.org of militias as opposed to standing armies, militias being volunteer forces that tend to resist foreign wars of aggression. By working toward the similar vision John Judge presented today of a democratic military without a judicial system separate from the civilian, with the freedom of soldiers to decline participation in wars, and with the right to unionize. By developing, as discussed today at http://www.whodecidesaboutwar.org a legal structure for addressing impending acts of genocide around the world without permitting or facilitating wars of aggression. -- David Swanson is the author of the new book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union" by Seven Stories Press. You can order it and find out when tour will be in your town: A href=http://davidswanson.org/book After Downing Street |
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Recent National Issues Articles McCain could have meant Less War Healthcare mandate vs. the Constitution A healthy economy Apostle of our inner genius Wars or jobs: decide now Are Americans Too Broken for the Truth to Set Us Free? The school-to-prison pipeline Kucinich circulating privileged resolutions to end wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan National security state still killing John F Kennedy Richard Viguerie calls GOP litmus tests "Well intentioned," but urges replacement of Republican establishment leaders Craziest Obavietghanistan speech moments New civil resistance coalition formed to end the war Anti-Americans Why can't we do to DC what we did to Seattle? They should get a union KSM and MSM The two percent robustness Between hate speech and adoration Pelosi arrested us for asking for healthcare Over 2,200 veterans died in 2008 due to lack of health insurance Isolated incident Come together right now Joel Peresman of the Rock Hall Foundation says the time has come today Between hate speech and adoration Preview of Ramzy Baroud's 'My Father was a Freedom Fighter' Why I am risking arrest for Medicare for all Single-eye vision Did Obama/McCain choice matter? No one else will stop the killing -- Veteran's group to members: Multiply resistance by any peaceful means available Accepting the prize Glen Ford speaks in Columbus Heavy Traffic Who SHOULD Decide About War? Starting Another Year of War in Afghanistan Congress must pass single-payer health care now! U.S. Drug War Priorities in Need of Re-Evaluation Senator Kennedy visits then Cleveland City Councilman Govt-funded reporter urged lynching of Black Congresswoman HEALTH CARE WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE Oligarchy rules the health care debate Six months of immunity Grand theft auto: how Stevie the Rat bankrupted GM The perfect storm The Joint Public-Option Single-Payer United Front Breaking sarcasm: Holder Joins Conyers in Demanding Action If media were any good I've Seen 1,200 Torture Photos California should pay its people in pot How to trap a torture judge A Campaign Proposal for Progressives* Two Ways to Pay As You Go Declaration of Indictment Remove the filibuster from the Senate rules The Emperor's seven signing statements Letter to Obama from a dying friend Honor our hemp-raising patriot heroes Breaking: Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously finds Franken winner Why demand to prosecute torture will grow The Iron Triangle The rise of single-payer health care Trading press events for votes: What should press do? U.S. government threatens to prosecute waterboarding Gutting the health care plan: the scorpion and the Congress Darth Vader Cheney and the next attack Justice for the privileged The Omnibus CYA Act of 2009 We don't need the General Motors Corporation New report casts exclusion of single payer option as a question of democracy and human rights Peace rising Democratic Socialists? Dems Not Half That Good Give workers what they need! Priorities Never Again George & the Water Board 76 members of Congress oppose staying in Afghanistan forever Holder's plans as clear as Gonzales' memory Why isn't Obama turning to the Credit Unions? Connell's sister now doubts plane crash was accident Renters caught in squeeze face eviction Interview with Dr. Margaret Flowers, arrested Tuesday on Capitol Hill, part two Why we risked arrest for single-payer health care Not outraged about torture? Take your torture photos to church day The hounds of heaven Pay to play politics is unacceptable for health care reform It's national Nancy Off the Table Day President Obama's war budget: analyzing the numbers Give everyone healthcare by shutting down insurance companies Torture and treason The wrong torture question The prosecution of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney The prosecution of torturers Rule of law vetoed by President Obama Take heart and have courage Karl Rove still not arrested Hard times for African-American workers Forced patriotism Geo-insanity's latest mutation Changing the rules of the blame game War casualties at home Capitalism's self-inflicted apocalypse MoveOn is not new to supporting war Is this the best we can do? Happy Birthday, Cesar Chavez! Capitalist Incarnate: My interview with a vampire Baseball: More than a man's game Let's truly honor Cesar Chavez A modest proposal Breaking: Peace activists arrested at Pentagon Government stands in the way of financial security of small farmers: NAIS program is source of deep concern A New Deal for American Workers Bill Moyers Journal: Interview with Simon Johnson Join a union, get fired Oregon Plumbers Local Endorses HR 676 Appoint a special prosecutor Kids for cash Washington & Lafayette get stoned & talk marriage An RX for nurses -- and us, too Jobs may decline, unions won't Cross of irony Coffee entrepreneur brewing trouble for George W. Bush Perriello, peace and justice What President Obama should say Truth and healing The problem with truth, reconciliation, and commissions Sit down! Sit down! Abandoning torture, but what about war? ... No intelligent life down here Keeping the Bush era viable Bolsheviks in Seattle? New letter from Leonard Peltier: A hero’s welcome Holding Rove in inherent contempt Missing the train on the recovery package President Obama must free Leonard Peltier Dangerous executive orders Childish things A New Day The shirt off my mother's back Not to remain silent Be the peace For the health of all: Camp Hope Bill Richardson - Kissinger-American The future of civilization Camp hope holds Obama to "Change" pledge Read National Issues Articles by Year: |
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