US Senator Rand Paul wants to end the authorization used for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (Barack used it for seven wars). Senator John McCain didn't even want it debated. Paul staged a protest yesterday and Tweeted:
Tonight, the Senate is attempting to move forward with the Defense Bill. I am seeking an amendment to end the AUMF in Afghanistan and Iraq.
I will object to all procedural motions and amendments unless and until my amendment is made in order and we vote on these wars
An attempt was made to run the clock on the bill overnight. I objected and am now sitting on the floor of the Senate to stop that
Tonight I sit silently to protest the thousands of American soldiers who have died over the past decade in these wars.
We have been there for 16 years. It is time for them to end. It is time for Congress to vote on whether or not they should end.
The Senate is now in a quorum call, unable to act because of my protest. This is why I sit on the floor, in silent protest.
I will continue this protest and these objections for as long as needed to ensure Congress do its duty, and vote on ending these wars.
I sit for our soldiers young and brave. Sent to fight in distant lands in our forgotten, forever war
Hypocrites, they pretend concern over our constitutional duty to declare war and then block any vote on ending any of our 7 current wars
I sit nearly alone, but that's fine. I'll fight by myself if need be. This is too important
Where is the anti-war left demanding the wars end? Where is the constitional conservative right demanding Congress reclaim its war powers?
The Senate attempted to shorten debate & move forward without consideration & debate on my amendment to end our AUMF in Afghanistan and Iraq
Senate leaders have agreed not to try to end debate early, and have agreed to four hours of debate under my control to debate these wars.
I will continue to fight, and if necessary, object, to continue this debate , secure a vote and force Congress to do its duty.
In a column at RARE on Monday, Paul explained:
As Congress takes up the 2018 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA), I will insist it vote on my amendment to
sunset the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force.
Why?
Because these authorizations to use military force are
inappropriately being used to justify American warfare in 7 different
countries. Sunsetting both AUMFs will force a debate on whether we
continue the Afghanistan war, the Libya war, the Yemen war, the Syria
war, and other interventions.
Our military trains our soldiers to be focused and
disciplined, yet the politicians who send them to fight have for years
ignored those traits when developing our foreign policy.
In Iraq, the war continues.
The world's largest cemetery is Wadi Al-Salaam in Iraq. #NeverForget the millions of Iraqis killed that had nothing to do with #September11!
Why?
No one asks.
We're supposed to tremble at the thought of the Islamic State and that's supposed to stop any questions that might come up. Stop and silence.
ISIS is not the threat to the US that al Qaeda was but it's used in the same way al Qaeda was the decade prior.
The media sells fear and we're not supposed to notice that all these years of war did not make anyone safer or that it has probably made everyone less safe.
Fear, fear, be scared.
Cower.
That is the message.
PRESS TV notes:
Iraq’s official High Commission for Human Rights has urged the Iraqi government to sue a US-led coalition operating in the Arab country over the death of civilians in the northern city of Mosul.
Wahda al-Jumaili, a member of the parliament-affiliated commission, said US-led airstrikes had destroyed “numerous buildings in western Mosul — residential and commercial,” and that “nearly 2,000 bodies” had been recovered from under the rubble.
MIDDLE EAST MONITOR adds, "The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights yesterday filed a lawsuit against the US-led international coalition for killing more than 2,000 civilians in the northern city of Mosul."
In other news, REUTERS reports, "The Iraqi parliament voted on Tuesday to oppose an independence referendum planned by Iraqi Kurdish leaders for later this month prompting a walkout by Kurdish lawmakers."
The Kurds are exercising their constitutional right.
And the way that works out?
Protests votes in Parliament.
Wow, that's some 'democracy' the US built/gave/imposed on Iraq.
KRG President Massoud Barzani Tweeted the following Sunday:
this democratic #KurdistanReferandum is in no way meant to create any hostilities towards any components of Iraq
http://www.presidency.krd/english/articledisplay.aspx?id=4CPNfZBE4Cs= …
The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley, PACIFICA EVENING NEWS, BLACK AGENDA REPORT and Tavis Smiley -- updated:
Way back machine?
10 hours ago
Disgusting Martha Plimpton
10 hours ago
The real leader
11 hours ago
We need Medicare for all
11 hours ago
Hillary's latest problems
12 hours ago
Great TV shows
12 hours ago
Blues Quintet Southern Avenue
13 hours ago
Never forget the fallen
13 hours ago
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