In the next two days, the House of Representatives will be voting on the 2012 Defense Authorization bill. United for Peace and Justice is banding together with more than 20 national groups for a call-in today Tuesday May 24 demanding an end to the war in Afghanistan. The Friends Committee on National Legislation is providing all groups with a toll-free number 1-888-231-9276.
Please call today!
Tell your member of Congress “It is time we brought our troops home from Afghanistan and stopped wasting the billions we urgently need for domestic programs on a senseless war. The last thing Congress should be doing is authorizing endless war, but that’s exactly what the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act does. ”
Ask your representative to support amendments, which 1/ restrict funding to be used only for the safe and orderly withdrawal of all US troops and contractors from Afghanistan (Lee) or 2/ which require the President to submit a plan and date for ending the U.S. war (McGovern-Jones) and 3/ which strike out language that effectively expands the 2001 Authorization of the Use of Military Force.
Toll-free number 1-888-231-9276. If line is busy, use Congressional switchboard 202 224-3121.
Background: Across the United States vital domestic programs are being slashed as federal dollars dry up. Meanwhile the killing of bin Laden in Pakistan highlights once again the irrelevance of the war in Afghanistan. It’s long past time to stop wasting lives and money and to bring this conflict to an end.
Unfortunately, the Congress remains on automatic pilot for war. Last week the House Armed Services Committee by a vote of 60-1 passed a FY 2012 Defense Authorization bill, which includes another $553 billion in defense spending, plus $118 billion to pay for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Tucked away in section 1034, is an expanded authorization for the use of force, which allows the President to respond to threats from Al Qaeda, the Taliban and “associated forces.” This new innocuous-sounding phrase opens the door for an administration to attack anywhere without Congressional consent, claiming that it is pursuing “associated groups.”