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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWaPost: Congress nearing plan to approve training and equipping Syrian rebels
Are you all paying attention to this shit?
Congress is moving quickly this week to approve President Obamas plans to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels but also ensure that Capitol Hill is kept informed of plans to recruit, vet and train those forces.
Under plans formulated in recent days by House Republicans, Congress would authorize the Pentagon to begin operations to counter the rise of the Islamic State terror group in the coming days, and likely set up time for a more robust debate on broader military action in Iraq and Syria later this fall after the midterm elections.
The process is expected to begin with the House voting to grant Obama the authority to begin training Syrian rebels and Iraqi military forces as part of an amendment to a larger measure that funds federal agencies and is expected to pass after debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, aides said. Once the House votes, the Senate would take up the issue by next week before adjourning for the elections.
<snip>
Aides to top Senate Democrats did not raise any concerns Monday as plans came together in the House, though Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) planned to take the temperature of his colleagues Monday night on the floor and on Tuesday during a weekly caucus luncheon, aides said.
I, for one, strenuously object! And I have sent emails to my two Senators and my Representative in the House to express that objection. This is what I sent:
I'm a lifelong Democrat. But I absolutely can NOT support Presiden Obama's plan to send more weapons and funding to the so-called "moderate" Syrian rebels.
This is just a backdoor to regime change - and when have ANY of the U.S. grand plans for regime change in the Middle East ever panned out to be anything more than a recipe for more bloodshed and loss of life and increase in Islamic fundamentalist backlash?
I don't believe for a minute that we can know who are the "moderate" rebels in Syria, and who are the pals of the Islamic State militants. Obama's request for more money and weapons to be poured down the chaotic hellhole that is the Middle East is just plain idiotic.
Haven't we had enough of quagmires in the past 60+ years since Vietnam? No more regime change! No more siphoning our treasure to prop up impossible goals in the Middle East! Please, please, please vote NO to funding this Syria action!
If you are inclined to write to your Representative and Senators, here are some handy links:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC
If you're all for this vote, fine. But if, like me, you are quite horrified by this authorization, please take a few minutes and let your Senators and Representative know. Even if they are Republicans - maybe even especially if they are Republicans.
Let's stop this runaway train on the way to the neocon dream of more regime change!
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)in the ME...and there are plenty of reasons. Seems Obama hasn't discovered a meaningful one. The people he strives to save, will be killing the other side as soon as they are saved. Then we'll get to help the other side...ad millennial nauseum.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)I heartily wish we would just butt out of Middle East and let them figure it for themselves.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)We didn't approve of this before, we don't approve now and we won't in the future.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)But I guess without "Palin" in the subject line, this thread was doomed to obscurity.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)As this is a partisan board it's difficult for DUers to go against the official Dem policy, especially in the run up to the '14 elections.
But I think what's happening in the world is more important than partisan politics.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)doesn't mean we have to go along with it. Since it's being debated in Congress, we ought to weigh in.
nationalize the fed
(2,169 posts)it's a disgrace. A TOTAL DISGRACE.
Thanks for the post. I feel strongly about it, and will do as you suggest.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)there's no cleavage to leer at?
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Sorry to be cynical. Hopefully your OP will nudge some who have Reps who listen to them instead of sending a Form Letter in reply usually with some blather having nothing to do with the subject. And, many of us have only Repub Reps..or Dino Dems and they could care less getting a letter or e-mail from anyone who isn't a big donor with influence.
Few here care about "endless war," these days because it's our Democratic War now. It's official policy for both parties.
I posted this on DU on Sunday. Even kicked it a few times. Five Recs and one reply. No interest here. You've been here long enough to know there's been a huge change since the Bush years. Doesn't mean I will stop posting about war and other issues where our Party has seemingly gone Repub Pro-Business/War because I'm a lifelong Democrat and spent time working with the Party in my state during the Bush years where we made a difference. I was there at the huge protest in my state before the Iraq Invasion and participated in vigils and small demonstrations for months after the Invasion. Wrote letters, e-mails, donated to Act Blue Candidates who were against the war...all of that.
There's nothing against the Democratic Party in this post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025535674
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)It's not just because we have a Democrat in the White House, it's also because we all saw how little difference all the marching against the Iraq War made in 2003.
That's why I prefer to urge people to at least contact their Representatives before a vote takes place. It may do no more good than marching did, but at least it's something anyone can do right from home, right now.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Online trying to correct the Diebold Corrupted Voting Systems and Others that allowed Florida Stolen Election.
When "9/11" happened and less than a year later Bush II was ready to invade Iraq on what was revealed to be Fake/False/Trumped Up Information......WE WENT TO THE STREETS.
We will go to it AGAIN....
That's My View...which does seem to be different from your memory of the events here on DU. But, then...DU has always had differing factions. Perhaps you weren't in the group that was one I was involved with that that time. But.....Surely you REMEMBER ?
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)about the protests - even though hundreds of thousands of Americans were in the streets - not to mention all the millions in other countries.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)accepting what they see before their eyes......isn't the reality.
There are People in the Streets Across the World. There are going to be "People in the Streets" this coming Weekend and Beyond.
Just because CNN/MSNBC/FAUX News doesn't Report...doesn't mean Movements Die. They Build because people started to Tune Out of MSM awhile back (people who were serious). It's a Meme to Discourage that "Protests Occur but No Media Reports" means a Movement is Dead.
When Movements go Underground is when you know there's "trouble brewing." If the PTB don't listen the First Time....then alternative methods arise. And, these aren't the old days.
We Shall See. Gonna be a Long Time Coming, though....we not all live to see it but the seeds were planted in the 60's early 70's and the "Green Shoots" took awhile but the Plants are Growing.
Yeah...I know. I tend to do hyperbole...but, it's truly what I believe at this point in my life having lived through Vietnam and forward........
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Peace.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)And I will....
and Regards and Peace to You! You've done your share also!
We All do our Bits and Pieces....
spanone
(135,841 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)mindless opposition to everything Obama proposes.
C'mon, Repubs, why stop being obstructionist now?
G_j
(40,367 posts)I am going to borrow some of your letter. Thanks
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)I wish I had managed to be more articulate - I sort of just blurted it out in a rush.
Anyway, thanks, G_j!
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)and they had the financial committee discuss it yesterday.
I, for one, am happy that Congress is going to discuss/debate Obama's strategy. Am hoping that since no one really knows what to do, more nonpartisan opinions will come out of it.
Going into it with their minds already made up will not be productive. They need to talk and they need to listen. I will have it on most of the day, on CSpan.
Something has to be done, but what I don't know.....
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)I'd really like to know if there any Congress Critters showing evidence of balking. Is that too much to hope?
As for "something must be done" - personally, what I think *must* be done, is to pull the hell out the Middle East altogether with nice farewell address that says, "Your problem guys, you figure it out." I guess I can go along with helping Iraq - and Iraq ONLY! - since we fucked that country up so badly. But that's it.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)She ran for President the same year that Dean and Kerry, Edwards, Kucinich, Dodd, and I forget who else. I remember her in the debate on TV with 8 other candidates.
What she said today is that the whole debate is all wrong. Congress should be discussing, debating and voting on their authorization for Obama to go war, not for an indefinite training of Syrians, Kurds, Iraqis, because it was too much like Bush's war - Congress had NO control over where or what they did and could not stop it....and air strikes are war...
One fella, a Dem, said that the training we give to some group he mentioned would not go to fight ISIS, but rather to fight Assad, who is now our (?) friend (?) If it wasn't so tragic it would be comic. Maybe the guy was from Minnesota, can't remember.
Cali got into this a bit the other day when she said the congress should have that responsibility, and said about the same thing in different words. Cali felt that Obama was taking responsibility away from the Congress, but Lee says it like the Congress should vote to give the president authorization for war and OVERSEE it...not agree to measures already decided. She was very critical of the proceedings, even tho she said that up till now, she approved the measures to prevent genocide, starvation, and protection of American citizens in Iraq.
Some Reps and Dems totally opposed voting for the resolution, and some were for. It was refreshing not to see them in lockstep like the tea party has had them doing.
I'd like to see Biden as president and Barbara Lee maybe as VP.... but if this training of the locals doesn't go well, Biden could kiss the presidency goodbye. Warren not committed yet..
That woman is a joy and very very smart....
G_j
(40,367 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Enough of this open-ended "authorization for war" crap.
Thanks again!
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back.
The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion says, "Because if I do, I will die too."
The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,
the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown,but has just enough time to gasp "Why?"
Replies the scorpion: "Its my nature..."
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)trained the Iraqi forces. Saddam's army was better trained.
Shameful attempt to get in the backdoor to attack Syria no matter how they do it, no matter who they have to go to bed with.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Do they carry identification cards? Have a secret handshake? Know how to pronounce "Derek Jeter"? Hum the opening bars of "Stairway to Heaven"? I am unpersuaded that pumping more munitions into an already violent mess is the way to peace.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)"Oh yes! We are "moderates"! (*snicker*) Give us your nice fancy weapons!"
Sheesh! How stupid can we get?
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Does he really believe the bullshit he's been saying or does he think this will get Democrats out to vote in the midterms?
Or do the republicans have pictures of him with a goat?
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)to Mr. Nobel Peace Prize.
Did he decide that the only way he could get Republicans to love him was to become a War President?
Has he been a closet neocon all along, and was just waiting 'til his second term to unleash his inner war dogs?
Does he have delusions of grandeur that lead him to believe that his legacy will be as the President who finally cleaned up the Middle East?
Does the DOD so have his balls in a vise that he has to grant them anything they wish?
Why an otherwise intelligent-seeming person would want to embark upon a folly of such gigantic proportions is just beyond my ken.
KG
(28,751 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)It is as far from being a good idea as the Earth is from Aldebaran.
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)To beg them not to vote for this.
It's not too late. They're still debating authorizing the money and weapons for the "moderate" Syrian rebels.
eShirl
(18,494 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Maybe the 21st Century could be known as when we traded the handbasket for a speeding train.
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)but wont spend money to train Americans for jobs? OK I get it. Fuck us right.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)The rest of us? Not so much...
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Hollywood Type production like a trailer and saying "Coming Soon."
Geeze .......can they get more OBVIOUS?