Congress has the power to end the Afghanistan war with a majority vote of both houses.   The House is expected to vote Wednesday on a bill requiring all U.S. armed forces to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

 

 

The bill, introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, asserts the authority given to Congress under the War Powers Act. If passed, the bill would require all U.S. armed forces to be withdrawn from Afghanistan in 30 days, or in any case by December 2010 if the President certifies they cannot be safely withdrawn that fast.   Rep. Michael Capuano is the only Massachusetts Rep. among the 16 Members of Congress co-sponsoring the bill.

 

The bill is expected to result in 3 hours of debate on the floor of the House.   "We haven't had a real debate," Kucinich said in explaining why he was pushing the resolution. "We want to light the fire of the American peace movement." Even if this resolution does not pass, a large number of "Yes" votes would send a strong message to the White House that the Administration needs a real and rapid "exit strategy."

 

Contact your Member of Congress to support H. Con. Res. 248, and ask your friends to do the same.     202-224-3121

 

2009 was the bloodiest year for U.S. combat deaths and Afghan civilian casualties.   There can be no military solution in Afghanistan.  Yet tens of thousands of troops are on their way to Afghanistan this spring as part of the president's misguided escalation.  

 

Now, the Pentagon is preparing to push a $33 billion supplemental funding request through Congress starting in April, while at home millions of people have no jobs, no health care, many are facing foreclosures, and climate change rages out of control. 

 

Join UJP, Veterans for Peace, and Progressive Democrats of America in a Brown Bag Lunch Vigil at Senator Kerry's office in downtown Boston at noon on March 17, and the third Wednesday of every month, to say "Healthcare, Not Warfare!"

 

Call your member of Congress today to say it's time to end the war and support Rep. Kucinich's resolution.   Not one more death, not one more dollar for war!   Congressional Switchboard:  202-224-3121