Friday , 15 March 2024

Veterans Day New Media Anti-War Rally

Please share this with anyone you know that is against war but supports the troops. This Veterans Day instead of going to parades, bbqs, and sticking yellow ribbons on your car join us by helping veterans through a simple statement to your gov’t representatives: Stop Unconstitutional War. #antiwarvet

 

On November 11th join us in a new media rally to all and any representatives that we do not support any unconstitutional wars. We invite veterans and non-veterans alike to join us.

According the War Powers Resolution (1973) 50 USC Chapter 33 only Congress, by 2/3 vote, can authorize a war. This resolution was meant to limit the war waging capabilities of the executive branch. It has been ignored by the executive branch (regardless of party) since 1975. War should only be waged (if at all) by 2/3 congressional approval. We must make sure the power of war stays in the legislative branch. Let’s send a clear message to anyone that will listen that it is unacceptable to go to war without Congress.

To join us there is no need not cancel your Veterans Day plans. You can call and send tweets while enjoying your day off. We will be pushing the hashtag #antiwarvet through social media for awareness of this cause. Twitter bombs have been used by the Obama campaign and Occupy activists by spamming hashtags and gaining trending awareness of the internet. Tweet, call, and email your representatives to stop wars without 2/3 congressional approval. You will use these communication methods to recite: Only Congress has the authority to wage war and other statements to that effect. We will be hosting a google+ hangout from noon to three Eastern Time as a forum for the most important veteran’s issue of all, ending unconstitutional war.

The War Powers Resolution was ignored by Reagan (El Salvador 1981) , Clinton (Kosovo 1999), and Obama (Lybia 2011). It can be argued that the entire Cold War and War on Terrorism disregard The War Powers Resolution because these military campaigns define an enemy ideology rather than a specific geographic enemy state. The power to wage war should never be shifted away from the legislative branch. Please join us!

Links to help you contact your representatives and join us 

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Members_of_Congress_who_Twitter

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter_bomb

How to hangout with us on google+

https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/6c3e8600f9d5d1a5b98702d9d5c6aaca463021bc?authuser=0&eid=114374731810420325611&hl=en-US

 

History of The War Powers Resolution from Library of Congress

 

1975: President Ford submitted a report to Congress as a result of his order to the U.S. armed forces to retake the Mayaguez, a U.S. merchant vessel which had been seized by Cambodia. This report is the only report to have cited Section 4(a)(1) (50 USC Sec. 1543(a)(1)) of the Resolution, triggering the 60-day time limit; however the operation was completed before 60 days had expired.

1981: President Reagan deployed a number of U.S. military advisors to El Salvador but submitted no report to Congress. Members of Congress filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to force compliance with the Resolution, but the U.S. District Court hearing the suit declined to become involved in what the judge saw as a political question, namely whether U.S. forces were indeed involved in hostilities.

1982-83: President Reagan sent a force of Marines to Lebanon to participate in peacekeeping efforts in that country; while he did submit three reports to Congress under the Resolution, he did not cite Section 4(a)(1), and thus did not trigger the 60 day time limit. Over time the Marines came under increasing enemy fire and there were calls for withdrawal of U.S. forces. Congress, as part of a compromise with the President, passed Public Law 98-119 in October 1983 authorizing U.S. troops to remain in Lebanon for 18 months. This resolution was signed by the President, and was the first time a President had signed legislation invoking the War Powers Resolution.

1990-91: President George H.W. Bush sent several reports to Congress regarding the buildup of forces in Operation Desert Shield. President Bush took the position that he did not need “authority” from Congress to carry out the United Nations resolutions which authorized member states to use “all necessary means” to eject Iraq from Kuwait; however he did ask for Congressional “support” of U.S. operations in the Persian Gulf. Congress passed, and the President signed, Public Law 102-1 authorizing the President to use force against Iraq if the President reported that diplomatic efforts had failed. President Bush did so report, and initiated Operation Desert Storm.

1993-99: President Clinton utilized United States armed forces in various operations, such as air strikes and the deployment of peacekeeping forces, in the former Yugoslavia, especially Bosnia and Kosovo. These operations were pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions and were conducted in conjunction with other member states of NATO. During this time the President made a number of reports to Congress “consistent with the War Powers Resolution” regarding the use of U.S. forces, but never cited Section 4(a)(1), and thus did not trigger the 60 day time limit. Opinion in Congress was divided and many legislative measures regarding the use of these forces were defeated without becoming law. Frustrated that Congress was unable to pass legislation challenging the President’s actions, Representative Tom Campbell and other Members of the House filed suit in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia against the President, charging that he had violated the War Powers Resolution, especially since 60 days had elapsed since the start of military operations in Kosovo. The President noted that he considered the War Powers Resolution constitutionally defective. The court ruled in favor of the President, holding that the Members lacked legal standing to bring the suit; this decision was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. See Campbell v. Clinton, 203 F.3d 19 (D.C. Cir. 2000). The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from this decision, in effect letting it stand.

2001: In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Congress passed Public Law 107-40 (PDF), authorizing President George W. Bush to “use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.” For the first time, “organizations and persons” are specified in a Congressional authorization to use force pursuant to the War Powers Resolution, rather than just nations.

2002: Congress authorized President George W. Bush to use force against Iraq, pursuant to the War Powers Resolution, in Public Law 107-243 (PDF).

http://www.loc.gov/law/help/war-powers.php

image: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1244833

About karololesiak

Karol Olesiak is a poet, writer, and activist. He is a graduate of Eugene Lang Liberal Arts College at The New School and an MFA from The University of San Francisco. As a Navy sailor, he commissioned the USS Ronald Reagan, navigated the straits of Magellan, and served in the Persian Gulf. In 2011 Karol headlined The Bowery Poetry Club in New York. That same year he became a staunch supporter of The Occupy Wall Street Movement and became entrenched in the Occupy network of affinity groups. Karol was one of the founders of www.soldiersforthecause.org. He became an antiwar activist in 2010 and has written many political essays. He has been translated into Spanish. Karol's poetry has been incorporated into cinematography and sound art.

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