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June 15, 2006

Congress Debates Iraq!

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .

The majority in Congress has responded to the pressure for a debate on Iraq by setting up a fake debate!

The complicated procedural maneuvering to launch this fake debate (H. Res. 861) is going on right now. The resolution to be debated is worded so that anyone opposing it will appear to be hostile to god, country, our brave troops, babies, the flag, apple pie, motherhood, cute little puppy dogs, and everything else that is good and right.

Yes, we’re being cute, but only to make a point. H. Res. 861 is not a real policy debate. It is adolescent demogogery of the type that might go on in a High School Student Council. It is also a trap. Those who vote yes on this proposition will be said to support the current Iraq policy. Those who vote against it will be called anti-American.

H. Res. 861 calls for a debate on the proposition that the United States will win the war on terror. Who could be against that? And what’s the point of debating it? The point is that the supporters of the current Iraq policy are using the debate to link Iraq and the war on terror, and forestall any real debate on whether the Iraq policy fights terror or fosters it.

What we need instead is a real, adult, policy debate, such as that proposed by H. Res. 543. So we need to send more messages right now in support of H. Res. 543. But add a sentence to your message urging your Representative to avoid the trap set by H. Res. 861. Ask him or her to abstain on H. Res. 861, by voting present.

You can send your message here
:http://action.downsizedc.org/wyc.php?cid=48

The full text of H. Res. 861 is provided below my signature. Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

H. Res. 861

Providing for consideration of the resolution (H . Res . 861 ) declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the resolution (H . Res . 861 ) declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary. The resolution shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and preamble to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except: (1) ten hours of debate equally divided and controlled among the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on International Relations, the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services, the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; and (2) one motion to recommit which may not include instructions.

Sec. 2. During consideration of House Resolution 861 pursuant to this resolution, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the resolution to a time designated by the Speaker.

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