General Discussion

marmar

(77,064 posts) Sat Oct 10, 2015, 09:12 AM Oct 2015

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee: 14 Years, 2,350 Lives, Billions of Dollars & No End in Sight

Oct. 7

“Today marks the 14th anniversary of the Afghanistan War – our nation’s longest war – and sadly, there seems to be no end in sight. Despite a war-weary public, calls continue to keep more U.S. troops in Afghanistan for many more years.

This war has already cost our nation too much. It has sacrificed the lives of 2,350 of our brave servicemen and women, including six in the first seven days of this month. Additionally, this war has taken the lives of thousands of Afghans and servicemen and women from our coalition and NATO partners.

Similarly, this war’s price tag, totaling more than $715 billion, continues to undermine our national security and prevents investments in important domestic priorities. In fact, every hour this war costs taxpayers $4 million.

In 2001, I opposed the authorization for this war because it empowered any President to wage endless war without the Congressional oversight mandated by the Constitution. Fourteen years into this war, this endless war continues and Congress continues to abdicate its Constitutional responsibility.

Since then, I have been working with my colleagues from both parties to pass H.R. 1303, which would repeal the limitless Authorization for Military Force (AUMF).

It is past time to end this costly and bloody war and restore Congress’s constitutional duty to debate matters of war and peace.”

https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/14-years-2350-lives-billions-of-dollars-no-end-in-sight

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee: 14 Years, 2,350 Lives, Billions of Dollars & No End in Sight (Original Post) marmar Oct 2015 OP

What is she talking about? Perpetual war is not a quagmire, it was the plan! Mission unaccomplished! Fred Sanders Oct 2015 #1

+1,000 malaise Oct 2015 #3

Any candidate who voted to authorize Bush and Cheney to go to war should be disqualified. Scuba Oct 2015 #10

You, and you are not alone, seem to forget how blood thirsty the American people were then, but I Fred Sanders Oct 2015 #11

I remember millions of Americans protesting against the war. Only fools fell for the fear tactics. Scuba Oct 2015 #12

One can make an argument sulphurdunn Oct 2015 #16

This government has no problem wasting $715 billion on Afghanistan Rosa Luxemburg Oct 2015 #2

Extreme spending in defense of hegemony is no waste! Human101948 Oct 2015 #4

Of course! Rosa Luxemburg Oct 2015 #6

Good god I've learned to hate that fucking song... Wounded Bear Oct 2015 #9

THIS is who I want as Sanders' V.P. choice. Le Taz Hot Oct 2015 #5

Me too! nt Zorra Oct 2015 #8

She's great, but does she help him win? thesquanderer Oct 2015 #13

SOLID progressive, West Coast, Le Taz Hot Oct 2015 #15

she is supporting Hillary for president JI7 Oct 2015 #18

Fourteen years. Four million dollars every hour abelenkpe Oct 2015 #7

Americans. Always counting their own deaths with no regard for the lives they have taken. CBGLuthier Oct 2015 #14

thank you, rep. lee niyad Oct 2015 #17

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)

1. What is she talking about? Perpetual war is not a quagmire, it was the plan! Mission unaccomplished!

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 09:34 AM

Oct 2015

Look at how Russia is fucking things up by actually attempting to end perpetual war in Syria....of course the Pentagon, fresh off slaughtering dozens by destroying a hospital on purpose, objects mightily...without perpetual war where would America be, what would they do with that massive military?

There is another way, as the Nobel Peace Prize awarded just now proves, which is why that is also being ignored in America.

malaise

(268,844 posts)

3. +1,000

Reply to Fred Sanders (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 09:40 AM

Oct 2015

Wish I could rec

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

10. Any candidate who voted to authorize Bush and Cheney to go to war should be disqualified.

Reply to Fred Sanders (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:36 AM

Oct 2015

One would have to have been either stupid or complicit to vote 'yes' on the IWR.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)

11. You, and you are not alone, seem to forget how blood thirsty the American people were then, but I

Reply to Scuba (Reply #10)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:40 AM

Oct 2015

could say the same about Sanders tepid support and votes for and against gun control....in the past many things can be Massaged as necessary if there is no context given using the Way Back Time Machine.

Why did you forget to mention how Clinton has sincerely stated she regrets thst vote? Using the same Way Back Time Machine, has Sanders expressed the same regret about voting against the Brady bill, for example? Or support for making gun manufacturers immune from civil suit?

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

12. I remember millions of Americans protesting against the war. Only fools fell for the fear tactics.

Reply to Fred Sanders (Reply #11)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:41 AM

Oct 2015

Is Hillary a fool? Or was she complicit?

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)

16. One can make an argument

Reply to Fred Sanders (Reply #11)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 11:30 AM

Oct 2015

for Sander's tepid support of gun control. Not even her tepid apology justifies redemption of HRC for her support of the Iraq War.

Rosa Luxemburg

(28,627 posts)

2. This government has no problem wasting $715 billion on Afghanistan

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 09:35 AM

Oct 2015

but when it comes to repairing school roofs or expanding social security there is no money.

Human101948

(3,457 posts)

4. Extreme spending in defense of hegemony is no waste!

Reply to Rosa Luxemburg (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 09:46 AM

Oct 2015

We must dominate the globe and contain our potential rivals! We must outspend them ten to one to ensure that they can't fight back while protecting the corporations that are the people of the USA!

If we have to starve and go homeless who cares as long as we stomp them into submission!

Rosa Luxemburg

(28,627 posts)

6. Of course!

Reply to Human101948 (Reply #4)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 09:48 AM

Oct 2015

Wounded Bear

(58,618 posts)

9. Good god I've learned to hate that fucking song...

Reply to Human101948 (Reply #4)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:31 AM

Oct 2015

such jingoistic bullshit.

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)

5. THIS is who I want as Sanders' V.P. choice.

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 09:47 AM

Oct 2015

Been pushing for her all over the internetz since he announced.

Zorra

(27,670 posts)

8. Me too! nt

Reply to Le Taz Hot (Reply #5)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:30 AM

Oct 2015

thesquanderer

(11,982 posts)

13. She's great, but does she help him win?

Reply to Le Taz Hot (Reply #5)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:45 AM

Oct 2015

I'm not sure it is helpful for him to select someone even further to the left on military action.

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)

15. SOLID progressive, West Coast,

Reply to thesquanderer (Reply #13)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:50 AM

Oct 2015

female, African-American. What's not to love?

JI7

(89,244 posts)

18. she is supporting Hillary for president

Reply to Le Taz Hot (Reply #5)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 02:14 PM

Oct 2015

abelenkpe

(9,933 posts)

7. Fourteen years. Four million dollars every hour

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:27 AM

Oct 2015

No end in sight.

But we can't afford to properly fund public schools, can't afford to repair our decaying infrastructure, can't provide healthcare for all. Those demanding cuts to food stamps, planned parenthood, any social program without seriously considering ending this wasteful war are shameful.

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)

14. Americans. Always counting their own deaths with no regard for the lives they have taken.

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 10:48 AM

Oct 2015

Every fucking war the US has been involved in since Korea more of the poor bastards we called the enemy and more of their civilians were killed than Americans but they moan and cry and wail about their losses with so little regard for their victims.

The US is really an evil nation.

niyad

(113,205 posts)

17. thank you, rep. lee

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2015, 02:12 PM

Oct 2015

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