Kucinich on Competing Libya Resolutions: Vote to Withdraw Forces

Here's what Congress members should back:

Ten Cosponsors for Kucinich-Amash Libya Defund Amendment

Washington D.C. (June 22, 2011) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who has led House opposition to the war in Libya, and Michigan Republican Justin Amash who has also been a vocal opponent to the war, are officially introducing an amendment to the FY 2012 Defense Appropriations bill to cut off funds for the war in Libya.

Other cosponsors include Congresspersons Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA) Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Walter Jones (R-NC), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Peter Stark (D-CA) and Ron Paul (R-TX).

“The war in Libya is illegal, unconstitutional and unwarranted. It is critical that Congress move forward to exercise its power of the purse and cut off funds for the war,” said Kucinich.

Prior to consideration of HR 1540, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 in May, 2011, Kucinich offered an amendment to end the war, but it was blocked from floor consideration. Since then, appropriations bills have been thus far considered under a rule that allows all amendments.

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The following is a dangerous position taken by Congressman Kucinich in that, by choosing the lesser of two evils, he nonetheless would help Congress go on record as agreeing that certain military actions are not "hostilities" or subject to Congressional authorization. In contrast, the worse of the two evils, the resolution authorizing the war, fails to establish any precedents other than the usual one of an irrelevant Congress pretending to matter and endorsing crimes after the fact.

Washington D.C. (June 22, 2011) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who has led House opposition to the war in Libya, is today urging Members of Congress to support a resolution modeled from a Kucinich resolution to end the war in Libya. He sent the following letter to colleagues:

June 22, 2011

Dear Colleague:

This week, pursuant to resolutions crafted by Speaker Boehner, you will be given two options on Libya. One would continue the war in Libya. The other would withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities.

The first resolution would authorize the war to continue for at least another year, at a potential cost of billions.

The second resolution is not perfect, but represents our best chance of creating conditions that lead to the end of the war. While it is modeled after my resolution calling for full withdrawal, it allows the United States to provide “non-kinetic” intelligence and operational support for NATO, while making it clear that the United States will not take over the war as European support continues to diminish.

The second resolution will not end the war immediately, but it will prohibit the Administration from expanding U.S. involvement in the war.

Other nations lack the United States’ capabilities to continue the war. Other nations are losing support for the war from their public. The withdrawal resolution would prevent this Administration from causing the U.S. to take over the war in Libya as other nations step back.

I urge you to vote NO on the resolution which authorizes the war in Libya and continues the war for another year. I urge you to vote YES on the resolution which orders the withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Libya. This is a defining moment. Let us use our constitutional authority to bring an end to a war.

Sincerely,

Dennis J. Kucinich

Member of Congress

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