"Sadly I do not believe the current Congress will ever vote anything remotely resembling a cut-off of funds or a dramatic change in policy for the Iraq War. The most likely scenario is that a Democratic President announces a schedule for withdrawl in the next Inaugural Address which will stimulate national celebration from anti-war activists to military families and the rejuvenation of America's image, prestige and influence throughout the free world."
Jeff Cohen, founder of FAIR, in reply to my question, said
"There will be a rejoicing among much of the populace -- and a vicious attack from much of the media on the patriotism of the brave legislators who are responsible for "losing Iraq and aiding terrorism.
Those legislators should be prepared to mount a powerful counter-attack against the inflamed media and pundits, reminding everyone over and over that Iraq was lost and the terrorists aided back in 2003 when these media voices cheer-led an illegal, unwinnable invasion that predictably worsened the terrorism threat and helped Al Qaida."
David Swanson, co-founder of afterdowningstreet.com, said,
"When this happens, Bush and Cheney will continue the occupation by illegally misappropriating funds just as they did to begin the war over 5 years ago. The Congress will then have to raise impeachment or render itself entirely pointless. Of course, Pelosi and Reid know this, which is largely why they are opposed to cutting off the funding. That doesn't mean they can't be foreced into it if we compel enough of their colleagues to take the lead. That starts by pointing them to Senator Dodd's example in putting a hold on the latest destroy-the-fourth-amendment bill.
Here is where we would see how fatally damaged the mainstream media really are. With most of the networks owned by megacorporations making money off the war, we can expect that those networks that have lost their journalistic integrity will focus on giving face time to right wingers attacking the Dems and their decision to no longer fund the war. Will they seek out former generals who have already been critical of the war. Will they give at least equal time to those who oppose the war? After all, we know that 70% of Americans really want the war ended. Will the media act to support the will of the people or will they support the profit motives of their boards of directors?
Steve Bhaerman, who also goes by the name Swami Beyondananda, answered,
That's an interesting question ... what would the world look like the day after a successful preemptive peace strike? One thing is for sure. Were this to happen, then for the first time in a generation or perhaps ever, we the people would know that we are in charge of our government. It would truly be a revolution, and in fact, it would be an evolution. The populace would have had to have evolved from passive victims to powerful participants. It would mean that the people would have at very least recaptured the Democratic Party from the neocon elements. It would mean that there would have had to have been 50 million or more Americans standing for the end of the war in such a way that their numbers could be counted and checked. It would mean that Bush-Cheney had been finally outed and checkmated, on their way to impeachment or resignation. There is only one thing that would lead to such a scenario, and that is a devastating revelation about the Administration's complicity in the 9/11 attacks. Nothing short of that could provide the "shock" to the system that would cause a people's "up-wising" and liberate the Democrats from the fear and intimidation they seem to be suffering under.
Short of this "Hail Mary" pass into the unknown, here is what we MUST do to bring this about and stop fascism in its tracks.
1. What is required is a high-profile, national organization with a marquee of notables on board, from Bill Moyers and Bruce Fein, to Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen to stand for the return of the rule of law in America. Clearly, the Democrats are incapable of doing it so it must be left to the people. This is the only conversation for now, and all progressive and libertarian organizations need to unite on this one stand for political health in America. It is an anti-fascist popular front to essentially take fascism off the table, but I wouldn't put "anti" in the title. I'd call it Friends of Freedom.
2. This organization MUST be able to offer a outside-the-box meta-comment on politics in America, and call the situation for what it is -- a coup by a faction in American politics willing to defend empire at any cost. In other words, it has to be made clear to the American people that we are not in Iraq to keep the peace, we are there to keep the pieces. This is something the Democrat misleadership has failed to do, because they are complicit -- either because they are part of the ruling elite, or because they're being blackmailed, threatened or otherwise leveraged.
3. The organization MUST acknowledge that the Administration has committed war crimes in the promotion and execution of this war. Legislators who voted for the war are tacitly complicit in these war crimes, so we must establish from the beginning a "truth and reconciliation" approach -- those who come forward in a timely fashion regarding these crimes and how they were sold to the public will not be prosecuted. Congress people who were leveraged into voting for a criminal war now have the chance to "rewrite" their decision by support of revealing the whole truth regarding 9/11 and the war in Iraq. Why haven't whistleblowers come forward? Because there is no protection. We the people -- and those in Congress and elsewhere who show up as leaders -- will provide that cover. Until it becomes clear that we have the numbers to prevail, no one is going to stick their necks out.
4. There must be a way for 50 million Americans to register their "vote of no confidence" for the current regime (Congress included). This can be accomplished via a mega-petition site where Americans can log on and register a Vote of No Confidence in the current regime. It can be done like one of those telethons or fund-raisers where people can go online and see the numbers rise. In addition, the website can educate the public about how this government has supported war and empire to the detriment of everything good in America. When people begin to see the charges against this government -- compared to the War Crimes Tribunal at Nuremberg, for example -- it will begin to become more and more clear. Here's how it could work even for those citizens who don't access the internet. Just as petitioners set up outside grocery stores, etc. people with laptops (I'd call them Jefferson's Witnesses) can take online petitions ...
5. Along with the petition campaign, and the notables all speaking as one voice to face the common threat of fascism, there needs to be a snail mail postcard campaign directed at Senators and Representatives, as well as CNN, Fox, and the other networks demanding that they cover this issue.
Right now, things look dire. It seems as if the fascists have it all sewed up. However, all it will take is a shift in the momentum for the whole wall of lies to fall apart. It's difficult to see it now, difficult to imagine it except in some pipe dream. But this is our rendezvous with destiny. Now is the time ... because it is too late to do it sooner.
Cindy Sheehan replied to my inquiry, after seeing what Jeff Cohen and David Swanson had said,
I think the peace movement has to make it very clear to the Reps that we will support them if they have the courage to do this.
I can't really add anything to what Jeff, David or DK said. I know Fox News will probably crap themselves and call the Congress "unpatriotic" and say that they are not supporting the troops.
Like David said, George and Dick will continue the war, so the movement has to keep pressure on impeachment and removal from office.
Progressive talk radio host, Mike Malloy, replied,
Excellent question. However, under it's current leadership, neither the House nor the Senate will ever stop the funding of Bush's occupation of Iraq; not this year, not next, not ever. And the reason is two-fold: Cowardice and complicity.
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