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o Whereas the unjustified War Based on Lies has thus far cost the lives of 3200 American soldiers and hundreds-of-thousands of innocent civilians, and ...
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o Whereas half the United States Congress is complicit in support of the treacherous war machine, and ...
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o Whereas the other half perpetually dithers about pathetically, and ...
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o Whereas the Peace Movement has been unable to influence any reduction in the Bush Administration's ardor for this war or in its execution, and ...
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o Whereas the senseless and disgraceful slaughter has no end in sight but promises to expand its bloody march into other countries ...
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Be it now resolved that the People will rise to the defense of the Republic, that the People must in the name of Humanity act to halt the slaughter, that the People must restore the principles of the Constitution of the United States, that the People must restore the United States into the family of decent governments of the world, and that the means of these necessary and urgent objectives will be the United States Peace Force .
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Be it now resolved that the People will rise to the defense of the Republic, that the People must in the name of Humanity act to halt the slaughter, that the People must restore the principles of the Constitution of the United States, that the People must restore the United States into the family of decent governments of the world, and that the means of these necessary and urgent objectives will be the United States Peace Force .
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The Republicans, in supporting the Bush Administration's power-lusting war machine, have abetted the atrocity of unjustified war, an atrocity against America and its thus far 3200 dead soldiers, an atrocity against Iraq and its hundreds of thousands of dead innocents, an atrocity against humanity, and a disgrace to our history. And now much of the international community, once our friends, view the United States with contempt and fear.
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The Democrats in Congress unconscionably endorsed the Bush initiative from the onset in 2002, playing human lives for perceived political advantage. Did they know how bad it would get? Perhaps not, but the world and history will not forgive dull minds in seeking self-advantage in the face of the slaughterous consequences, nor will we.
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In the 2006 congressional campaign, some Democratic candidates confessed to a "mistake," others claimed they were misled or fooled, whereas one emerging Democratic presidential candidate has blithely advised us to choose others if her action offended us (Good advice!) and the new Democratic faces could claim not to be involved in the disgrace. All, however, promised solutions. Upon election of a majority Democratic House and Senate, we were promised action, solutions to the senseless carnage, a road to peace, and -- however painful -- finally some truth about this five-year trail of treachery and accountability required of those who plotted its course.
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So, putting the misbehavior of 2002 Democrats behind us, we voted in a Democratic majority in 2006. And it now appears that, yes, you can fool us twice!
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So, putting the misbehavior of 2002 Democrats behind us, we voted in a Democratic majority in 2006. And it now appears that, yes, you can fool us twice!
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What do we have? There's been a lot of talk about "non-binding" resolutions. (Sort of like we wish that maybe you, Mr. Bush, might consider easing up on the senseless slaughter just a bit, don't you know, sooner or maybe later.) There's also been talk about "the power of the purse," but that was emasculated for fear of violating the Eleventh Commandment: Support Our Troops! Perhaps we could trim just a bit of the incremental budget for the "surge." (Have these political cowards no shame?) Then there was the bold proclamation: "Impeachment is off the table!" by our new Democratic Madam Speaker. And then from a Democratic Madam Senator: "If you elect me as your president, I'll get you peace in 2009!" (Two more years of carnage offered for our consideration and votes!)
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What we have is talk, talk, talk, a.k.a. bullshit. Yes, but wait, not all of this is plain old dumb bullshit, but contrived bullshit. The Democratic strategy: to string out this disgraceful and failed war and use it for political leverage as an issue in the 2008 presidential and congressional campaigns. (Hey, fellow Dems, we can play the war to our advantage as well as the Republicans!)
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Summing up, WE THE PEOPLE HAVE LOST AGAIN. We've been sold out by leaders we voted for and depended upon in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006. We must not, we cannot allow ourselves to make the same tragic mistake in 2008. And we must, before then, end this atrocious war.
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How? Bush's Inc's war train continues to roll down the track. Power and only power is its fuel, and it will not be stopped nor pause to consider anything other than countervailing power. The Republicans will persevere in gaining their ends by posturing to "Support Our Troops." The Democrats will echo that mantra while adding their usual talkathon. The peace movement, after four years -- this may be difficult for some of you -- has become institutionalized, each sect with its own particular nuanced message, each organization stoutly defending its turf, but most occasionally joining in "festivals" featuring t-shirt sales, peace celebs, book signings, music, parades, etc., and having zero effect on the warlords, zero effect in diminishing the slaughter, zero effect -- beyond the show of perhaps some conscience -- in stanching America's disgrace and easing our pain.
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The Republicans have worked against the people. The Democrats fall short of their promises to work for the people, and we cannot reasonably expect their conduct to change anytime soon. The peace movement -- despite some stout efforts and virtuous motives -- has been ineffective and can now be considered ossified -- some nice people, of course, but marginal to zero results. And what we need now desperately are not virtuous motives and stout efforts , but results, as in Peace Now! And to get that peace we will need a way different from those that have failed for the past four years.
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Firstly, getting the peace is going to require LARGER NUMBERS of people in place, a Million at the minimum. And these Million need to get out from under the nuanced messages their many respective organizations favor and unite UNDER THE SINGLE BANNER OF PEACE NOW. Forget the multitudinous slogans, stop hawking the t-shirts, wave off the celebrities, dispense with the book signings, banish the bands, and disown the "festival" aspects. Getting to the peace will not be fun; it is serious business, and we need to convince a treacherous government that we are indeed serious about it.
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Then the Million need to meet at and STAY UPON THE STEPS OF POWER, a Million plain American citizens, demanding PEACE NOW, staying as the cameras of the world broadcast our quiet but massive resolve, staying to capture the conscience of the electorate and of decent peoples around the world, and not leaving the steps of power on Sunday evening but staying until our government gives our people the peace we demand -- STAYING FOR HOWEVER LONG THAT TAKES.
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Bush has the power, we will have the force to countervail: The United States Peace Force. No fancy organization is required, no offices, no officers, no solicitations, no treasury, and -- logistics be damned -- our Million will come to the steps of power, stand the line, united under one banner, and we will stay until we get PEACE NOW for America.
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We have no way of knowing into what treachery those who lust for war and power will lead us next. Will it be Iran? Syria? North Korea? Venezuela? Only one of every 300 concerned American citizens is required to constitute the Million true patriots needed in place to stop the madness and get the peace. It is very likely the most important and valuable thing we can accomplish in our lifetime.
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..................Rafe Pilgrim, one of the Million needed to bring home PEACE NOW
