Intro: "Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today wrote to fellow members of Congress that NATO's role in the war in Libya would not shield Americans from the costs of the war. Kucinich's letter responded to the announcement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that NATO would take over command of the no-fly zone in Libya. In his letter, Kucinich pointed to United States' dominant role in the funding of NATO and called for Members to support his amendment which would eliminate US funds for the military intervention in Libya."
Congressman Dennis Kucinich responds to NATO taking over command of the no-fly zone in Libya. (photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
NATO War Still a Bad Deal
26 March 11
ongressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today wrote to fellow members of Congress that NATO's role in the war in Libya would not shield Americans from the costs of the war. Kucinich's letter responded to the announcement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that NATO would take over command of the no-fly zone in Libya. In his letter, Kucinich pointed to United States' dominant role in the funding of NATO and called for Members to support his amendment which would eliminate US funds for the military intervention in Libya.
The full text of the letter follows:
Libyan War on Deep Discount Is Still not a Good Deal;
Under NATO, United States Will Bear the Costs of War
Dear Colleague,
Last night, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton announced that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has agreed to take over responsibility for the military intervention taking place in Libya. The announcement does little to change the realities of the situation.
- According to the Congressional Research Service, the United States funds approximately 25% of NATO's budget. The US, France and Britain collectively account for about 43% of NATO's budget collectively. These three nations have large influence over the actions that NATO takes. Handing control of the no-fly zone to NATO is only a cost-sharing plan to pay for the war, but we will still be paying for it. Even at a discount, another war in another Muslim nation, with no end in sight, is simply not a good deal for the American people.
- NATO has agreed to take over nothing more than the command of the established no-fly zone. If further military action is required, such as attacks on Qadaffi's ground forces or other targets, that responsibility will likely fall to the United States. Already we have seen the rebels in Libya fail to take advantage of the American enacted no-fly zone. Qadaffi forces continue their attacks.
- Even with NATO's support, the war in Libya has the potential to become a quagmire, in part because we entered into this conflict without clear goals. Already, military action has brought the eastern and western parts of Libya to a standoff. Is the goal to divide Libya? Is the goal to remove Muammar Qadaffi? Will we install a friendly regime? What if the country is destabilized to the point that extremist groups such as al-Qaeda are allowed to take root? How does this war end? When will this war end? How much will it cost American taxpayers? What is the impact on our already overstretched military?
- The President committed the US to military invention without consulting Congress, in clear subversion of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which gives only Congress the power to declare war. Congress must act to protect its Constitutional authority to decide whether our nation will go to war.
The war in Libya was a strategic and moral blunder. Please join me in cosponsoring an amendment to the next Continuing Resolution that would prevent any US funds from being used for the war in Libya or NATO's role in Libya.
Sincerely,
Dennis J. Kucinich
Member of Congress
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Comments
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Costa Rica got rid of its military, and for years has been a ray of hope for the world, with care and education for all its people, and so much more. How proud they can and should be of their country -something I am able to say about only one of the countries in which I hold citizenships, Republic of Ireland.
I'm ashamed to be an American.
Sorry, but hold pride in only one of the countries in which I hold citizenship - Ireland. As far as this villianaire ruled, military/indust rial/corporate complex taken over second country in which I have citizenship, I'm honestly...
ASHAMED TO BE AN AMERICAN!
For the conservatives: Market responses suggest the "no-fly" effort had a stabilizing effect. If our actions further democracy, and the market supports the action, what is your rationale against this effort?
Everyone seems to want to low gas prices, low taxes, democracy for all, and peace, yet no one seems willing to accept the fact that these things come at a cost. Liberals and conservatives need to grow up.
Would to God that the rest of his peers had not been bought into prostitution of their corporate pay-masters!
I oppose any deeper involvement, but the only thing Obama has done wrong - so far - is how long he had to wait to get the U.N. to approve the no-fly zone.
If it is a matter of funding, and nothing else, why not take the funding from Iraq and Afghanistan? It would be better spent on Libya than on pretending to search for terrorists in countries where we have already screwed up so badly we can't easily get out. I'm just waiting for the next delay in the pullout there. And I'm not holding my breath on our leaving Iraq for a long time.
So let's do a good turn several times over, Mr. Kucinich - take money from the wars we can't win to spend on supporting people who actually want us to help them.
I hit the thumbs down on your comment but man.. I think I should've hit the thumbs up instead... Take money from wars we can't win... Damn good idea.. But do we need Cheney's or Bush's permissions? Will they send mercs for us?? If we do.. Cpl.Pierson 101st Vietnam
rf: If you judge a "modern nation" by the lack of tribalism, then you can't include the USA. White tribalism has caused immense grief here and around the world. And if you think that those Americans who have protested Bush's wars from before they even started, are still "complicit" simply because they are Americans, you need to think again.
It was not a War, it was not even a 'Police Action'. When good people are called upon, we stand up and do what we need to do. Congress didnot get credit for starting another War...so sad. But every GOP with partnerships in Oil Companies are so glad we went.
When we need help with attitudes like too many ... we will be alone.
This is also gross hypocrisy. There are presently at least a dozen states who are experiencing humanitarian problem. Most of them don't possess Libya's oil.
This is trully an impeachable offense.
Yes we should be in a dozen other countries, but we were called to help here. UN is supposed to go into other Countries to use their Armed Services to uphold whatever, complain to them.
We should not be in any other Country but when push comes to shove and we ned help...we will stand alone if we do not help others.
whether any of the Countries who Are in this Strike force has egg on their face is a flip of the coin. I am glad we hit them hard, now perhaps the "Military can do its job, get its work done and get Taliban but they are in Texas!"
1. Electricity for household use is free,
...2. interest-free loans during the study,
3. receives the average salary for this profession if you do not find a job after graduation,
...4. the state has paid for to work in the profession,
5. Every unemployed person receives social assistance 15,000 $ a year,
6. after the entry into marriage state pays first apartment or house (150m2),
7. ... See more buying cars at factory prices,
8. do not owe anyone a cent,
9. free health and education,
10. free higher education abroad,
11. 25% of highly educated,
12. 40 loaves of bread costs $ 0.15,
13. water in the middle of the desert, drinking water,
14. 8 dinars per liter of oil (0.08 EUR),
15. 6% poor,
16. For each infant, the couple received $ 5,000 for his needs.
Also Libya was feeding thousands workers from poor countries. Hungry will go to Europe / put to Sarkozy concentration camps.
Stories of UN ships "evacuating" refugees = shipping them back to Bangladesh - people drowning to try to swim to EU ... this is censored.
You got the right name to blame for every thing on from 1963 until now.. And his fathers stunt in 1943, but got away because the guy testifying against him had a sudden heart attack. Then Prescott Bush won being a Senator back east, no mention of his part with the Nazi's.. We brought em home to build rockets and germ warfare. Fun stuff.. No I can't tell Nazis and Americans apart.. Except for the few Americans here. God Bless ya for speaking up. Cpl. Pierson 101st, Vietnam, Son of the American Revolution, Pvt. Shadrack Pierson, 1st Virginia, Valley Forge.. I salute my fellow Brothers... And Glen. ^i^
We all know that. What is new is that powerful countries make no bones about which country has value to them and which do not. Citizens are simply a side issue. The U.S. government lies about every issue having to do with military actions, with no shame, and does not care about the opinions of their own citizens. Libya is simply the most recent country in a long line of attacks. Yes, they have oil. Oil and a location that benefits U.S. interests. If they cared about Libyan citizens they would not be bombing the country, including citizens, probably back to the stone age - all over again.
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110327/ap_on_re_af/af_libya
""As they move round the coast, of course, the rebels will increasingly control the exit points of Libya's oil," British Defense Secretary Liam Fox told the BBC. "That will produce a very dynamic and a very different equilibrium inside Libya. ...
Qatar, which has conducted at least one sortie over Libya, is the only Arab country known to have actively joined with the international force. It wasn't clear how the agreement to market oil would be carried out.
It seems to me (and apparently most readers here disagree) that the U.S. is finally on the right side.
This is not a corporate backed manipulation of foreign policy. I realize Libya has lots of the gewey stuff but that does not appear to be the dominant issue.
The maniacal dictator of Libya has vowed to slaughter his people. These revolutionary heroes have asked for and received necessary help to prevent mass murder-although a bit slowly. They have had some recent success in re-gaining some territory previously lost.
At heart I am radically non-interventio nist-however-th is is different and most of you refuse to look at reality. You are blinded by radical-chic Anti-Obamaism.
My dream would be for the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately. That is where our moral compass and money has been lost.
The Middle East is undergoing a domino affect of revolution. If we can assist one group of revolutionaries perhaps the direction of this change can finally sway positively in our direction.
the same cliches as in Iraq and Afghanistan - starting civil war - the same NECON tricks - these "revolutionary heroes" are TERRORISTS from other - east - tribe.
After QATAR (our "friend") and BP will lay the hands on OIL - the country will be divided in two (Against wishes of African Congress) -
ref:
US Bombs Libya, Helps ... Jihadists?!
it is tribal war with Al-Kaida extremist part of "revolutionary heroes" - goal is/was to get control of the OIL ...
This is nothing like Iraq and Afghanistan. This is directly related to the uprisings that began in Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemen, and Egypt.
It began as a peaceful protest- and there is no Al Quada in Libya.(Who sounds like the neo-con now?)
As in the other Middle Eastern uprisings it began as peaceful protests in the streets. Unlike the others your anti-hero (apparently to some on this site) decided to ruthlessly gun down the innocents on the streets. This revolution has nothing to do with "terrorists" but the simple request for some semblance of democracy. I admit I wasn't quite aware of the social safey net that Perajica writes about. However, it seems that this is not difficult in a society of what?-6-7 million? A country that can rake in billions in oil profits. With such a sparse population it is not difficult for the anti-hero to throw a few scraps to the peasants. Of course his intent is to prevent such an uprising. I never bought the theory of a "benevolent" dictator. To me a dictatorship is a dictatorship-be it of the socialists or oligarchs. Power to the people of the Middle East! Fight on!
Media being what they are do not seem to have taken an oath to tell us how people live elsewhere. But I have yet to see any country without poverty. Chavez gives to his people also, there is poverty.
We went in, people died they do everywhere there are damn weapons being used. I believe that the Allies should have gotten weapons in or the Arab countries but no one did. When UN finally got around to this, we did what had to be done, Rebels were losing, family, friends, everyone was threatened to be tortured and killed.
Other Countries, UN gets to as they can. No good but they are not a Universal Army. UN walks a fine line of protection and being bullies. We were close, we had the air force there and ships, we went and helped the 'rebels' I pray this doesnot bite all of us, but GOP backed many dictators, sold them arms...Obama just beat them into action that GOP Congress wanted credit for.
I love people who hate this country...Leave ! Otherwise, they should get up and do something.
When we bring all these people home, where do they go? School? Funds being cut. Jobs? at what terrorizing workers? Taking out street gangs?
We get ourselves into messes and no one here or in Government has solutions.
I just know no laws were broken as there was no declaration of war. Allies asked us for help, we helped. I do agree we must see that the NATO expands and all share equally the Membership Fees.
And I do not see any way out - except the regime collapse. Some CCCP patterns are already here - California does not have money to pay teachers.
See also the same neocon patterns in Libya as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thanks to RSN
Not sure who you referring to. I know a fair amount about history and other things as well. WW11 was a battle against a powerful adversary, Germany and her allies, and was a consequence of WW1 caused by Germany beating Britan in Trade. Blair destroyed the evidence of how the US was suckered into WW1with the set-up sinking of the Lusitania.
We should be focusing on Lybia here which is a completely different situation. Please refer to Perijica's comments above, showing that the Lybian people have been very well treated with material goods. In that case, it is very unlikely that the rioting has been created and organized by outsiders. The media are showing well fed people rioting in the streets, and so we are having our foreign policy dictated by the media. We still dont know who is funding, activating these people. This isnt about self righteousness or shame. Its about knowing what you are doing before doing it, know who is behind these revolts, and dont let yourself be suckered into what may well prove to be a prolonged ground war because that is what our business, special interest controlled media wants. Land and profit. Angela Merkel, Putin, and Medyev, and probably Obama all have the same opinion.
If this is a good revolution, if the middle east are tired of dictators, poverty good for them. They will have to live with what they do, we cannot do that for them.
Now we need to start some psychology outposts to help the kids that are sand crazy and told to torture and kill for the Military. I believe that the commanding Officers must be held accountable as these are not Wars. I do not know what will happen when these kids come home to no jobs. government taking jobs, education away. But we better be prepared...the Military is desensitizing our children, we will pay for that. I see it already from the other imbecilic police actions. Anger not management. good post
Google “The People United Can Always be exterminated”
that is if the mind one’s own business crowd stops help from the at least somewhat more tolerant nations, against those who engage is systematic carnage,
http://readersupportednews.org/pm-section/21-21/5426-the-people-united-can-always-be-exterminated
This is a problem in our democracy. Though critical things have been disclosed to the public, they dont know about them. From old Guardian News
"Nearly two decades after Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Scotland on 21 December, 1988, allegations of international political intrigue and shoddy investigative work are being levelled at the British government, the FBI and the Scottish police as one of the crucial witnesses, Swiss engineer Ulrich Lumpert, has apparently confessed that he lied about the origins of a crucial 'timer' - evidence that helped tie the man convicted of the bombing to the crime" Why no further investigation?
Also, Lybia may have huge oil reserves.
Lybia natiionalized oil, like Saddam did.
Agree Obama prob best option, he is trying middle ground to compromise with repubs.
The issue here is Lybia. There is a report in a Chinese "Asia Times Online" which tells many facts about the Lybian attack which have been silenced in the western media. In particular, the organized, armed group of "civilians" who are revolting, was agitated, organized, paid, financed, provided with weapons, and trained by the House of Saud, French Intelligence, and the CIA. So the presidents Obama and Sarkozi are not telling the truth to their people. There are many articles of interest in this source, the facts in this case are from " theres no business like war business" by Pepe Escobar. the site address is
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East.html
You are probably also aware that Khadaffi has provided many material benefits to his people with the oil income, and that he may have been set up with Lockerbee so he could be branded a terrorist, planning for current events. There was perjury, and alleged cia tampering with evidence reported at that trial documented by a law professor Black in Scotland.
. http://lockerbiecase.blogspot.com/2007/08/lumpert-affidavit.html
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