Calif Dem Platform Adds Immediate Withdrawal

[davidswanson]

By David Swanson

I just got a call from Tim Carpenter of Progressive Democrats of America. Tim Goodrich of Iraq Veterans Against the War is going on Air America momentarily with this news as well.

The California Democratic Party is convened in Sacramento. The platform committee has passed and is recommending to the full party on Sunday inclusion in the platform of a call to end the occupation of Iraq and immediately bring the troops home. The proposal will be part of the consent calendar, the regular business of the party. This is not a resolution, but language in the official platform. No signatures need to be collected. No rebellion on the floor is required. This will, as far as we know, be a first for any state for either of the two parties that just voted overwhelmingly in Congress to push us toward a war in Iran.

[Maat]

1. Wow. Thanks for the post.

[dweller]

2. Senate Democrats Prepare for Weekend Policy Retreat

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1039874


anybody listening?
dp

[welshTerrier2]

3. could this be the end of this damned war?

we passed a similar "resolution" at last year's Democratic convention in Massachusetts ... wouldn't it be nice if all our Party's leaders strongly endorsed this position? here's the exact wording of the Massachusetts resolution:

A RESOLUTION TO END THE U.S. OCCUPATION OF IRAQ

From The 2005 Massachusetts Democratic Convention

Whereas the actions of the United States of America in Iraq show that the United States wishes to establish permanent military bases in Iraq, in violation of Iraqi sovereignty;

Whereas more than 1600 US soldiers have been killed, thousands of US soldiers wounded, and untold thousands of Iraqi citizens killed, wounded, or made homeless in the continuing conflict in Iraq ;

Whereas more than 150 billion dollars have been spent for the Iraq occupation and, over the next year, the continuing occupation will take at least an additional 81 billion dollars away from priorities at home;

Whereas our occupation of Iraq fuels the insurgency, which prolongs the destruction of Iraqi communities and infrastructure;

Whereas our military is being drained of its capability to respond to crises in other parts of the world;

Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party of Massachusetts

* Supports our troops,

* Opposes the continued military occupation of Iraq ,

* Urges the U.S. government to announce a timetable for the rapid withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq , and

* Calls for the U.S. government to reject plans for a long-term presence in Iraq , except for those associated with normal diplomatic relations and a commitment to reparation for war damage.