Rep. John Lewis Says: "Not Another Dollar" for the Iraq War

[marmar]

from Progressive Democrats of America:


Rep. John Lewis Says: "Not Another Dollar" for the Iraq War
March 21, 2007, Washington, DC

John Lewis (D-GA), former civil rights leader, spoke plainly and eloquently in Congress yesterday on the Iraq appropriation proposed by Democratic leaders that would fund the military in Iraq at a higher level than the administration requested. These are his comments:

Mr. Speaker, I rise with deep concern that on this very day 4 years ago, our Nation inaugurated a conflict, an unnecessary war, a war of choice, not a necessity.

The most comprehensive intelligence we have, the National Intelligence Estimate and the latest Pentagon report, tells us that Iraq had descended into a state of civil war. Over 3,000 Americans have died, and hundreds of thousands, some even say up to 1 million citizens of Iraq, have lost their lives in this unnecessary conflict.

And while we are telling our veterans of this war, the elderly, the poor, and the sick that there is no room in the budget for them, the American people have spent over $400 billion on a failed policy. We cannot do more of the same. Mr. Speaker, violence begets violence. It does not lead to peace.
....(snip).....

As a Nation, can we hear the words of Gandhi, so simple, so true, that it is either nonviolence or nonexistence? Can we hear the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., saying that we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish as fools?

Tonight I must make it plain and clear that as a human being, as a citizen of the world, as a citizen of America, as a Member of Congress, as an individual committed to a world at peace with itself, I will not and I cannot in good conscience vote for another dollar or another dime to support this war. ....

The complete piece is at: http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/news/2007-03-21-14-19-01-news.php

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Amen, Congressman!

To get peace, we don't fund war. End of discussion.

[Kagemusha]

2. If the reports are true, not another dollar for his district

not while Pelosi is speaker at least.