by Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
Washington, DC
Nov 28, 2012
Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr
Congressmen Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rush Holt Jr. (D-NJ) today introduced H. Res. 819, a resolution of inquiry to compel the Administration to release documents which it reportedly uses as the legal justification for the use of drones to assassinate people abroad, including United States citizens, without trial. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, our drone strikes have killed more than 3,000 people including as many as 1,105 innocent civilians since 2002.
“We must reject the notion that protecting our national security requires revoking the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. No President can act as judge, jury and executioner, and any attempt to do so is in direct violation of our Constitution which gives our citizens a right to life and a fair trial.
“According to a memorandum prepared by the White House Office of Legal Counsel, when the United States conducts such an attack it is legal. The Congress and the American people have a right to know this legal framework. Congress has an obligation as the sole authority under the Constitution to declare war to know how the use of force abroad is being used, especially against U.S. citizens,” said Kucinich.
Congressman Kucinich today introduced a Resolution of Inquiry, a resolution used to compel information from the White House, which, if passed, would require the White House to make the Office of Legal Counsel memo available to Congress.
“Our strikes are creating a legal precedent that the world will emulate. From Iran to China, other nations are very close to developing comparable technology. If Congress doesn’t act to ensure proper oversight and legal authority for the use of this technology, the consequences could be dire for the American people,” said Kucinich.
See a copy of the legislation here. Under the parliamentary procedure of a Resolution of Inquiry, the resolution must be sent to committee and considered under expedited rules.
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Kucinich Questions U.S. Involvement in Expanding Conflict in Syria: “Is This Why We Need A Tax Increase?”
by Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
Washington, DC
Nov 29, 2012
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who led Congress to limit our intervention in Libya, today warned that following the same Libya playbook in Syria would lead to similar chaos, wider conflict and increased instability in a volatile region of the world. He questioned, “Is this why we need a tax increase? More money for more war?”
The full text of his remarks follows.
“The same geniuses who involved the U.S. in a war against Libya, who knocked off the pro-U.S. Libyan government, who created in Benghazi an extremist shooting gallery which has claimed four American lives including our ambassador, who have not been held accountable or responsible for those events, who have opened the door for radical fundamentalists to run roughshod over Libya — these same ‘experts’ are working out of the same playbook for Syria.
“Assad was no angel, but he was not a significant threat to the U.S. Apparently, flush from the ‘success’ in Libya, the Administration is preparing to ratchet up the war in Syria. Why?
“Would Qatar, our partner in Libya, be supplying surface-to-air missiles to rebels in Syria without the support of this Administration?
“NATO, meaning the U.S., discusses putting missiles in Turkey which could create a de facto no-fly zone over northwestern Syria, expanding the war.
“Is this why we need a tax increase? More money for more war? Really?”
see
Drone Killings — The Obama Administration Says “Trust Us” by Dennis Kucinich
Post-Election: Expect More Drone And Space War by Rick Rozoff
Dennis Kucinich: Congress Hears Expert Testimony About Combat Drone Program
Ralph Nader: Obama–Prosecutor, Judge, Jury, Executioner and Cover-upper
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