End Wars and Occupations IOT Monthly Conference Call - Progressive Democrats of America

September 2013 sound  chat room 
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The call started off with impressions of the President's speech. The call had been delayed by about 20 minutes so that Obama could tell us what he planned to do about Syria (My own impression was that his speech was cobbled together from several parts so that Obama could address recent developments and that the transitions were not terribly smooth or well-drafted). There was a lot of concern that Obama was still going to strike and that war was still on the agenda.

Special guest Stephen Miles (“Win Without War”) noted several items about Obama's speech, starting with comments that the crucial vote for war was being delayed, but that the new “red line” posed great risks and dangers. An authorization for Obama to take “necessary measures” could become a new AUMF and that would touch off another decade of war. Diplomacy can succeed, but it has to be sincerely tried.

Very interestingly, members of Congress reported that the more they learned about the situation and the more they listed to constituents, the more opposed they were to taking military action.

Sandy Davies went over details of the chemical weapons situation in Syria. Advocates telling Congress “No new red line.” He then comments on hypocrisy problems with US signing treaty on chemical weapons and then not destroying its own chemical weapons (which the treaty requires). Other countries are also violators, but the US is the stand-out in this regard.

He also pointed out that covert war has the disadvantage of, when the shadow struggle comes to public attention, the government hasn't built up any support for it, so the covert warriors suddenly find themselves exposed and the public isn't willing to back them up.

Claire in Houston commented on Rush Limbaugh's racialization of the issues (“shuck & jive” is a pretty obvious code word on his part).