The Upcoming Iraq War

The Upcoming Iraq War
Funding Bill



HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS

Only with the complicity of Congress have we
become a nation of pre-emptive war, secret military tribunals,
torture, rejection of habeas corpus, warrantless searches, undue
government secrecy, extraordinary renditions, and uncontrollable
spying on the American people. The greatest danger we face is
ourselves: what we are doing in the name of providing security
for a people made fearful by distortions of facts. Fighting over
there has nothing to do with preserving freedoms here at home.
More likely the opposite is true..

03/20/07 Runtime 5 Minutes

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TRANSCRIPT

HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS


Before the U.S. House of Representatives - March 20, 2007



The $124 billion supplemental appropriation is a good bill to
oppose. I am pleased that many of my colleagues will join me in
voting against this measure.



If one is unhappy with our progress in Iraq after four years of
war, voting to de-fund the war makes sense. If one is unhappy
with the manner in which we went to war, without a
constitutional declaration, voting no makes equally good sense.




Voting no also makes the legitimate point that the Constitution
does not authorize Congress to direct the management of any
military operation-- the president clearly enjoys this authority
as Commander in Chief.




But Congress just as clearly is responsible for making policy,
by debating and declaring war, raising and equipping armies,
funding military operations, and ending conflicts that do not
serve our national interests.



Congress failed to meet its responsibilities four years ago,
unconstitutionally transferring its explicit war power to the
executive branch. Even though the administration started the
subsequent pre-emptive war in Iraq, Congress bears the greatest
responsibility for its lack of courage in fulfilling its duties.
Since then Congress has obediently provided the funds and troops
required to pursue this illegitimate war.



We won’t solve the problems in Iraq until we confront our failed
policy of foreign interventionism. This latest appropriation
does nothing to solve our dilemma. Micromanaging the war while
continuing to fund it won’t help our troops.




Here’s a new approach: Congress should admit its mistake and
repeal the authority wrongfully given to the executive branch in
2002. Repeal the congressional sanction and disavow presidential
discretion in starting wars. Then start bringing our troops
home.



If anyone charges that this approach does not support the
troops, take a poll. Find out how reservists, guardsmen, and
their families--many on their second or third tour in Iraq--feel
about it.



The constant refrain that bringing our troops home would
demonstrate a lack of support for them must be one of the most
amazing distortions ever foisted on the American public. We’re
so concerned about saving face, but whose face are we saving? A
sensible policy would save American lives and follow the rules
laid out for Congress in the Constitution—and avoid wars that
have no purpose.




The claim that it’s unpatriotic to oppose spending more money in
Iraq must be laid to rest as fraudulent.



We should pass a resolution that expresses congressional
opposition to any more undeclared, unconstitutional,
unnecessary, pre-emptive wars. We should be building a consensus
for the future that makes it easier to end our current troubles
in Iraq.



It’s amazing to me that this Congress is more intimidated by
political propagandists and special interests than the American
electorate, who sent a loud, clear message about the war in
November. The large majority of Americans now want us out of
Iraq.




Our leaders cannot grasp the tragic consequence of our policies
toward Iraq for the past 25 years. It’s time we woke them up.



We are still by far the greatest military power on earth. But
since we stubbornly refuse to understand the nature of our foes,
we are literally defeating ourselves.



In 2004, bin Laden stated that Al Qaeda’s goal was to bankrupt
the United States. His second in command, Zawahari, is quoted as
saying that the 9/11 attack would cause Americans to, “come and
fight the war personally on our sand where they are within rifle
range.”




Sadly, we are playing into their hands. This $124 billion
appropriation is only part of the nearly $1 trillion in military
spending for this year’s budget alone. We should be concerned
about the coming bankruptcy and the crisis facing the U.S.
dollar.



We have totally failed to adapt to modern warfare. We’re dealing
with a small, nearly invisible enemy--an enemy without a
country, a government, an army, a navy, an air force, or
missiles. Yet our enemy is armed with suicidal determination,
and motivated by our meddling in their regional affairs, to
destroy us.



And as we bleed financially, our men and women in Iraq die
needlessly while the injured swell Walter Reed hospital. Our
government systematically undermines the Constitution and the
liberties it’s supposed to protect-- for which it is claimed our
soldiers are dying in faraway places.




Only with the complicity of Congress have we become a nation of
pre-emptive war, secret military tribunals, torture, rejection
of habeas corpus, warrantless searches, undue government
secrecy, extraordinary renditions, and uncontrollable spying on
the American people. The greatest danger we face is ourselves:
what we are doing in the name of providing security for a people
made fearful by distortions of facts. Fighting over there has
nothing to do with preserving freedoms here at home. More likely
the opposite is true.



Surely we can do better than this supplemental authorization. I
plan to vote no.