Four days left to prevent a US war in Syria

[ron_newman]

Congress reconvenes this Monday, September 9. We can still prevent a US war on Syria -- but only if we all call our Congressional representatives NOW. Ed Markey in particular seems to be sitting on the fence, waiting to hear from us. Here is their contact info. Call every one of these numbers.

Senator Elizabeth Warren
Boston office: (617) 565-3170
DC office: (202) 224-4543

Senator Edward Markey
Boston office: (617) 565-8519
DC office: (202) 224-2742

Representative Michael Capuano
Cambridge office: (617) 621-6208
DC office: (202) 225-5111

ETA: I prefer this alternative: Drop antidotes, not bombs (hat tip to bemused_leftist, originally from Charles Stross)

Comments

[gingicat]

I do agree with you. Just a note that if someone doesn't and presents a counter-argument, you and the other mods should probabl allow it since this was allowed.

[ron_newman]

Certainly!

ETA: I like this alternative: Drop antidotes, not bombs (hat tip to bemused_leftist, originally from Charles Stross)

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

It's certainly the weirdest situation I've seen in my life. As far as I can tell the theory is to bomb Syria, but somehow not actually start a war with it. And the pro- and anti-war factions aren't the usual suspects.

[jadelennox]

If we're in Markey's old district, do we currently have a representative we can call? do we have, like, an acting representative?

called Markey and Warren.

[jadelennox]

And because they aren't the usual suspects, they seem to be actually willing to admit (on the pro side) that they don't actually think bombing is going to make much difference. It's all very confusing.

[ron_newman]

No, you don't. The Constitution requires that vacant House seats be filled only by special election, not by temporary appointment. But this would be a good time to ask each candidate their position on this subject.

[nonelvis]

Carl Sciortino is the only Democratic candidate who's come out against military action except as a last resort. I don't know how or if candidates from other parties have weighed in on this.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that would do much good; I hear antidotes are tricksy and dangerous themselves.

It's been noted that flying 2 million refugees to the US would cost about $2 billion. (Or less; I'm seeing $600 from Tel Aviv or Istanbul. Damascus isn't in the system.) Probably better to be homeless here than there, or at least a plausible choice, never mind actual humane aid. Cheaper to move them to France or Britain, of course.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

I don't think being against military action except "as a last resort" is taking a position at all, unless he defines what would constitute a last resort. It could in his mind already be the last remaining option or he might always claim there are other options, so by leaving it open he essentially takes both positions and no position at the same time. The guy doesn't really deserve much credit for what he's said.

[nonelvis]

I'm merely reporting what the Globe said. I agree Sciortino could stand to be a lot more direct here.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

I don't think being against military action except "as a last resort" is taking a position at all

It's not a strong position, but I think that in practice it is a position. I don't think even the strongest hawks were saying that the Iraq situation had reached "the last resort" before we went in.

And I think there are people who wouldn't support military action "even as a last resort".

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

As far as I can tell, the concept that is being promoted is that we're administering a spanking to Assad for using chemical weapons: Administer enough pain to deter future use of chemical weapons (by him or others), but not enough damage to cause his regime to fall (because "we" consider the leading opposition groups to be even worse).

And it's very strange to see Time reporting that Nancy Pelosi is working hard to round up votes in favor of action.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Resettlement costs are likely to be 100 times as high as the airfare, but it does seem to be a good alternative.

In practice, some time around 2050, the world population will peak (or be at very slow growth) and there will be a growing shortage of poor peasants to take low-paying jobs. I think this will lead to the nearly unprecedented situation of countries welcoming large-scale immigration. At that point, it may well become possible to address humanitarian disasters by mass migration from bad places to live to decent places to live.