STATEMENT ON CONGRESSIONAL TROOP WITHDRAWAL VOTE
In a highly uncharacteristic move, members of the United States Congress recently brought to the floor a resolution perfectly representing the position of the Socialist Party USA, namely "... that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately."
There was no surprise regarding its fate, however: only 3 Democrats and no Republicans voted for it. As usual, the imperialist agenda of both capitalist parties ruled the day: just more proof that the game-plan for both Republicans and Democrats is long-term political and economic control of the Middle East through the continuing use of U.S. military force.
This comes through clearly in the conditions of the Democrats' newly-minted anti-war position. Part dove, part hawk, the Democratic "plan" couples a vague time-table for troop withdrawal with a call for the establishment of a "quick-reaction force" and a nearby presence of Marines. More hypocrisy and opportunism in the service of global capitalism, and more need than ever for independent political action in general and Socialist Party candidacies in particular.
The Socialist Party USA stands firm in its call for the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and for an immediate cut of at least 50% in the military budget. We also demand that revenue currently funding the military machine be redirected to education, health care, child care, housing, mass transit, and social services, and that additional revenue be generated by instituting a steeply graduated Federal income tax targeting the income and wealth of the very rich.
Bring the troops home now! Cut the military budget! Tax the rich! People before profits!
Susan Dorazio National Co-Chair Socialist Party USA
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/.zNplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sp-usa/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
sp-usa-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
-- Michael Pugliese