As Congress begins debate on additional funding for Iraq and Afghanistan
military operations, San Francisco peace groups have called a Town Hall
Meeting to debate The Costs of War. The meeting will start at 5pm on
Sunday, April 27th in the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street (near Mission
and Capp Streets).
Organizers are inviting all 2008 candidates for the 8th Congressional
District house seat, currently occupied by Nancy Pelosi, to participate or
send a representative - regardless of their position on the issue. As of
April 19th, Democrat Shirley Golub, Independent Cindy Sheehan and
Libertarian Phil Berg have confirmed their participation.
Aside from candidate speeches, the Town Hall will feature questions and
comments from the audience. A number of additional speakers are also
expected to address the meeting, which is sponsored by the Gold Star
Families for Peace, the Iraq Moratorium and other local peace groups.
The Town Hall coincides with House consideration of the latest supplemental
funding bill for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to a
Thursday Associated Press report (at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080417/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq_funding_6),
Congressional leaders are considering a single, $178 billion measure that
will finance the occupations for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2008 and
through June 2009. By passing this measure, Congress would avoid a debate
on additional war funding just prior to the November election.
"By funding the war well into 2009, Congress would abandon its
responsibility to provide continuing oversight of the Executive Branch, and
would condemn hundreds of additional young Americans to death and serious
injury," said Town Hall co-organizer, Marc Joffe. "Further, to spend over
1% of the nation's GDP on fruitless wars during a recession is the height of
fiscal irresponsibility."
Despite the recent US troop surge, violence in Iraq remains at a high level.
During the first 18 days of April, 27 American soldiers have died and over
1000 Iraqis have been killed in numerous attacks. Total US casualties thus
far number 4039 dead and tens of thousands injured. Estimates of Iraqi
deaths range up to 1.2 million.
Officially, total Iraq War spending now exceeds $512 billion, but if long
term care for veterans, replacing military equipment and additional interest
on the national debt are included, the true cost of the war is three
trillion dollars, according to Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
Next Sunday's 8th CD meeting is part of a national series of Iraq Town Halls
organized by Democrats.com and several national peace and progressive
groups. More information on these events is available at
<http://www.iraqtownhalls.com> http://www.iraqtownhalls.com.
Other Events
On Thursday, April 24th at 5pm MoveOn.Org and several local progressive
groups will hold a rally on Iraq and the Recession in front of Senator
Dianne Feinstein's office at 1 Post Street (corner of Post, Montgomery and
Market). The rally will include street theatre and will feature the release
of polling data that shows California residents believe that the Iraq War is
connected to the current economic downturn. MoveOn.org activists will also
provide data showing what services Californians could receive if war funding
was diverted to domestic priorities. More information on this event is
available at <http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=113>
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=113.
Prior to the Iraq Town Hall, at 2pm on April 27th, the Victoria Theatre will
host the world premiere of "IRAN (is not the problem)". This feature length
documentary critically examines the case for a US attack against Iran and
includes interviews with Iranian Americans and Bay Area peace activists.
More information about the film is available at
<http://www.iranisnottheproblem.org/> http://www.iranisnottheproblem.org/.