NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA'S BORDER CONGRESSMAN!
IRAQ WAR
Filner Requests
Attorney General Investigation of Bush
Administration’s Use of Torture
Congressman Bob
Filner recently joined more than thirty of his
colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney
General Michael Mukasey urging the appointment
of a special counsel to investigate whether the
Bush Administration’s policies regarding the
interrogation of detainees have violated federal
criminal laws.
“The Bush
Administration’s use of so-called ‘enhanced
interrogation techniques’ against detainees
warrants an investigation,” said Congressman
Filner. “The United States of America should
never use torture!”
The letter states
that an investigation is warranted in light of
recent comments made by President Bush, which
confirm that Vice President Cheney, then
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, and
other members of his Cabinet met in the White
House, with the President’s approval, to discuss
and approve interrogation techniques, including
water boarding, against detainees.
Congress is
already aware of the pattern of abuse against
detainees under the Bush Administration.
Evidence from Abu Ghraib, the Guantanamo Bay
Detention facility, and an independent
investigation by the International Committee of
the Red Cross discovered several instances of
acts of torture against detainees, including
soaking a prisoner’s hand in alcohol and
lighting it on fire, leaving little doubt that
the United States government has condoned
torture.
Congressman Filner
and his colleagues believe that these events,
along with the President’s recent admission,
justify an immediate investigation to determine
the full scope of the Administration’s actions
and whether measures taken by the President and
his Cabinet are in violation of the War Crimes
Act (18 U.S.C. 2441), the Anti-Torture Act, (18
U.S.C. 2340-2340A), and other U.S. and
international laws.
Congressman Filner
Wants Iranian Opposition Group Taken Off Watch
List
Jodi Breisler
San Diego
Congressman Bob Filner wants an Iranian
opposition group to be taken off the U.S. list
of terror organizations. Jodi Breisler reports
from Capitol Hill.
The
People's Mujahdeen of Iran
is dedicated to
the overthrow of the Iranian government. They've
been banned by the State Department for over ten
years. Filner says it's time to take them off
the list.
Filner: I'm
convinced they have a pro-democratic, secular,
non-nuclear answer for the people of Iran. That
fits in with what we want so why are we not
helping them or at least not stopping them from
achieving their objectives?
Being on the list
means the group cannot receive financial support
from Americans including San Diego's Iranian
community. Although the group was considered
violent, Filner says they have disarmed. Their
status will be reviewed by the State Department
in October.
Filner Statement on
5th Anniversary of “Mission Accomplished” Banner
Washington, DC –
Congressman Bob Filner today released the
following statement on the 5th Anniversary of
President Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech
and banner on board the U.S.S. Lincoln aircraft
carrier:
“On the 5 year
Anniversary of the President’s misguided
‘Mission Accomplished’ speech, he is no more in
touch with the realities in Iraq than he is with
the American people! While families are
struggling to make ends meet at home, the War in
Iraq is extended indefinitely, and the cost—both
in people and dollars—continues to grow.
“While the nation
faces significant new challenges, the President
remains unresponsive. His economic policies have
benefited very few, while the quality of life
for the majority of Americans has deteriorated,
creating a culture of inequality. In this time
of war and economic upheaval, we must pursue new
policies to end conflict and create
opportunities for everyone.
“President Bush
and his Republican friends in Congress seem to
be content with a War that has cost an
incredible amount of lives, injuries, and
resources. Without the support or action of the
Iraqi people, we are left where we started—mired
in an unsustainable, un-winnable War. After over
5 years of occupation, we have mourned the loss
of thousands of fallen American heroes and
countless Iraqi civilians, a heartrending
reminder of the cost of war. We are spending 1
billion dollars every 2 days! The War in Iraq is
the product of misguided policy, which has
failed miserably, and should be reversed
immediately.
“As Chairman of
the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I am
extremely concerned about the hundreds of
thousands of veterans returning from the War,
many of whom suffer from severe injuries
including Traumatic Brain Injury and
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder—two conditions
that require extensive and costly treatment. It
is time to genuinely support our troops and
bring them home!"
Time to Genuinely
Support Our Troops and Bring Them Home
As the War in Iraq
is extended indefinitely, the cost—both in
people and dollars—continues to grow. Today,
after 5 years of occupation, we mourn the loss
of over 4,000 fallen American heroes and
countless Iraqi civilians, a heartrending
reminder of the cost of war. We are spending 1
billion dollars every 2 days! The War in Iraq is
the product of misguided policy, which has
failed miserably, and should be reversed
immediately. As Chairman of the House Veterans
Affairs Committee, I am extremely concerned
about the hundreds of thousands of veterans
returning from the War, many of whom suffer from
severe injuries including Traumatic Brain Injury
and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder—two
conditions that require extensive and costly
treatment. It is time to genuinely support our
troops and bring them home!
One Year after
President’s Announcement of Surge,
Iraqis Remain No
Closer to a Political Solution
President’s Iraq Policies Continue to Offer Only
a $2 Trillion, 10-Year War
San Diego,
California – With the anniversary of the
President’s announcement of the surge of U.S.
troops in Iraq occurring tomorrow, Congressman
Bob Filner (CA-51) pointed out, “A year after it
was announced, it is clear that the primary
objective of the surge – enhancing security to
enable the Iraqi government to obtain political
reconciliation – has not been achieved.”
When the President
announced the surge in January 2007,
Congressional Democrats warned that Iraqi
political leaders would not take the necessary
steps to achieve a political resolution to the
sectarian problems in Iraq until they understood
that the U.S. commitment was not open-ended. By
sending the opposite message, the surge risked
our troops for short-term security improvements
that would not be matched by the political
actions necessary to end the war.
Unfortunately, the President chose to ignore
this warning.
“America has the
finest military in the world and there was never
any doubt that adding U.S. troops would improve
security in certain Iraqi neighborhoods,” said
Congressman Filner. “Our troops have performed
their duties magnificently. We owe them the
deepest gratitude for their courage and
sacrifices. But the commitment of the Iraqi
government to political progress has never
matched the willingness of our troops to risk
their lives to improve security.”
A year ago, the
President outlined several important benchmarks
for the Iraqi government. He said Iraq would
hold provincial elections. He said the Iraqi
government would pass legislation to share oil
revenues among all Iraqis. And he said Iraq
would pass de-Baathification laws and
constitutional reforms. And yet not one of
these benchmarks has been met.
Instead, the past
year was the most lethal year yet for American
troops – with more than 900 brave Americans
killed. They died in support of an Iraqi
government that shows little interest in
progress.
The lack of
political progress by the Iraqi government calls
into question the core rationale behind the
troop surge. Indeed, senior U.S. military
commanders now portray the intransigence of
Iraq’s government as the key threat facing the
U.S. effort in Iraq.
“Rather than
demanding continued support for his $2 trillion,
10-year war, the President must work with
Congress to implement an orderly and responsible
redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq – finally
making clear to the Iraqi government that the
future of Iraq lies in their hands,” said
Congressman Filner. “Brave Americans must stop
dying for an Iraqi government that refuses to
make the tough decisions necessary to create a
future Iraq that is stable and secure.”
Filner Supports Bill
to End Use of Private Security Firms in Iraq
Rep. Bob Filner of
San Diego is backing legislation to replace
private security contractors in Iraq with
military or State Department guards.
Read more...
Congressman Filner
Protests Blackwater
Congressman Bob
Filner recently joined protestors at the Rally
and One Mile Walk to stop Blackwater West from
building a training facility in Potrero,
California. Filner declared, “Blackwater is a
Black Stain on American Democracy!”
Filner Introduces
Bill to Eliminate Mercenary Training Camps
On Monday,
Congressman Bob Filner (CA-51) introduced
legislation that would require that mercenary
training, including paramilitary-style training
by federal contractors, be conducted only on
property owned by the federal government.
Blackwater USA, a private military security
contractor, already operates two private
paramilitary-style training facilities: one in
Moyock, North Carolina and the other in Mount
Carroll, Illinois. Blackwater USA is also
seeking to open a third facility in Potrero,
California, which is located in Congressman
Filner’s district.
Introducing the
bill (H.R. 3649), Filner stated: “It is
outrageous to allow private individuals or
corporations to establish private military bases
anywhere in the United States! The
paramilitary-style training conducted at these
facilities has no place in our backyards.”
Filner also
believes that the federal government and U.S.
military have become too reliant on private
security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We must stop this trend,” he stated. “In the
meantime, H.R. 3649 would require government
contractors, like Blackwater USA, to train only
on property owned by the federal government,
such as our military bases.”
Congressman
Filner Speaks Out Against the Iraq War
Congressman
Bob Filner recently spoke out against the
Iraq War at the “Out of Iraq” Rally in
Horton Plaza. The Congressman said, “We
cannot allow our troops to suffer for a
failed policy. We must bring them home now!”
From Battlefield to
U.S. Hospitals, Congressman Filner
Travels With Wounded
American Troops
Congressman
Bob Filner recently traveled to Iraq, where
he and Secretary Nicholson, Department of
Veterans’ Affairs, followed the path of
wounded soldiers as they travel from the
battlefield, through Germany, and back to
the United States. Congressman Filner was
tremendously impressed by the capabilities,
professionalism and heroism of our Nation’s
soldiers.
Pictured here with the Congressman
are Imperial Valley natives (from left),
Command Sergeant Major Jorge Ortiz, El
Centro, and Master Sergeant Gilberto Pompa,
Brawley.
Filner Supports Bill
to Sunset Iraq War Authorization
Today, Congressman
Bob Filner announced his co-sponsorship of H.R.
2605, legislation that would sunset the
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243).
"I voted 'no' on
the original resolution to authorize the war,
because I did not believe it would make our
nation any safer," stated Congressman Filner.
"Today, more than ever, I know that was the
right vote. It is time for Congress to bring an
end to the disastrous war in Iraq."
