SLAM Congress’ Phone Lines: Support the Troops by Keeping Them OUT of Syria

In 2013, the Obama administration was gearing up to launch an air war on the government of Syria. Antiwar.com and other outlets responded by leading a campaign of Americans contacting Congress to say, “Hell no!”

The campaign’s overwhelming impact was reported by WND.com:

“Americans are slamming at least 24 members of Congress with thousands of phone calls and emails, urging lawmakers not to approve a military strike on Syria—by a margin of as much as 499 to 1.

A national debate is raging on Twitter. Tweets and statements from members of Congress—both Democrat and Republican—show tremendously strong opposition to President Obama’s call for an air strike on Syria:

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., tweeted, ‘Calls and emails from my constituents is 100 to 1 AGAINST getting involved in Syria. The American people are speaking.’

Continue reading “SLAM Congress’ Phone Lines: Support the Troops by Keeping Them OUT of Syria”

Ron Paul: Without Authority, Obama’s Syria War Illegal

As the US State Department goes around the world lecturing other countries about how they must adhere to the rule of law, the White House again proves it is one of the most lawless entities on earth. The Constitution is clear; the War Powers Resolution is clear: the president is not allowed to commit the US military to combat without a Congressional declaration or at least authorization. Yet the president has been bombing Syria for a year and now is sending in US ground troops with no legal authority to do so. Congress is the president’s partner in crime and we are the victims – today on the Liberty Report:

Reprinted from The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity.

Henoko Takes on US Imperialism

Okinawa – Around one hundred and fifty Japanese protesters gathered to stop construction trucks from entering the U.S. base "Camp Schwab," after the Ministry of Land overruled the local Governors’ decision to revoke permission for construction plans, criticizing the "mainland-centric" Japanese Government of compromising the environmental, health and safety interests of the Islanders.

Riot police poured out of buses at six a.m., outnumbering protesters four to one, with road sitters systematically picked off in less than an hour to make way for construction vehicles.

All the mayors and government representatives of Okinawa have objected to the construction of the new coastal base, which will landfill one hundred and sixty acres of Oura Bay, for a two hundred and five hectare construction plan which will be part of a military runway.

Marine biologists describe Oura Bay as a critical habitat for the endangered "dugong" (a species of manatee), which feeds in the area, as well as sea turtles and unique large coral communities.

Continue reading “Henoko Takes on US Imperialism”

Report: Military Spent Over $10 Million on ‘Paid Patriotism’

You know when you go to a baseball game and invariably during some inning break the team points out a group of soldiers or national guard members in the stands and tries to get a big round of applause going? That doesn’t just happen.

A new report from Sens. John McCain (R – AZ) and Jeff Flake (R – AZ) revealed that the Pentagon has spent over $10 million in recent years to keep those “shows of patriotism” active across sporting events.

Whether it’s paying for special VIP parking for generals or for some team to show the military’s logo on their jumbotron, these programs are overwhelmingly pay-to-play sponsorship schemes. If 20 members of the military are getting the “Richard Petty ride-along experience,” it comes as part of a $1.5 million annual expenditure.

Interestingly, Congressional leaders seem to be of two minds about this heavily subsidized pretense of a pro-military environment, insisting it is a waste of money but largely expecting the teams to continue the programs irrespective of whether they pay for them.

That’s probably not going to be realistic, particularly in the long run, and while it’s certainly a waste of taxpayer money to have the National Guard buying a block of Red Sox tickets, Congress may be about to learn that in the absence of “paid patriotism” there’s going to be a lot less VIP treatment coming the military’s way.

Ron Paul Asks: Is Germany’s Migrant Crisis Leading To War?

Hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Africa, even western Asia are pouring into western Europe through central Europe as Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has laid down a welcome mat. Meanwhile political pressure within Germany builds, as villages of just 100 or more residents are told they must house thousands of refugees who know neither the language nor the customs of the area. Parties like the Alternative for Germany are enjoying increased popularity and electoral success. Is Germany – and the EU – headed for a crack-up? More today in the Liberty Report:

Reprinted from The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity.

Ron Paul: Russian Plane Down Over Egyptian Blowback?

The apparent downing of a Russian passenger plane over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula over the weekend has, as could be predicted, produced no shortage of theories as to who or what is behind it. Was it ISIS-affiliated Islamist terrorists who control much of the area? They took “credit” for the attack but do not seem to have the technical means to carry it out. A bomb on board? Blowback for Russian bombs on Syria? Today’s Liberty Report takes a look at the various theories and at the bigger picture:

Reprinted from The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity.