US Representative Barbara Lee(D-California):

On September 15,2001 the US Congress approved a resolution authorizing President Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against anyone associated with the terrorist attacks of September 11. The measure passed 98-0 in the Senate and 420-1 in the House. The lone dissenting vote was a colonel's daughter, California Democratic Representative --Barbara Lee. "I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States," Lee said on the House floor on Sept. 15. "There must be some of us who say, 'Let's step back for a moment and think through the implications of our actions today -- let us more fully understand the consequences."

 

 

STAR*PAC Activities for 2012:

STAR*PAC will present expert guest speakers for talks and events on foreign and military policy issues. We will continue to collaborate with other Iowa and national peace groups.

The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan remains top priority. STAR*PAC advocates a swift end to the U.S. military role there and will host focused FORUMS and SPEAKERS on what the U.S. should do next. It also remains important to continue to delve into the claims, processes and events that led to the U.S. launching of the wars and address the "Roots of Terrorism."

We will also address a wide range of other foreign and military policy issues, such as: tensions with Iran and North Korea, nuclear weapons and disarmament, military spending and their position on proposed new weapons systems, regional foreign policy issues such as Latin America and Israel-Palestine, the role of diplomacy, the U.S. role in the U.N. and other international organizations, their plans for U.S. and multilateral humanitarian assistance, and other issues.

*"War is not the answer" is a slogan championed by the Friends Committee on National Legislation and espoused by many members of STAR*PAC.

STAR*PAC is organizing individual-candidate "town hall" meetings on war and peace issues. Candidates will have 10-15 minutes for remarks of their choosing, then there will be questions and answers with the audience. All candidates of both parties will be invited to conduct such individual candidate forums. Other organizations are being invited to co-sponsor the individual candidate forums, which will be held at Central Iowa churches or other public venues.

STAR*PAC is asking all candidates to complete a thorough Questionnaire on their views and commitments regarding a wide range of foreign and military policy issues. The candidates’ replies will be published, circulated, and posted at STAR*PAC’s web site.

STAR*PAC would like to see an all-candidate forum organized in Iowa on foreign and military policy (as STAR*PAC did in the last wide-open Caucus in 1988, when all the Democratic candidates participated in a war-and-peace forum at Hoyt Sherman Place that was broadcast live and statewide on IPTV.) Candidates of both parties would be invited to participate in separate all-candidate forums.

STAR*PAC is likely to endorse a candidate or candidates near the end of 2007. It will choose to endorse a candidate viewed to be best for the cause of peace, based on positions the candidate takes, commitment to peace, his or her record to date, and any other factors. STAR*PAC will commend the endorsed candidate to caucus-goers.