[haw-info] TIME SENSITIVE: Call Senators and Representatives NOW to Oppose Dangerous FY 2012 NDAA

Please forward widely and quickly!

Any hope that the FY2012 Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would be improved in Conference was dissipated yesterday morning, when the committee released a final version containing $554 billion for the Pentagon base budget and another $115.5 for the wars.

 

The House is expected to vote on this bill TODAY, the Senate will vote on Thursday. We need to flood the Capitol switchboard with calls to our Representatives and Senators calling upon them to Vote "No" on this dangerous and wasteful bill. Please add your voice TODAY: Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121.

 

Background: The House of Representatives passed the FY2012 Defense Authorization bill last May by a vote of 322-96. Roll-call: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2011-375. The Senate passed its version of the "Defense" Authorization bill last week. Roll-call http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2011-218.

 

A joint conference committee completed work on a final version of the NDAA bill this weekend, which retains the flaws of the Senate bill and adds some new ones:

 

*It authorizes $554 billion for the Pentagon's bloated base budget and $115.5 billion for continuing the wars.

*It drops the Merkley language, which required a plan for the accelerated withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan before 2014.

*It provides for the indefinite detention of people suspected of terrorism, without charges or trial and mandates military detention for a subset of terrorism suspects.

*It bars the transfer of detainees currently held in Guantanamo to the United States for any reason including trial.
*It requires draconian sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran directly threatening the economic well being of average Iranians.

 

House and Senate votes will be coming today and tomorrow! Please make your calls now! Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121.

 

Let your Senators and Representatives know that you want them to vote against the FY2012 "Defense" Authorization bill because it imperils civil liberties, continues an endless war in Afghanistan and elsewhere, wastes billions of dollars that 99% of Americans need for a more secure life here at home.

 

Carolyn Rusti Eisenberg

for HAW Steering Committee

 

Please send along any feedback from Congressional offices to hiscze@aol.com

 

 

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