House: Close Military Bases

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives took its boldest action yet with regard to Iraq: it voted to ban permanent military bases. The legislation passed furthermore also makes it the policy of the United States not to exercise U.S. control of the oil resources of Iraq. Why is this the boldest action so far, you ask? Up until now the Congress has only supported legislation demanding a drawdown of troops, while expressing a desire to keep military bases open in Iraq for the purposes of "protecting U.S. interests there" and furthermore conditions troop withdrawals on the ability or inability of the U.S. government to ram an oil theft law through the Iraqi parliament. I strongly support this motion and hope that it goes forward in the Senate. Unlike these previous pieces of legislation that have been passed by either chamber of Congress, the passage of this bill would undermine the purpose of the war, which is to secure Iraqi oil for American consumption. With a policy that expressly opposes this end, and furthermore outlaws the military infrastructure that would provide for the oil theft's enforcement, together make the goal of the war both unattainable and illegal. This cuts off the motive for the war at its source. There is zero doubt in my mind that if this bill passed by the House yesterday were to miraculously become law, the Bush Administration would hastily announce a withdrawal from Iraq. Contact your U.S. Senator immediately and urge them to propose similar legislation.