Dear RN list, June 2 As the message below points out (and the next messages too), laws still exist that show clearly that this ongoing bombardment of Yugoslavia is illegal. The people who organized the Moment of Silence for peace (contact: Chris Whitten <•••@••.•••>/http://www.momentofsilence.org/) remind us of the upcoming March on the Pentagon. Not all of us can go but we will join the marchers in spirit (even if some of us are not "Americans" = US citizens!) "Many Americans are making the trip to Washington, D.C. on June 5 to join in the March on the Pentagon. See http://www.iacenter.org/endrse65.htm" all the best, Jan ********************************************************************* Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 23:04:17 -0700 From: nurev <•••@••.•••> Organization: Nurev Independent Research -------- Original Message -------- Subject: The War Powers Act. Lest we forget. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION SEC. 5. (b) Within sixty calendar days after a report is submitted or is required to be submitted pursuant to section 4(a)(1), whichever is earlier, the President shall terminate any use of Untied States Armed Forces with respect to which such report was submitted (or required to be submitted), unless the Congress (1) has declared war or has enacted a specific authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces, (2) has extended by law such sixty-day period, or (3) is physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States. Such sixty-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional thirty days if the President determines and certifies to the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of United States Armed Forces requires the continued use of such armed forces in the course of bringing about a prompt removal of such forces. ----- The War Powers Act serves to maintain the illusion that all serious power really does not reside in the hands of the Executive Branch. The Congress has given up the pretense. May 25th 1999 was the day that Congress was either to declare war in Yugoslavia, or cut off the president's war making ability. Nothing happened. Did the corporate press forget how to count? Does no one in the Government have a functional calendar? Are government calendars printed by the same people who make the maps of Belgrade for the Air Force? Was there ever REALLY a Constitution, or was it all always bullshit anyway? Even if nothing else good comes out of this monumental elitist screw up, at least it is now out in the open. The rich in this country have done away with separation of powers and invested the country's blood and treasure into the branch of government they always directly control. Luckily for them, they always control the Senate, and often control the House as well. Now, if they could also gain control of the Judicial Branch as well, then that would make them the rulers of the country by anyone's definition. Oh guess what! Ninety percent of all the Justices who served on the United States Supreme Court come from the upper class. Those that did not come from the upper class become the upper class when they become Justices by virtue ( if that's the right word )of the high salaries and perks and pensions they get in their new jobs. And the wonderful new friends they get to make soaring the higher circles of Washington DC. The entire government is pretending there is nothing wrong with the President prosecuting a war that doesn't exist. This is what you get from a government made up almost entirely of lawyers who work exclusively for the rich. Joshua2
