Active Resource

Schools, roads, utilities, security, clean water, a safe food supply, and healthy and educated citizens are critical infrastructure for our democratic republic.  These resources do not magically appear… unbidden.  
They cost money.  

Portland and Oregon’s resources for fighting crime and protecting our citizens have been compromised, because federal taxes continue to be wasted in an ill-advised war of choice.  More than 200 thousand private corporate “contractors” are now being used to to occupy and exploit Iraq.  It is inappropriate for the President of the United State to usurp the authority of our Governor, the commander of our Oregon Guard, by sending Oregon  resources and men to fight this illegal war.  Much of our expensive equipment will remain in Iraq, and too many of our personnel will be injured or killed.   There is no compelling reason for this misuse and abuse of our troops. We should demand that our represenatives end this surrender.
 
The missteps and crimes of this administration have put this nation at risk.  Now that we have created a dangerous situation in Iraq, we are  obligated to repair the damage.  But endless war and perpetual occupation are untenable.  There are better options.  We can redeploy, rebuild, and demand reparations from those who have chosen to commit war crimes. If corporate armies want to continue this occupation, they should foot the bill. The Oregon National Guard and Oregon taxpayers’ funds should not be used to buttress the corporate bottom line in Iraq.

The U.S. Constitution is clear and unambiguous: “Congress shall have power to provide; for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions.” (Article 1 Section 8 Clause 15.)

The Oregon Constitution is no less specific: “The Governor shall be commander in chief of the military, and naval forces of this State, and may call out such forces to execute the laws, to suppress insurrection, or to repel invasion.” (Article 5, Section 9)

The National Guard’s charter also gives Governors’ control of the guard. (see  Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution)

In spite of what we are being told, there is NO circumstance in these charters and proscriptions whereby the President is given ANY authority to call up the National Guard on his own - The constitutional provisions have been abrogated by congressional fiat.

“Over objections from all 50 governors, Congress in October 2006 tweaked the 200-year-old Insurrection Act to empower the hand of the president in future stateside emergencies. In a letter to Congress, the governors called the change “a dramatic expansion of federal authority during natural disasters that could cause confusion in the command-and-control of the National Guard and interfere with states’ ability to respond to natural disasters within their borders.”
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=170453

Now, the Oregon National Guard’s 41st Brigade Combat Team has officially been alerted for service in Iraq that is set for 2009. Oregon’s 41st is among five National Guard brigades scheduled for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan in the summer of 2009. The deployment will be Oregon’s biggest contribution of National Guard combatants since World War II. 

We have critical problems at here at home in Oregon. A waste of precious resources in Iraq is perhaps the most serious military, economic, and diplomatic blunder since the lackadaisical response to the fascism which led to the Second World War. 

The patently unconstitutional congressional tinkerings which have put our Oregon National Guard at risk in Iraq do not serve us well.

We can do better.  

Contact Elected Officials  or write a letter to the editor, get active! 

Tim Flanagan