8th CD Candidate Forum Addresses $178 Billion War Funding Measure Sunday, 4/27
in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO, April 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Congress begins
debate on additional funding for Iraq and Afghanistan military operations, San
Francisco peace groups have called a Town Hall Meeting to debate The Costs of
War. The meeting will start at 5pm on Sunday, April 27th in the Victoria
Theatre, 2961 16th Street (near Mission and Capp Streets).
Organizers are inviting all 2008 candidates for the 8th Congressional
District house seat, currently occupied by Nancy Pelosi, to participate or
send a representative -- regardless of their position on the issue. As of
April 19th, Democrat Shirley Golub, Independent Cindy Sheehan and Libertarian
Phil Berg have confirmed their participation.
Aside from candidate speeches, the Town Hall will feature questions and
comments from the audience. A number of additional speakers are also expected
to address the meeting, which is sponsored by the Gold Star Families for
Peace, the Iraq Moratorium and other local peace groups.
The Town Hall coincides with House consideration of the latest
supplemental funding bill for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to a Thursday Associated Press report (at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080417/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq_funding_6),
Congressional leaders are considering a single, $178 billion measure that will
finance the occupations for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2008 and through June
2009. By passing this measure, Congress would avoid a debate on additional
war funding just prior to the November election.
"By funding the war well into 2009, Congress would abandon its
responsibility to provide continuing oversight of the Executive Branch, and
would condemn hundreds of additional young Americans to death and serious
injury," said Town Hall co-organizer, Marc Joffe. "Further, to spend over 1%
of the nation's GDP on fruitless wars during a recession is the height of
fiscal irresponsibility."
Despite the recent US troop surge, violence in Iraq remains at a high
level. During the first 18 days of April, 27 American soldiers have died and
over 1000 Iraqis have been killed in numerous attacks. Total US casualties
thus far number 4039 dead and tens of thousands injured. Estimates of Iraqi
deaths range up to 1.2 million.
Officially, total Iraq War spending now exceeds $512 billion, but if long
term care for veterans, replacing military equipment and additional interest
on the national debt are included, the true cost of the war is three trillion
dollars, according to Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
Next Sunday's 8th CD meeting is part of a national series of Iraq Town
Halls organized by Democrats.com and several national peace and progressive
groups. More information on these events is available at
http://www.iraqtownhalls.com.
Other Events
On Thursday, April 24th at 5pm MoveOn.Org and several local progressive
groups will hold a rally on Iraq and the Recession in front of Senator Dianne
Feinstein's office at 1 Post Street (corner of Post, Montgomery and Market).
The rally will include street theatre and will feature the release of polling
data that shows California residents believe that the Iraq War is connected to
the current economic downturn. MoveOn.org activists will also provide data
showing what services Californians could receive if war funding was diverted
to domestic priorities. More information on this event is available at
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=113.
Prior to the Iraq Town Hall, at 2pm on April 27th, the Victoria Theatre
will host the world premiere of "IRAN (is not the problem)". This feature
length documentary critically examines the case for a US attack against Iran
and includes interviews with Iranian Americans and Bay Area peace activists.
More information about the film is available at
http://www.iranisnottheproblem.org/.
Contact: Marc Joffe (415) 205-3122
Dede Miller (562) 912-5838
SOURCE Stop Funding the War Coalition
Marc Joffe, +1-415-205-3122, or Dede Miller, +1-562-912-5838, both for Stop
Funding the War Coalition
