Let me preface this diary with this: I recently found out that one of my loved ones has been called up to be one of the "
non-combat troops" being sent to Iraq/Syria. That said, I think anyone who knows me realizes that, even if I did
not have a loved one being deployed, I would be questioning and researching the validity and
necessity of US Troops being put in a life or death situation abroad.
Question I ask myself: Why are we, at lightening speed, going to war in Iraq/Syria? Right now! Meanwhile, as our troops are sprinting into hostile territory, our Congress is going on vacation to campaign for each other .... hmmmmm ... something just does not seem right, or urgent, about sending troops into hostile territory.
Rep McGovern (D-MA) "If bombing people is not war, then what the hell is!?
We're at war, no authorization, Congress goes on vacation to campaign (SMFH).
Congress is being nonchalant about this war and are effectively saying
... 'eh, so our Troops are being sent into hostile territory, some may die, be captured, tortured but hey -- I have an election to worry damn it!.'
The US press is so tabloid that it's hard decipher facts through the tripe they spew. Some say Congress is thinking about authorization, some say Congress will not authorize until after the election, ... blah blah ... so it's fluid. Changing minute by minute.
But I want to know, what's really happening now? Is Congress going to put an Authorization Bill on the floor and debate the merits of this new war on the Senate Floor?
So, I called my two Republican Senators and one Democrat Representative. The two GOP Senate offices told me that putting an Authorization Bill on the floor for debate is solely left up to Harry Reid. Then, both Senate offices told me that there is ... is ... an outside chance, not likely, but an outside chance Harry Reid may -- just may -- put an Authorization Bill on the floor. Ok, since both offices told me that, I was encouraged.
Naturally, I called Harry Reid's office to ask his office just how likely that 'outside chance' is. And that's when I got very ... disappointed.
The guy who answered Reid's phone asked me where I was from, I told him, and then said "since you are not from Nevada, I will not answer your question." Then he hung up. {click.}
That's blunt. "I will not answer your question" {click.}
Grant it, that guy had no idea that one of my loved ones is one of the US soldiers President Obama is sending to Iraq/Syria. I also understand that Senators don't want to tie up their phone lines for non-constituents so if someone calls and asks something like 'why did so-and-so vote against naming the Library such-and-such' that someone will be told, "you're not one of the senator's constituents so I will not answer your question." Rude? Yes. But understandable? Yes.
But, this is not a naming of a Library, this is war literally life and death. Harry Reid is the head of the Senate and is in charge of what gets on the Senate floor for debate. And, since this is a question of war and peace, life and death, and this complex situation certainly affects every single American one would think the guy who answered Reid's phone could have clarified whether there is an 'outside chance' Harry Reid will allow a vote on Authorization.
So, I called Reid's office back...
The male receptionist answered, and I said something to the effect of: 'I don't want to tie your line up, but can you just tell me if there is even an 'outside chance' Harry Reid will allow an Authorization Bill on the floor?' -- He hung up. {click.}
Alright.
I was getting nowhere with that guy, so I decided to call Harry Reid's Foreign Policy Legislative Aid, Jessica Lewis.
The male receptionist answered the phone and I asked to speak to Jessica Lewis.
male receptionist said, "who is this?"
I answered, "who is this?"
male receptionist: "Dylan"
I gave my name, he hung up {click}.
Ok.
Dylan.
Here's some irony. I googled "Dylan" in Harry Reid's office and found that Dylan J. Lierd works for Harry Reid, but get this, he lives in Utah. Not Nevada, but Utah.
I do not live in Nevada so I am not worthy of an answer regarding war ...
Personally, I think the head of the Senate, Senate Majority Leader, is -- by virtue of his title -- the senator for all Americans and not just the Americans who live in the state they hail from.
Plus, I get calls all the time from the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee asking me to donate money to senators all around the country who are not from my state. Yet, I cannot even get an answer to one of the most serious questions most American's minds: "is there an 'outside chance' Harry Reid will allow an Authorization Bill on the floor for a vote."
But ... whatever ... Congress just got off of a 5 week vacation and will have only worked 7 days before they go on another vacation to campaign.
Meanwhile, American families are being asked to send their loved one into hostile territory, combat, and the head of the US Senate's receptionist hangs up on people asking whether there is even an outside chance Harry Reid will put an Authorization Bill on the floor and debate the merits of this new war.
"you're not one of the senator's constituents so I will not answer your question."
Gosh, he didn't even say, "
Remember to vote Democrat."
P.S -- Food for Thought
- Did we invade Israel in 2003 when they bulldozed to death American Rachel Corrie after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drove a bulldozer over Rachel as she was peacefully protesting against the demolition of a Palestinian's home? No.
- Did we invade Israel in 2010 when they shot dead a 19 year old American humanitarian worker, Furkan Dogan, who was on the Gaza Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip? No.
- How about in 1967? Did we invade Israel after Israel murdered 34 U.S. Soldiers after they, Israel, blew up the USS Liberty? No.
- In 1983, did we retaliate after 241 American servicemen were bombed to death in the US Marine Barracks stationed in Lebanon? No.
- Since 2001, have we ostracized Saudi Arabia and/or invaded Saudi Arabia for their role aiding Terrorists and being the worlds largest bankrollers to: al Qaedia, Taliban, ISIL, Hamas? No.