I’m heading down to San Diego from Los Angeles (CA-36) this weekend to attend the California Democratic Party Executive Board meeting, where we will debate an End the Occupation and Air War in Afghanistan resolution I co-authored with Progressive Caucus Chair Karen Bernal and prolific author Norman Solomon. Already, we are hearing push back on one particular word. Occupation.

Read the Resolution…

End the US Occupation & Air War in Afghanistan

WHEREAS, the California Democratic Party, concerned citizens and lawmakers are calling for a U.S. exit strategy from Afghanistan that will end the occupation and air war while ensuring the safety and security of our troops, our nation, and the region …

WHEREAS, the plight of women in Afghanistan is such that they continue to bear an especially heavy price under an eight-year occupation, and that far from eradicating the Taliban and other insurgencies, our presence has instead strengthened them, creating greater insecurity, death and impoverishment of the Afghan people; and

WHEREAS, polls show a majority of Americans are increasingly disturbed about the toll the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan is taking on our killed and wounded troops, as our involvement there continues to cost over a billion each week while the United States and particularly the State of California are in an economic crisis without money to fund domestic needs;

THEREFORE, Be It Resolved, that the California Democratic Party, in addition to reiterating its support for a time-table for withdrawal of our military personnel, calls for an end to the use of mercenary contractors, as well as an end to the air war on civilian populations, and urges our President to oversee a redirection of our funding and resources to include an increase in humanitarian and developmental aid, multi-party talks, aimed at ensuring a democratic and legitimate representation of the people of Afghanistan, as well as multi-party regional diplomacy for the safety and stability of neighboring countries; and

Be It Further Resolved, a copy of this resolution shall be sent to the California Democratic Party Congressional delegation, as well as the White House.

To me, “occupation” is a given. What else do you call it when you have tens of thousands of foreign soldiers in tanks, on corners, everywhere thousands of miles away from home? Some, fearful of rocking the boat, prefer sanitized language, euphemisms like “military intervention” rather than “occupation.” Initially, this resolution called for an end to aerial bombing, period — not just an end to the aerial bombing of civilian populations. This qualifying term excuses drone attacks and further advances the fiction that we have smart bombs that can see into the hearts of the victims and make a judgement about who should live and who should die.

Should progressives fight for the most truthful language or just get something, anything with a hint of an Out of Afghanistan message, passed at the Saturday resolutions committee meeting? I want to know what you think. Cast your vote! Bottom of the page linked HERE

I’m Marcy Winograd and I’m challenging Blue Dog corporate Democrat Jane Harman in the June 8, 2010 Democratic Party primary. In 2006, when Winograd jumped into the race just three months before the primary, she mobilized almost 38% of the vote.