Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

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Ms. WOOLSEY. I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my good friend from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) which I am very proud to be a cosponsor.

The war in Libya, which was not authored by this body or our Senate colleagues, has lingered for more than 100 days.

Mr. Chairman, despite the legal contortions coming from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, the dropping of bombs, the killing of civilians, and the use of drones in Libya most definitely constitutes hostilities. And it's our responsibility in the Congress to make sure that these hostilities do not escalate into a full-blown ground war with boots on the ground and the United States becoming an occupying force in Libya.

The President has assured us that this won't happen, and I believe that a ground war is not his intention. But it wouldn't be the first time, Mr. Chairman, in the history of the United States' warfare that there was a shift in military, with the military campaign beginning as one thing and ending up as quite another. So it's critical that we assert ourselves using the congressional authority to appropriate funds to say ``no'' to launching a third ground war.

Our authority rests on how we use the people's money. Today's amendment denies the use of our tax dollars to send troops into Libya.

The war in Libya is a war of choice, except it's one that Americans didn't choose. It's not one that their elected representatives here in the people's House and Senate chose either.

We must ensure it does not go any further. We must listen to our people--the people who sent us here, the people we work for--who are insisting that we set limits. They know that we can't afford another Libya becoming another Iraq or Afghanistan.

Are these the values that we celebrated over this patriotic holiday weekend? Permanent warfare that leads to mayhem, despair and instability without advancing our national interests? It's time we start embracing the principles of smart security--humanitarian aid and civilian support--instead of perpetual warfare.

Haven't we had enough? Haven't our troops proven their valor? Haven't military families proven their selflessness and sacrifice? Haven't the taxpayers parted with enough of their money?

Vote "yes'' on the Conyers-McClintock-Woolsey-Lee amendment. Say no to ground troops in Libya.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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