Complete The Mission in Bagdad – Withdraw From Berkeley, California

9. WHEREAS, many enlisted persons never see the benefits they are promised and find out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to loopholes and they did not receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for jobs outside the military; and

10. WHEREAS, the people of Berkeley should want the Marine Corps present near Berkeley High School, Berkeley City College, and University of California no more than they would want other violent influences downtown.

And the report concludes with two resolutions:

1. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.

2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.

The above speaks volumes on its own; commentary thereon adds very little to the discussion.

This is both an event and an issue that should be addressed by candidates for President of the United States. Answers would help establish clarity with respect to their positions regarding our military in general, homeland security and actions of local government in harming the ability of the United States to recruit members to our armed forces.

My question for the next Presidential debate would be:

1. Please, in your answer, do not discuss free speech. Everyone understands the right of the Berkeley City Council and any American to express their views:

One word answer: Do you condemn or support the actions of the Berkeley City Council and their Mayor, Tom Bates?

2. What actions, if any, would you support in response to the actions of the Berkeley City Council?

My answers:

1. Condemn

2. Within the City Council Chambers in public session, the Berkeley City Council represents the views of the people of the City of Berkeley. If the people of Berkeley do not want the Marines to recruit in their city, the Federal government should be interested only in performing the minimum activities required by Federal law in the City of Berkeley. Therefore, I recommend the following:

? Close any Federal office operating in the City of Berkeley where the services can be performed in another city (regardless of any inconvenience to the citizens of Berkeley).

So fine, if the Berkeley City Council wants to decide who can join the military, as well as why and where it should fight, the Federal government should decide where it wants to do business. In making this decision, the Federal government should withdraw its non-essential operations from Berkeley, California and move them elsewhere.