Montana Legislature Becomes First State To Pass Bipartisan Resolution To End Endless Wars

April 22 , 2021 (EIRNS)—The Montana state legislature overwhelmingly passed an unprecedented resolution April 20 calling on the federal government to end endless wars. The resolution passed 95-3 in the House and 47-2 in the Senate, a fully bipartisan accord.

Rep. Ron Marshall (R-Hamilton) co-introduced House Joint Resolution 9, which is the first of its kind introduced in the United States.

The resolution urges President Joe Biden and the United States Congress to “end the endless war in Afghanistan,” repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, resist sending U.S. troops into combat without a declaration of war from Congress or specific authorization to deploy forces, and to “execute a prudent foreign policy.”

Concerned Veterans for America, a veteran-run organization, endorsed the resolution. Ross Duerstine, the organization’s deputy director, said in a statement that “the passing of the Endless War resolution is a firm statement—a strong message on behalf of Montanans that there is a better way than continuing to fight endless wars.”

According to USA Today, Montana has the third-highest percentage of veterans of all states in the country.

Concerned Veterans for America’s Duerstine emphasized, “Our troops have served valiantly in Afghanistan and elsewhere, but perpetual war and fruitless nation building is not in America’s best interests. Worse, endless conflicts marginalize the service of those who have sacrificed for our freedom. We owe our military community better.”

Chris Egert, Montana’s grassroots engagement director for Concerned Veterans for America, who helped write the legislation, affirmed that the organization is using the legislation as a model to introduce in other states and to also pressure their Congressional delegations by passing similar resolutions.

Much would be gained from discussing the deeper processes driving these wars.