A lecture by US Congressman Les AuCoin titled "Who Sends America to War?" delivered to the "Leadership and Public Policy" class at Pacific University on February 4, 1991. The class was designed to have Congressman AuCoin meet with the students for one and a half hours each month to "try to see how America works-- examining the distinctions between democratic governance in theory and as it is practiced by real people with real passions, feares, prejudices, principles, cynicism, and idealism." Discussing the Persian Gulf War, Congressman AuCoin states "The United States has unleashed the most powerful air campaign in military history and is posed for the largest tank and infantry battles in history. I find disturbing flaws in our policy. But I [sic] what I find more disturbing is President Bush's view that he, alone, has the power to wage this war-- notwithstanding the terms of the War Powers Resolution or Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution....What we have here is a President who refused to follow the law. His Administration went to ridiculous length to define 'hositilies' so as to avoid sending a report to Congress that would have triggered the War Powers Act and required an affirmative vote by Congress in order to maintain the troop development."
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on the War in Iraq. He discusses Richard A. Clarke's Against All Enemies book, stating that says the war with Iraq was the "wrong" war, making us more vulnerable to terrorism. AuCoin states that while President George W. Bush's main focus in the war has been retaking Al-Qaeda down, he has been oblivious to other terrorist regionaries in the Middle East. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2004.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin commenting on an earlier recording concerning abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. AuCoin clarifies his comment which compared the abuse of prisoners to the crimes committed by Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2004.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on Iraqi prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib Confinement Facility at the hands of members of the US Army and the CIA. AuCoin shared that the Bush administration was complacent towards the abuse, despite the Red Cross and Secretary of State Colin Powell bringing awareness to the abuse. It was not until Major General Antonio Taguba delivered a report showcasing the abuse that the Bush administration acted. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2003-2004.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin commenting on President Bush's admission to being wrong about his accusation that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction prior to the Iraq War. AuCoin stated that Bush's failures were "in the way that his top officials manipulated or ignored US intelligence to win support for the war." AuCoin states that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld lied to Congress about intel of Iraq having chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003 or 2004.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on operation “Iraqi Freedom." AuCoin points out how truth was a casualty of the War in Iraq, specifically pointing out how the Bush Administration used the idea of weapons of mass destruction to justify the war. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on coverage of the War in Iraq. He asserts that CNN is one of many news organizations that has covered the Fall of Baghdad in a entertainment-focused manner in order to capture more viewers. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on the lack of US preparedness leading up to the Iraq War. AuCoin emphasizes how the United States spent an abundance of money on military defense, but fell short when it came to providing proper life-saving flak jackets for troops. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin pondering a future with President Bush winning the 2004 election after then recent remarks by Bush that he would restore humility to American foreign policy if reelected. AuCoin states that, in the past, Bush has handled affairs in a non-humble way and that he is thus concernced with how Bush would handle violence in Iraq, especially admist news of his plans to invade Iraq. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in April 2001.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin regarding Richard Perle, the Chairman of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee and advisor to President Bush. AuCoin criticizes Perle, sharing how Perle has a history of promoting nuclear weapons, aggressive actions against Iraq since 1996, and pushing President Bush to wage a war with Iraq. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin discusses the burning of the American flag as a response to Bush's administration policy on Iraq. AuCoin asserts that while burning the American flag is technically legal due to the principle of freedom of speech, he personally disagrees with the action; arguing that the flag stands for freedom, not the politicians involved in the Iraq war "who officially abuse what it stands for." Indeed, AuCoin encourages waving the American flag to protest the policies of those in the White House. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
