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A RESPONSIBLE PLAN TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ--Lend Your Support

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Mar. 28th, 2008 | 05:40 pm


 Forty-two Democratic Candidates for Congress have joined in endorsing A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.  The plan calls for an immediate end of military operation in Iraq and a withdrawal of troops from that country.  Although it does not set a time limit on the withdrawal process, it does not allow for “residual” troops to be left behind to train Iraqi forces, to act as security or police, or to selectively attack “terrorist” targets.  The plan also includes other critical steps necessary to support the end of military operations and to repair the damage done by an unnecessary war.  According to the group: 

Our plan will:
  1. End U.S. Military Action in Iraq
  2. Use U.S. diplomatic power
  3. Address humanitarian concerns
  4. Restore our Constitution
  5. Restore our military
  6. Restore independence to the media
  7. Create a new, U.S.-centered energy policy

Read how...

 

Some regular readers of this blog might wonder why I endorse a plan different from the one put forth by the Presidential Candidate I support,  Barack Obama.  I admire Obama for his early and consistent opposition to the war.  I believe that if elected he will take steps to end the conflict.  But his announced plan—a draw down over a year and a half while remaining forces continue to have a limited combat roll—mostly force protection and action against “proven” terrorist target is not optimal.  It reflects genuine concern by the military of the dangers of a “retreat under fire,” but it probably also reflects a  calculation that this kind of measured withdrawal is the most that is politically.

 

Actions like this one by Democratic candidates and other respected leaders help change the political landscape.  The broader the evident political support is for a rapid disengagement, the more likely that a President Obama—or even a President Clinton—and a Democratic Congress with secure majorities will feel emboldened to go farther faster.

 

I urge you to give careful consideration to lending your name to this effort.

 

 

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Comments {1}

Allow me to examine the plan ...

from: [info]onebuckfilms
date: Mar. 29th, 2008 12:21 am (UTC)
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> End U.S. military action in Iraq

The method for removing troops from Iraq, and implementation details are not outlined. Diplomatic efforts can only succeed if there is an entity with whom we can open a dialogue. Also, abandoning the Iraqi people would be mass genocide.

The current plan is only part military, and involves training the Iraqi government, military, police and domestic services to take over as we leave. Our military presence is there to keep things stable while they get on their feet.

> Using U.S. diplomatic power

They are capable of their own diplomacy, and the Iraqi Government does not want us leaving prematurely.

The fact that Iran does NOT want a stable Iraq makes it unlikely that they will help stabilize Iraq. It is more likely that they will want to take Iraq over to extend Iran's borders.

> Addressing humanitarian concerns.

Pulling out of iraq is not taking responsibility for our supporters in Iraq, and would lead to mass murder. In addition, we would be leaving Iraq with an even more unstable government than they have now, makign way for AQI to create a base of operations, ala Afghanistan.

Does not specify how it will address humanitarian concerns in Iraq.

> Restoring our Constitution

Many issues here have nothing to do with an Iraq exit strategy, and more to do with political and/or judicial wranglings and assertions.

> Restoring our military

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Some good in here, but again, this has little to do with Iraq itself.

> Restoring independence to the media:
The consolidation of our news media into the control of a relatively few corporate entities stifled a full and fair discussion and debate around Iraq. A more robust debate could be encouraged by expanding access to media.

This has reach far beyond the leaving of Iraq, and is attempting to piggyback a separate issue.

> Creating a new, U.S.-centered energy policy:
Finally, we are clearly tied to Iraq through our dependence on oil, which makes us vulnerable. Moving away from that dependence is necessary for strategic, economic, and environmental reasons.

Again, perhaps some nice things, but has no specifics on exiting Iraq responsibly.

----
Summary:

There are some nice sounding ideas, but nothing of substance on how to actually get out of Iraq and/or ensure Iraq's security.

Instead, it appears to address issues related to Iraq in source, but not so much current implementation, such as Guantanamo Bay, torture etc., and seems to be following a more general adgenda.

This is a mis-sell, and will not get my support for this reason.

It should, at the very least;

a) Address the primary issue of how to exit Iraq;

and

b) Be targeted to that plan, and leave other items for a more general plane to be examined separately ion it's own merits.

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