Iraq: The Real Cost of War Can't Be Ignored

At each stop I make in this campaign, there are a lot of issues that I can talk about. Right now, too many Americans are worried about keeping their jobs, keeping their homes, and making sure their kids have quality education and quality health care.

But there is one issue that I believe is the linchpin to everything we want to do in a post-Bush world:

Ending the war in Iraq.

Some of my fellow candidates have decided to stop talking about Iraq. I'm not sure if they think the surge is working, or just that their polls tell them it is simpler and safer to follow the media's lead and just forget our brave troops and what this war is costing us.

Well, I believe that "easy" isn't necessarily right, so even if I'm the only person speaking the truth on this issue, I'm not going to stop.

I'm going to keep talking about ending this war and getting all of our troops out every chance I get.

The fact is, we cannot move forward on any of the issues that matter until we extract ourselves from this black hole that is robbing us of precious lives, money and time.

And we simply can't wait until 2013 to get this done.

Some of my fellow Democrats are willing to leave troops in Iraq for 5 years or longer -- the Republicans are talking decades -- yet still think we can make the dramatic changes here at home we need. But spending $10 billion a month on a war and working towards universal health care, building a new energy economy, and ending our dependence on foreign oil is an equation that doesn't add up.

It doesn't add up financially.

It doesn't add up morally.

It doesn't add up for America.

A few weeks ago, my campaign launched a very strong website www.2013istoolate.com which details the core problem I have with the Iraq plans of Senator Edwards, Clinton and Obama -- they won't even commit to getting all of our troops out of Iraq by 2013 -- almost five years from now.

And today, I'm proud that we've released another TV ad to bring attention back to this issue.

I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we don't forget this war, and forget what we need to do to end it.

Ending the war means getting all the troops out -- there is no room for rhetorical hair-splitting. We're either in or we're out. Now, or the war continues.

We hadn't planned on this, but I'm glad today is the day this ad is coming out -- because just yesterday Congress lost another chance to end this war, choosing instead to once again give Bush what he needs to draw out this tragedy even longer.

Where is the leadership? Just this week, with the fight over telecom immunity, we saw what can happen when a single Senator shows up and stands up for what's right, and yet, yesterday four senators in this race who say they oppose the war -- Senators Obama, Clinton, Dodd and Biden -- were all away while the president got what is essentially another blank check.

This Congress was elected to end this war and they have once again failed to stand up to President Bush. Yesterday, they didn't even show up ready to fight.

With a long history of repelling occupying forces, the people of the Middle East are very sensitive to foreign occupation. So long as U.S. troops occupy those lands, millions of Iraqis and those in surrounding nations will see American troops as jihadist propaganda portrays us -- as occupiers there to repress them and plunder their oil. If we want them to believe we won't occupy Iraq indefinitely, then we need to act like we won't -- and get our troops out.

In addition, our presence in Iraq perpetuates Iraq's political stalemate and undermines political reconciliation. As long as U.S. troops are there, the Iraqi factions have every incentive to jockey for power, rather than to reconcile and compromise.

As president, I will get all of our troops out, and I will get them out my first year in office.

A slow redeployment over many years would only prolong the suffering of Iraqis, and delay the process of reconciliation and reconstruction. The longer we take to redeploy, the longer our troops are in harm's way. While redeployment must be done carefully, as determined by our military leaders, to maximize political impact and minimize harm, we can't afford to drag it out over many years.

2013 is over five years from now. If we still have troops in Iraq in 2013, the Iraqis sure won't think the war is over. And neither will the American people.

I have profound differences with my opponents.

Senator Edwards says he will remove combat troops, but not necessarily non-combat troops, and not necessarily by 2013. This contradicts military doctrine that states non-combat troops must be withdrawn first with combat troops providing protection. Leaving non-combat troops behind will either turn them into combat troops or leave them as targets without any support.

Senators Obama and Clinton talk about ending the war, but when given the chance to commit to withdrawing troops by 2013, they both declined. They both say they will end the war, but I also remember hearing that when we elected a Democratic majority to Congress in 2006.

If we have a Democratic President willing to keep us in this war for five more years, what chance do we have of restoring our place in the world? Of creating real peace in the Middle East? Of having the diplomatic strength to broker peace in Darfur or Pakistan or North Korea?

If we have a Democratic President who is willing to keep us in this war for five more years, what hope do we have of funding full care for all of our veterans who have been injured and need our help?

What hope do we have of giving health insurance to children? Of paying teachers a living wage? Of dealing with global warming?

I think the answer speaks for itself.

I won't stop talking about Iraq, because you can't talk about solving any problem we face without talking about Iraq. We can't forget that.

Read several of the Governor's past posts on Iraq here, here and here.

Comments

[Roxanna]

Thank You Govenor Richardson for speaking out,
You are absolutely right the War In Iraq is the Black Hole of this Nation with the potential to sink it.

All waring Nations eventually do die...Hist­ory proves it and America is no different from it. Greed has taken over where oil and military spending is at the heart of it.It is more important to control and kill than educate and build.

I guess Americans want to learn the hard way.

[wrabbitt]

The REAL cost of the war,Don't that mean American lives,wasted on saving the bottom line of big business? American freedoms were never in jeopardy. "W" just couldn't get Sadam to play well with others, and got mad and took his toys and went home. Then put, a "contract" out on him. America's way of world politics. The economy has not done as well with this war as in past "WARS". Americans are losing jobs, and their homes, in record speed.We are not going to be a world power if we are a welfare state, There is no Care in health care anymore, even Veterans we owe everything to have no benefits any more! Government is past the point of caring for us. its trying to save a way of life for its elite and going to drag us down with it, and when it falls we fall too

[CajunCountry]

Give 'em hell, Bill!

[gigiz]

Dear Governor Richardson,
In elucidating the true cost of war and making the case for immediate withdrawal, I think that there are three vital points worth making.
POINT ONE: The war in Iraq is part of a much larger, longer term strategy of the US to gain regional hegemony in the middle east.Rober­t Dreyfus wrote an article in Mother Jones magazine (March/April 2003) entitled "THE THIRTY YEAR ITCH" that describes an increasing military build up begging in the 1970's following the Arab oil embargo. In the article , he credits Michael Klare, author of "resource wars" with recognizing that controlling Iraq is about "oil as power rather than oil as fuel." Control of the supply and flow of oil can be a very potent weapon against any nation that is perceived as defying the US interests and has enormous implications in the rate of growth of developing economies.
Furthermore, invasion of Iraq is only the first step in a series of planned military interventions in the region. General Wesley Clark describes in an interview with Democracy Now (March 2, 2007) a conversation he had with another general who described US plans to "take out 7 countries in 5 years starting with Iraq, and then syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and finishing off Iran."
POINT TWO: The true cost of war has been consistently underestim­ated.On the Nieman Watchdog page (Nov.1, 2006) is an article in which Linda Blimes of the Kennedy School of Government and Nobel prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz, estimate that the true cost of the war including interest payments, lost of productive capacity of soldiers, oil prices etc productivity could well exceed 2 trillion dollars. The opportunity costs of the war, in terms of crumbling infrastructure, deteriorating conditions in health care and education have already been discussed by previous respondents.
POINT THREE: It seems reasonable to suspect (but would, of course require further study to verify) that many of the individuals most responsible for getting us into this war may well have profited personally from the war through corporate stock holdings.

[wrabbitt]

Well, what do you want posted at the door Cub Scouts? This is a very insecure world and, unless something very drastic changes it will remain so.The taliban are not a group of church goers who meet once a week to play bridge, they are a determined,splinter group,intent on forcing there will on anyone that is in their way. They are intent on forcing their "religion" on the whole world,Communism at least had values. We will be fighting them for the next 25 years, Resistance is futile.

[PigLipstick]

Thank you Gov. Richardson, ending the Iraq conflict is key to just about all of our problems !

I'm hearing occasional comments by some on the Right concerning re-starting the military draft. Personally, I think we are in the current mess because we ended it 34 years ago. We've gone through a couple of generations since that have no ownership in this country, maybe it's one of the reasons why the younger generation lacks any passion for preserving our Constitutional Republic.

I concluded my seven year military enlistment 36 years ago and this bunch was working within the Nixon Administration to start the privatization of the military at that time. When the draft ended, I was contacted by one of my former military commanders and asked to reenlist because the new volunteers often lacked the ability to read and write, much less comprehend the operation of complex technical systems. I commend anyone who chooses to defend our country but when our government condones signing up non-citizens, ex-cons, and mentally challenged individuals to meet enlistment goals, we are building a token military with people that are simply targets in a very expensive shooting gallery.

Just remember that we had essentially ended the draft after World War I. When we were attacked by Japan in December of 1941, we did have a Reserve Force to take up the slack and respond immediately. These current civilian military geniuses, with their educational exemptions from military service, have depleted the Reserve and National Guard and devastated our regular military. I guess it's finally our turn to be the country that is devastated by their plan for endless war !

[glitzqueen]

Our government embassies and other offices all over the world are guarded by non-combat troops, for whom in most cases it's a plum assignment. Check out the Berkeley Square area of London, for instance, which houses both our Embassy and the headquarters building of CINCUSNAVEUR, and you'll find uniformed Marines checking ID at the doors.

Thus, when Edwards speaks of leaving some non-combat forces in Iraq, I believe that's what he means. He wants the war -- more correctly, the military occupation -- to end just as much as you do.

Who do you plan to post at the doors, Governor?

Greetings from Albuquerque,
Erin

[Purple Girl]

GET US OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST!!!
Then we must impeach the VP, then the Pres, Then Condi, then Pelosi- who gets the seat after her???
If this Congress won't bring War Crimes Charges against these criminals- the perhaps the UN should.
Hold Presidential Elections of July 4,2008. New admin starts after Labor Day.
The Dems candidates would benefit if you all came together as a united ticket. Our problems are to deep and too numerous for just one perspective- I want to Elect the Executive Branch!! You all have your own talents and fortes, but you all have weakness too. It's not who stills at the head of the table (spokesman), it's who all is sitting at the table.
Personally I have no interest in hearing anymore compromising across the aisle- they have abused their power- they are in a "time out". Congress has nearly gotten the Dems to the same fate.

[Troubledgoodangel]

It is insane to talk about solutions in Iraq lest someone has been there and knows what he or she is talking about! I do not care if this is Sen. Richardson, Obama, Clinton, or whoever! One thing I have known for a long time, without going to Iraq, and that is: the ways must be found to successfully pressure the government of Iraq to pass the crucial benchmarks regarding reconciliation! The government of Iraq is the key player! I heard that Mrs. Condoleezza Rice, like a naughty schoolgirl, "has not even been allowed to the office of a key Iraqi official, last week"! This is what I am talking about! There is a disconnect between the U.S. and Iraq! And, lest this is fixed soon and definitively," it will destroy any chance of troops leaving safely in the next years!

[booker52]

Good for Gov Richardson. Too bad our Prez isn't listening. Too bad the congress isn't either.

[Poppy8sd]

Senators --from NY, Ill, Conn., etc., ALL part of a herd. To vote for one of them: leaves their seat unprotected; their constituents: betrayed. NO current or ex Senator is a Leader. Vote for any of them: garbage of past seven years will Continue.

Only ONE person running for president is a True Leader --can handle the dozens of decisions that have to be made every day, KNOWS how to get things done, will NOT betray Democratic ideals: Gov. Richardson. We are LUCKY he is willing to do the job.

Iowa and NH residents: Look at his record --at five Nobel nominations, at Green record, at direct negotiation with N. Korea -Saddam -others to rescue Americans and resolve problems, balanced every budget yet medical insurance for children and much more, then PLEASE choose him.

I'm tired, worn out: I want a capable president I won't have to worry about, who won't get country, me angry every day. PLEASE choose Gov. Richardson. We CAN'T afford ANYone with herd mentality.

[13Martyrs]

Candidates have stopped talking about the war simply because the press allows them to. The press lacks the ability and the maturity to keep candidates focused on the issues at hand: The war, universal health care, keeping our homes and keeping our jobs. Rather, the press is preoccupied with its racehorse mentality, character issues and fund-raising. Election after election, the American media promise to clean up its act and focus on issues. It fails at every turn. The rise of Fox News et al has only contributed to the immaturity of the press' reporting.

[thedirtman]

Richardson is the only peace candidate that has a real chance to win. A vote for Richardson is a vote to end the war now and not 2013.

Clinton, Obama, and Edwards would have getting out of Iraq as a goal instead of a commitment. They would leave troops behind that the enemy would target to keep America fighting this ill-defined war, and draining our economy. Clinton, Obama and Edwards are not peace candidates.

Don't allow America to become drawn into further war. Remember our troops this Christmas.

[OETKB]

Can we get over the Glitz Factor and just get someone with demonstrated competence in the White House. There is no disconnect between the Governor's deeds and his words.

Today in the NY Times we get pieces not on the front runners accomplishments but rather:

Senator Obama's failure to be fully engaged as a state senator.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html?hp

Hillary Clinton's husband's use of clandestine mega-donors to fund his library under wraps and is using these same fund raisers(Terry McAullife for one) to finance his wife's campaign.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20clinton.html?hp

Also in the same paper is a column by Roger Cohen who seems impressed by the more reserved, less flashy Gordon Brown, who instead reeks competence and is ending his country's involvement in the Iraq War without fanfare.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/opinion/20cohen.html?hp

This constant dwelling on issues of flawed behavior and not on governing strength is going to impede this country's progress toward a better tomorrow. It is time for someone who is experienced in getting things successfully done within the democratic process. That someone is Governor Bill Richardson.

If his resume and deeds ring a bell, then energize yourself to get out and volunteer in the campaign inIowa and NH if you can. I myself will be putting on my boots and heavy coat and heading up to NH this weekend from Mass. I have decided I will not be shortchanged by the unhelpful major media choices of who should be elected President of this country.

Thomas Paine: "THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

[Rudym]

Governor Richardson,

Exiting Iraq would happen a lot sooner if Americans were personally threatened about being involved in Iraq or the Dems quit being wimps. Like being drafted or paying taxes to fund the cost instead of adding to the present 10 trillion dollar national debt. Time for an IRAQ WAR TAX to pay for war funding instead of passing the cost on to the Federal Deficit. The Federal Deficit spending is like a Ponzi Scheme. The higher it gets, the higher proportion of our taxes are paid to pay interest for the borrowed funds. 600 billion was paid this year to holders of Treasury Securities, mainly purchased by foreign countries. Think what 600 billion could have done if invested this year in American infrastrure, energy development, medical, education, etc. etc. That means every tax dollar spent by the government pays less for government services and more for interest for the bonds issued to pay the Federal Deficit.

195 Billion only means every person, including all children and retired folks, only have to pay $650.00 each for the IRAQ WAR this year. A family of four will only have to pay $2600.00. Bush said Iraq oil would pay for the cost but I think he miscalculated a little.
(300 million population time $650.00 equals 195 billion.)

If you want my personal opinion, I think the best way to fund the Iraq war would be for Americans to pay the 195 billion dollar Bush Iraq funding request by adding a $20.00 per roll tax added to each roll of toilet paper paper sold in America. This would be a great daily reminder of how the Federal Government will make use their tax money in Iraq.
(5.7 billion annual sales of toilet paper times $20.00 a roll equals approximately 195 billion.)