This week, General David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker testified before the House and Senate about the Iraq war. As we might have guessed, their testimony has amounted to simply announcing the administration's plans to continue on its current path -- to maintain at least 140,000 troops in Iraq indefinitely.
It's déjà vu all over again. Echoing their testimony from last September, Petraeus and Crocker claim that certain indicators in Iraq are positive, that they need more time to build on these marginal successes. But while they ask us for more time, more blood, more treasure, they still cannot provide any sort of strategy for success in Iraq.
Indeed, the definition of success has changed so many times in this war it probably would be impossible to design a strategy to achieve it. Going after the 9/11 attackers, finding weapons of mass destruction, getting rid of Saddam -- these initial goals were proved unnecessary or false, or have already been accomplished. So now, we have a new set of goals: creating a model democracy for the Middle East, wiping out al-Qaeda, limiting the influence of Iran -- problems this war has done more to exacerbate than to resolve.
After five years of chaos and destruction, we are told, once again, to trust them. To stay the course. To sign another blank check.
These requests, from an administration that has not an iota of credibility left, simply boggle the mind. In every aspect of this war, from the reasons given for the invasion, to the utter incompetence displayed at every turn, from the waste, fraud, abuse and war profiteering, to the lack of any strategy beyond waiting it out till the next administration, the Bush administration has given us literally no reason to give them the benefit of the doubt, and every reason to demand immediate and drastic change.
We find ourselves bogged down in the midst of a sectarian civil war, with our troops caught in the crossfire as Iraqi factions exploit our presence to position themselves not to build democracy, not to create a stable and free Iraq, but to dominate each other.
There is simply no valid rationale left for staying in Iraq -- not that there ever was one. Meanwhile, a full 60 percent of Americans now think the United States should set a firm timetable for getting out of Iraq and stick to it, regardless of the situation on the ground.
In his famous "Beyond Vietnam" speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to the way war diverted needed resources and energy "like some demonic, destructive suction tube." According to the Congressional Research Service, we are spending $10.3 billion a month, or $339 million per day, on the war in Iraq. For one day's spending in Iraq, we could provide access to health care for 2.6 million Americans for a year. For one day's spending in Iraq, we could give 48,000 homeless veterans housing for a year. We could achieve each of these goals by cutting the Iraq war short by one day. Imagine what we could do with a week's spending, or a month's!
Of course, the conservatives who refused to spend $50 billion dollars over five years to provide health care for needy children don't think twice about spending that amount for five months of war in Iraq. With our economy facing a serious downturn, and the baby boomer retirements on the horizon, the Bush administration is asking us to continue financing this war on credit.
Clearly, we are faced with a question of priorities. We can pour money down a destructive suction tube, for a war that is creating more enemies than it can destroy, in pursuit of impossible goals. Or we can invest in our priorities here at home, while showing a new face to the world, one characterized by respect for human rights, diplomacy, and the rule of law. To me, the choice could not possibly be any clearer.
I then recall, after that election, that Ms. Pelosi stated, inexplicably, "impeachment is off the table".
A few months later, as I recall, Ms. Cindy Sheehan marched to your office to conduct an Impeachment rally and you had her delegation arrested by the Capitol Hill Police.
I am guessing--or at least hoping--that the explanation for your and Ms Pelosi's dropping the ball on this is party partisan political ambition, and not some sort of corruption. In any case, you have a lot of nerve, complaining about a war in Iraq that you could have ended--had you done your constitutional duty!
does not end the occupation in Iraq. Talk is cheap. This
occupation is not. Get something done!
The whole point is: WHEN is Congress going to do something other than roll over and allow this charade to continue killing our troops?
The lack of OUTRAGE from politicians in my party is ....deafening! Writing quaint little posts on Huffpo is .....driving me insane.
Republican Chuck Hagel has shown more protest and passion against his own party.
Caveat Emptor.
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Do me a favor, and kill my tv.
They are both fragile and can both be reversed.
You know, the 1850s Republican Party coalesced when established Whig and Democratic politicians bolted their parties because neither would address the issue of slavery and its expansion. Today, neither the Republican nor the Democratic Party will truly address the issue of the military-industrial complex, our resultant worldwide empire of bases and interventionist foreign policy, a policy which (aside from being morally wrong) is truly the greatest threat there is to real national security.
For an expansion of these ideas see http://antiwarleague.net/blog/index.php?itemid=22
The choices couldn't be any clearer.
That's why no one is buying the bs.
Dead Troops = Halliburton Profits = Money in Dick Cheney's bloody criminal pockets.
The War will NOT end, to much money being made. And cowardly Democrats will, as usual, do nothing.
Disgraceful.
I just wanted to drop in on ya to say thank you once again for all your efforts. Agape, dapper
To not give the military what they need to get it over with because the people might get upset is beyond ironic. It will be cheaper and cost fewer American lives to put 500,000 soldiers over there to keep this from going on and on. Just flatten whatever Mosque Sadr is hiding in and kill Iraqis until they stop. The same number of people, or more, are going to end up dying anyway. You can't fight a war and worry about who you might make mad. Everyone is mad already and our military is dying a slow death.
It will take about a month to stage the soldiers and another month to get this thing over with. Then you can spend a couple of years rebuilding. Hopefully, in that time, an Iraqi leader will emerge.
Mainly because what you are advocating is morally wrong. Killing people until they bend to our will is the very definition of terror, a war crime and a crime against humanity. Indeed, if the Iraqis live by New Hampshire's motto, "Live free or die," then it becomes genocide. Why are you blaming Sadr? He had a truce in effect until we decided to violate it. Make no mistake; that was the Bush administration's decision. Al-Maliki doesn't pick his nose without our permission. Why did we violate the truce? Could it have anything to do with fear that al-Sadr will win the October elections and demand our withdrawal?
Beyond that, where do you think we're going to come up with 500,000 troops? You need to understand that when Shinseki said we needed 500,000 troops to occupy Iraq, he was saying it was not doable without a draft.
We're much better off if as some others here suggest, Conyers stops lecturing us and starts convincing some of his fellow Reps. to cut off funding. It's just as likely as 500,000 troops.
Let's see if we can make it simple...If it's clear the war is the wrong place to put the money Mr. Conyers, cut off the funding! You have no one else to blame for wasteful spending.
Spending of both lives AND money. As far as I'm concerned every life and dollar lost since the Democrats have taken control of congress leaves blood and stain on THEIR hands as well as on the Republicans'.
Thank you for meeting (twice!) with my friends Leslie and Ellen and giving verbal support to their quest for Impeachment - fast!. I would now request that you at least follow through with hearings as per Rep. Wexler, or better yet, as per Rep. Kucinich.
Also, my thanks to your staff at the Judiciary Committee office for their kindness and hospitality during our action.