The Escalation Didn't Work

The escalation failed to do the one and only thing it was supposed to do. The entire Iraq policy of George W. Bush has failed since the fall of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad. No amount of parsing or spinning can change those simple facts: the escalation is and was the wrong answer.

I chaired a hearing on the GAO Report yesterday, the report that stated that Iraqi civilians overall aren't any safer, that the political benchmarks aren't being met in Iraq, that, in short, none of the rationales for the escalation in Iraq have come to pass. It unfolds with maddening, enraging regularity: the Administration claims goals for their policy, they gradually back off of those goals and substitute smaller, less easily measured goals, and then muddy the waters hopelessly on whether even those modest new goals have been met. Time and again we've been through this.

That's why the Congress set up some clear benchmarks to measure what's happening in Iraq. Mitch McConnell praised the "clarity" those benchmarks brought to the debate. "Just wait until September," they all said. "We put in these meaningful benchmarks, we can judge in September."

Well, how do they judge those benchmarks now? Only three of 18 have been met. Another four were "partially met," which sounds like a "Gentleman's C" if I've ever heard of one (and, for anyone who saw my college transcript, I have).

Judgment time is here, and the only verdict is the same one we had in January, the same one we've had for a long time in Iraq: the Bush policy is a tragic failure. It's a policy that not only isn't working; it can't work. A political solution in Iraq cannot come about without a clear deadline on where our troops will be pulling out. Only Iraqis can end this civil war, and they aren't - and won't be - making any progress with an open-ended, massive presence by our military in their country.

The White House has tried, with some success, to focus everyone's attention in the media on the report they are writing, the report they used to call the Petraeus Report. But, at least judging from press reports, unfortunately, this report already seems to be controversial and solely focused on military measures. (No surprise - now, thanks in large measure to some good old fashioned muckraking out here in the blogosphere, we know that even the so-called Petraeus Report will be written not by the General, not by our Ambassador in Baghdad, but by the White House-- the White House which has again and again avoided the kind of plain, unadorned facts discussed in the GAO report.)

Look, I know from experience that there's no such thing as a military solution to a situation like this, and no amount of "metrics" can create one. Our own generals have always confirmed this about Iraq. And by the way -- go read all of the statements at the time about the "reason" for the escalation - it was to buy political breathing room for Iraqis to compromise. Period. It hasn't happened. So it all boils down to the same thing: these are more "steps" that don't get you any closer to your real goals, "successes" that don't lead to any resolution.

This White House ran out of credibility on Iraq a long long time ago. This is not the first time we've been told one thing only to learn another (Weapons of mass destruction? Greeted as liberators? Saddam's oil revenue to pay for the war and reconstruction?), so, predictably, instead of an honest appraisal of the escalation, this White House is again moving the goalposts and shifting criteria-- and they are doing it as the moment of accountability arrives. Their response to bad news has been and continues to be: simply change the story. What they can't change is the fact that time is not on our side. It's wrong to sacrifice over 100 American lives each month for a policy we know is not working.

So here's where we stand: Republicans asked for clarity in this debate and swore up and down that, this time, they were serious. When September came around, they'd look at the facts and make a sober assessment on the merits of the policy in Iraq. Well, those facts are in. We need to keep up the pressure on them.

I'll be working continuously this month trying to set a deadline to force a new policy in Iraq. I'll try to stop by as often as I can this month with ways you can, if you choose, put the pressure on the Roadblock Republicans to force them to take a new tack. In the end, it's been sustained action by millions of activists that have gotten us this far, and it's only through the loud voices of those activists that we can get what's right - an end to the Bush doctrine in Iraq, and a policy worthy of our soldiers' sacrifice.

Comments

[Doofus]

The 'escalatio­n'/'Surge' did what GWB & the gang
wanted, in that it's kept the war going for
another 6 months, minimum. And in so doing
made it all the more unlikely that that we will get
out of there before the next President takes
over. In other words, did what GWB & the
gang wanted, which was to not lose the war
on their watch.

Nice hand-off! Or is it more of a 'Hail Mary'?

(You can win, Winsocki
If you buckle down
If you mow them down
If you go to town
You can wear the crown
If you will only buckle down.)

Anyway, Boola Boola!

[netrootsdailydotcom]

Senator Kerry , you are in a unique position. Bring this debate - and the positions of your peers - to the front pages every day you can, until it ends.

[lisakaz]

I agree with you, Senator. And beyond these clear shortcomings, needs to be a followup. What would more blood and treasure gain, if that were sustainable? Not much, hence it is not worthwhile. And more blood and treasure ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE. Let that be understood. This president acts as if he has no spending limit, in part because Congress does not give him one. But the American people have a spending limit in both areas and WE ARE MAXXED OUT (or on the brink of it if not past it)!

It was discussed in the MSM as a foregone conclusion that this president will ask for untold dollars yet again and get whatever he wants. He is playing for time, as Keith Olbermann stated, and nothing more. When will the Congress call him out, when will this unfettered war of stupidity end so that we can fight the real enemies of America, rather than invent some so Big Oil and the MIC can make more money?

It is repeatedly stated that Congress lacks the votes to overturn this president. Why is that the bone of contention. In truth, this president lacks the votes to get his way if those representatives listened to the governed, whose consent is supposedly the point of government in the first place (so say John Locke et al.). This is not about sustaining a veto but about giving in, as has been done time and again. Enough is enough. This president SHOULD NOT have enough votes to get unmitigating spying abilities and unmitigated dollars for his un-excellent adventure in killing out Constitution as well as Iraq. Please stand up for We the People and see that others do too.

[Tommymac]

Sen Kerry, I supported you in 04...but...tell me when YOU asnd the other Dems in Congress are going to put their Careers on the line, and FIGHT the Corporatist agenda tooth and nail...when are YOU going to Sacrifice for the Constitution, ...when are YOU going to back up your words with action...when are YOU going to show the same courage our Soldiers do who know they are fighting a losing battle yet still put it all on the line...

Quit talking, quit blogging, and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!! YOU HAVE THE PODIUM!!!!

[Viper]

Yes, we all understand its not working. The notable success is by paying Sunni's $300 per month and supplying them weapons to shoot at Al Qeada (other Sunnis) instead of us and in the process armying a Shite militia that openly states its against the elected government.

But what does this mean the DEMs will do? I suspect it means you roll over again and fund more and let Bush have his way. Give him a bill that only allows for the funding of troop withdrawls. That forces proper training and leave before any further redeployments, and that clearly ends the authorization given for this occupation or attacks on other countries. Let him VETO till he runs out of pens and funds. Let the political chips fall where they may. Yes, there will be more violence in Iraq. But that happens if we leave in 6 months or six years. And we are a debtor nation, that makes nothing, imports everything, exports only jobs, has declining wages, that has a crumbling infrastructure, that cant protect its own borders and cant afford to be in Iraq.

Otherwise the senseless death of any more is on the hands of the DEMOCRATS who chose to play safe politics over doing what is right! And what will you tell the mothers of these further senseless deaths?

Regards

[Viper]

I meant "armying a Sunni Militia thats against"

Regards

[KenFr]

"The entire Iraq policy of George W. Bush has failed since the fall of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad."

WRONG. The policy failed the moment a US Soldier stepped into Iraq it FAILED and no benchmarks, no escalation, no change in leadership will ever change that.

But it continues failing because Democrat Politicians continue voting to allow bush to take our billions and continue this war.

I proposed each and every politician who ever voted for this war be tried for war crimes.

[Plowboy]

Whether it failed or not is a matter of opinion. If you believe (any of) the stated goals, it is an enormous failure. But things are not always what they seem. If ther true purpose was that given in the Schiff plan I discussed above this war was a great success. America paid. Iraqis suffered and will continue to suffer, but ... well check it out for yourself. Chomsky discussed it in his "Fateful Triangle."

[DemLo]

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!!!!!!!!!
IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Drill]

Retreating in the war on terror is no option. I soundly reject the cut and run theories that politicians seem to cling to.

[capemh]

Keep it up, Senator.
It's not going to help much, I'm afraid, not with that DINO Lieberman forever on the wrong side of this.
Did you hear Olbermann's take on the President's remarks from Robert Draper’s book “Dead Certain?”
“I’m playing for October-No­vember...T­o get us in a position where the presidential candidates, will be comfortable about sustaining a presence.”
No matter what is said, this war will continue as long as Congress will let him continue it.

[Dap]

Dear Senator Kerry,

Funny, last week just before the holiday I was thinking of you and wondering were ya have been, thank for dropping in on us.

I want to share with you what I have personally posted today:

Why can't anyone get it through their heads, *IRAQ* is the wrong place to keep their focus, Iraq has always been about Iran.

The long term goal is *IRAN*, Iraq is a strategic and tactical staging point and buffer for a military attack on the Iranians, Iraq was not about taking down Saddam, although that took place, Iraq, was not about democracy, although an Iraqi government was established, Iraq was not about freedom, and was never the intention.

Iraq, was always about Iran and their moving into the nuclear age.

So do all the figuring ya want about Iraq, it does not mean a thing, because Iran is the goal, the target, the real military objective. To understand what did happen, what is happening, and what will happen in Iraq, look to Iran. It's really that simple. They are not mutually exclusive, they are *peas in a pod*.

Make no mistake about it.

This is not about speculation, or crystal balls, it is based on clear objective evidence.

This Senator Kerry as I see it, and yes it is my personal objective opinion, but all the evidence shows beyond any doubt it is correct and fact based.

Please let us start talking about the 800 pound gorilla in the room. There shall be no problem solving in Iraq if we fail to do so.

Agape.

[Slimsmom]

Dap, I agree it is about Iran, but that isn't all it is about. Iraq sits on a sea of oil, it is strategically located in the middle of every nation there that the US has a vested interest in keeping in check (Iran, Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria,Turk­ey,Pakista­n and Saudi Arabia)Kuwait and Qatar are the jumping off points, and they are our best good buddies. We have an oil pipeline stretching across Afghanistan with bases interspersed along it's path to guard it. We also have permanent bases in Iraq now. (We have been investing in the infrastructure of Iraq, our own.)We provide arms to insurgents to keep them fighting among themselves so we can continue building our infrastructure. Everything this administration wanted for the area of the Middle East has come to pass. It has kept us fighting amongst ourselves with lies and obfuscations while it stealthily went about putting in place everything it needed to make the US a continued and threatening presence in the area. We are now King of the Hill over there, and anyone who really believes we will be leaving anytime soon needs to take a fresh look at what we have done, and our reasons for doing it.
All the BS about fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here is rubbish, and has been from the outset. Bush and Cheney and their ilk saw all the advantages to be had with a permanent American presence in the area and weighed it against all the flak they would get for it, then rolled the dice in favor of gaining their objective, and damn the naysayers. They truly believe that all that has been sacrificed was worth the price. Hell, they didn't care what the price was, they were determined to have it, so they ponied up.
Kucinich, Gravel and Paul are the only ones, if elected, who have said they will pull the troops. Does anyone here think any of them have a snowball's chance of winning? We are there, and we are staying there.

[OldKnute]

PS

Sorry for all the Typos, I am nearly blind.

The ultimate success for bin Laden?

Is for the Neo-Cons to bomb the heck out of Iran, further reducing any obstacle to Radical Extremist version of a ,,,, FALSE,,, Islam.

Our true enemies?

Ignorance, poverty, despotism, illiteracy, corruption and repression of the human spirit.

You want to solve the problems of the Middle East?

Teach them all how to READ, and pass out the Qur’an by the millions.

The Path of PEACE!

JMO

All the best

Knute

[AlaskaMad]

Thank you Sen. Kerry. I can only hope you can convince our other senators of your beliefs.
One question though, Why aren't these crooks and liars being punished. The commanding officer that allowed a B52 fly across our country with nukes attached to it's wing pods was removed from his command. What Bush and his cronies have done to this country and Iraq is a much bigger mistake. The founding fathers included the impeachment process for a reason. USE IT!

[Libsrule]

Keep fighting John. It's the least you can do.

BUT until this president is held accountable by your Senate and fellow House of Representatives through some sort of censure, impeachment or other means, all your work means little in the long run.

This president has thumbed his nose at every single step of the process by which our country is run. His comment widely reported that he considered the Constitution a "Goddamned piece of paper" is perhaps more telling than anything.

BUT his constant changing of the rules, the goalposts, or what have you, should be some sort of reason to bring him in and have him questined before the entire Senate or something. I don't know procedure Senator Kerry but letters to the WH mean nothing, they simply ignore them.

Emails the same. Phone calls? Why bother.

So it's not enough to contact the obstructionist senators, they don't care, they have party loyalty over loyalty to America. Party over country and until that changes, you and your fellow democrats, until you get a vetoproof majority, are not going to be able to get shiite done at anytime.

So either start calling this president out publicly and damn the rightwing media whores or sit back until this presidency has run it's course of lies, obsfucations, corruptness, and support of war profiteers.

Good luck with all of that, I'm a supporter.

By the way...you wuz robbed!

[Fairfloss]

Senator Kerry, Please introduce some legislation that would put term limits on all Senators, so that we get get some fresh blood in the Senate.

I believe that was the way it was suppose to be in the beginning and that just might solve many problems within our government.

Hopefully, the House of Representatives would follow suit. They could use term limits as well.

If you are truly interested in this Country, you would give this some thought.

[realitytrumpsbull]

I think they should start passing out a free stencil and eco-groovy paint so people can
voice their support to end the war in a visible yet peaceful fashion...maybe rent a plane with one of those tow banners too. 3 words, 'end the war', that's all you really have to say...