Democrats Looking for Iraq Plan That Works

    One of the story's making the rounds this evening comes by way of Yahoo News concerning the Democrats not being able to figure out how to get around the GOP and other Democrats who keep stopping plans to get out of the Iraq mess that the United States is in.

   Thus far the House and the Senate's non-binding resolutions have made it nowhere as have any other resolutions dealing with our troops.

Internal party divisions, Republican opposition and a president who — while weakened — still appears to have the dominant voice on the war have all left Democrats flailing in search of a way to change the war's course.

...Their plan to place strict conditions on war funding appears to lack enough support within their own ranks to succeed. Another bid to narrow the 2002 resolution authorizing the war is unlikely to garner the 60 votes it would need to be approved in the Senate.

The first signs of impatience among Democrats' allies are sprouting.

"The public is saying, 'We hired you to get out of Iraq — now figure it out,'" said Tom Matzzie, Washington director of the anti-war group MoveOn.org. "There is a risk that without action, frustration boils over into anger."

Democrats argue that their failed efforts to thwart Bush's war plans will ultimately pay off by ratcheting up pressure for a change.

   Pressure for change? Let me see. The voters back in November said that the war in Iraq was of major concern to them. The voters back in November said that they would like to see the United States out of Iraq. The voters back in November also gave the Democrats control of the Congress and barely control of the Senate and thus far the voters most certainly have not gotten their votes worth!

   I do not think that the voters are frustrated as of yet, not from what I hear, but they are sure getting angrier at a congress who still insist on wasting time with non-binding bullshit and a host of other ideas that they cannot agree on amongst themselves.

   If the Congress wants a binding idea that they can work with then I have an idea for you. Cut the damned war funds and bring our people back home! forget about the Republicans and their ' support the troops ' bullshit and be tough for a change. You Democrats cannot support the troops by fiddling around with Bush and each other over petty crap. You Democrats cannot support our troops by leaving them stuck in that Iraqi hell-hole while you guys run around worrying about political fallout and such.

  Cut the funding! That is what the American citizens are requiring of you if there is no other alternative. There will be no political consequences if you do as you were elected to do by " We, the people "

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, congress.senate, Bush Administration, Iraq, war funding

 

War With Iran?

   I get occasional emails from groups such as MoveOn.org wanting me to sign a petition for various causes and some of them are worth signing.

Here is one that just came and I think that action is needed.

          * * * *

Last Tuesday, a second US aircraft carrier arrived in the Sea of Oman off the southern coast of Iran¹ giving a whole new meaning to the term "escalation." The Bush administration is hell-bent on sending 48,000 more troops to Iraq against the wishes of most Americans, but now it seems like they might not stop there.

While the war in Iraq grows worse by the day, the White House seems to be turning its sights toward neighboring Iran which could escalate the current conflict into a regional one. This reckless move comes despite the fact that most experts believe diplomacy is the way to go with Iran.

President Bush is out of control, and Congress needs to step in immediately to rein him in. Please sign this petition to Congress asking that they require the president seek their authorization before taking military action in Iran. Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/noescalationiniran/o.pl?id=9937-7980468-sDcr1b&t=3

The President claimed that Iran is aiding the Iraqi insurgency, but analysts continue to cast doubt on the evidence. Even General Peter Pace of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has questioned the claims that the Iranian government is directly involved.² After all, we are already in a war founded on disproved claims of WMDs.

But the reporting of this news is just the latest. Already we have two aircraft carriers in the region—unprecedented outside of war—and Patriot missiles have been deployed. Neither of these will help to protect our troops in Iraq where most of the fighting is on the ground.

One thing is clear—military action in Iran would further endanger our troops in Iraq and threaten to destabilize the entire Middle East. It could even prop up the Iranian president who is quickly losing popularity in his own country.

We have options: Experts say that sanctions and diplomacy can work. They just worked with North Korea, where we reached a deal last week for them to disarm. And we owe it to our troops to use all of our resources before sending them into harm's way. UN sanctions just went into effect late last week, and the UN Security Council is meeting again today to discuss options. We need to give this process a chance to work before provoking a regional conflict.

Sen. Hillary Clinton has provided some much needed leadership on this:

It would be a mistake of historical proportion if the Administration thought that the 2002 resolution authorizing force against was a blank check for the use of force against Iran without further Congressional authorization. Nor should the President think that the 2001 resolution authorizing force after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, in any way, authorizes force against Iran. If the Administration believes that any, any use of force against is necessary, the President must come to Congress to seek that authority.³

Please also support General Wesley Clark and Iraq veterans who have also mounted a petition against war with Iran, just announced today at:

http://www.StopIranWar.com

General Wesley Clark helped them launch their effort with these words:

War with Iran is not the answer now. We must work with our allies, talk with Iran, and use all diplomatic, political, and economic options at our disposal. Military force in Iran is not the solution.

 

Technorati tags: War Authority, Iran, Hillary Clinton, Gen.Wesley Clark