Progressive Democrat Issue 109: IOWA TAKES A STAND AGAINST ESCALATION
The Iowa State Senate has approved a resolution against the McCain/Bush/Lieberman escalation. This comes from the Iowa Democratic Party.
Iowa Senate approves resolution against Iraq surge
Today on a voice vote, the Iowa Senate became the third legislative body in the nation to formally oppose President Bush’s plan for a 20,000 troop surge in Iraq.
Senate President Jack Kibbie, a Korean War veteran, floor managed the resolution. Senator Kibbie’s opening remarks are below. The text of resolution and audio and video of Kibbie’s remarks can be found at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/iraq.
To contact Senator Kibbie during the week, call the Senate Switchboard at 515-281-3371. On weekends he can be reached at home at 712-852-4140. To e-mail Senator Kibbie or to subscribe to his weekly newsletter, write to john.kibbie@legis.state.ia.us.
Statement by Senate President Jack Kibbie:
Today I’m asking you to oppose President Bush’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq. The end of the war has to start somewhere, and stopping President Bush’s plan to send in more troops is a beginning.
This war has lasted too long. Setting aside arguments about how the war started, we accomplished our goals some time ago.
To be specific, there weren’t weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein is no longer in power.
What happens next in Iraq? I don’t know. But I do know that Iraq’s civil war is not going to be settled by the Iowa National Guard.
It is time to start bringing the troops home, and it is certainly time to stop sending more to Iraq.
I fought in the Korean War. I remember when President Eisenhower was elected promising to bring the troops home by Christmas. He missed that goal by only six months.
I wish we had more people like President Eisenhower in our top positions of leadership today. Because the war in Iraq is also not going to end just the way we want it, no matter how long it lasts or how many Iowa troops are sent there.
Why should Iowa Senate take a stand on this issue?
Because the people of Iowa want their elected leaders to do everything they can to end this war. Because this war has cost Iowans too much money and too many lives.
We ask so much of soldiers and their families. My daughter is a Captain in the Texas Air Guard. She was recently at the dedication of a new medical center to help veterans returning from Iraq. This center will be working with 800 soldiers who have lost a limb in Iraq. 500 had lost two limbs.
I support this resolution today because we are asking too much of our military. Enough is enough.
We’ve done a few things in the Legislature to help soldiers and their families. We can be proud of that.
But the best thing we can for them is to help bring this war to an end.
This resolution will help do that and I ask you to vote for it.
Iowa Democratic Congressman Braley Supports Iraq Resolution Condemning President’s Escalation
Washington, DC – Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) released the following statement today after voting in favor of a House resolution condemning President Bush’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq. The resolution passed the House with strong bipartisan support.
“The passage of this resolution sends a strong message to President Bush that it’s time for a change in Iraq,” Braley said. “A strong bipartisan majority of Congress has now joined with the American people in opposing the President’s ill-advised escalation of the war in Iraq. The vote today in the House is an important first step to charting a new course in Iraq that will keep our troops safe and begin the process of turning Iraq over to the Iraqis.
“On November 7th, the American people demanded a new direction in Iraq. President Bush had a clear blueprint for change from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, but he refused to follow their advice. I sincerely hope that the President will now get the message that he stands alone in his plan to escalate the war in Iraq.
“I agree with the Iraq Study Group: the answer for Iraq is a political solution, not a military one. It’s time to establish a timetable to redeploy our troops; they’ve done their job.”
Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack Delivers Speech Supporting Our Troops and Condemning the President's Plan for Escalation
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Mt. Vernon) participated in the 36-hour long debate on the Iraq war where he delivered a speech in support of our brave troops and in opposition to the President's proposal to escalate troop levels in Iraq.
The debate over H. Con. Res. 63, a concurrent resolution expressing support for American troops and disapproval of the President's plan to increase the number of troops in Iraq, began on Tuesday, February 13, 2007. Passage of the resolution is expected tomorrow, Friday, February 16, 2007.
Below is the text of Congressman Loebsack's extended remarks as submitted to the House record:
"Today, with my colleagues, I stand here in support of our brave men and women of the armed services as well as their families. We should honor their great commitment and sacrifices without hesitation.
"Madame Speaker, I support this resolution because I believe the president's plan for escalation is the wrong approach to the conflicts in Iraq but this must not be the end of our efforts in Congress. For too long Congress refused to stand up to the administration. Our actions today must mark the beginning of Congress's oversight role, not the end.
"The time has come to tell President Bush enough is enough! Last November, the American people spoke. They spoke loudly and clearly on a number of issues but none more passionately and forcefully than the war in Iraq. The American people, long before this debate this week, decided that the misadventure in Iraq must end.
"Our troops have performed valiantly in Iraq. In a just a matter of a few weeks, removed from power a brutal dictator and began to provide the Iraqi people with the opportunity to construct a new political order. Our troops also have contributed mightily to the reconstruction and development of the Iraqi economy and infrastructure.
"But over the course of this conflict, the mission of our troops has been transformed and now they find themselves in the middle of a civil war that involves not just two sides but almost innumerable factions in conflict with one another. What's worse is the continued presence of American troops in Iraq will likely only inflame the ongoing sectarian strife and create MORE, NOT FEWER enemies of America. The bottom line is that a continued presence of America troops will only exacerbate the multiple conflicts in Iraq.
"As a member of the Readiness subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, I have additional concerns regarding President Bush's proposed escalation. I believe such an escalation will further strain the limited resources available to our military. Already we know our readiness levels for our troops not yet deployed are inadequate. A further escalation of troop levels in Iraq will only exacerbate this problem and put more service men and women in harms way without the proper training or equipment.
"Our troops were not trained to be peacemakers in situations such as today's Iraq. Some have argued that we need to increase the number of American troops so we can engage in an action similar to what our forces did in Bosnia. Madame Speaker, this is at best a false analogy. Iraq today is not Bosnia of 1995. Today's Iraq is in the early stages of a series of conflicts that may indeed intensify, but this will occur irrespective of whether we insert another 21, 500 troops. We simply cannot solve the sectarian conflicts militarily.
"While it was the Bush administration who initiated hostile actions in March of 2003, I believe it is now necessary for the Iraqi people to step up and assume responsibility for their future. We are at a point in this conflict where the ONLY way forward includes a concerted and effective effort on the part of the Iraqi government to share both political power and the economic resources of their country.
"What is also needed now more than ever is for this administration to reach out to our traditional allies and those in the region who have a significant stake in the future of Iraq. The Bush Administration must do something it has been woefully reluctant to do. It must admit that it made a major strategic and foreign policy blunder when it invaded Iraq in the first place. I am willing to wager that such an admission would go some distance towards at least beginning to repair our relations with the rest of the world. And the improvement of our relations with our traditional allies beyond the British is a prerequisite to securing their help on Iraq.
"Madame Speaker, in conclusion I call on my colleagues to support this resolution today as a beginning of this chamber's efforts to protect the troops and bring our country's involvement in this war to an end."
Democratic Congressman Boswell's Statement in Support of the Iraq Resolution
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.Con.Res. 63, the Concurrent Resolution disapproving the President's decision to send 20,000 more troops to Iraq:
Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 63, a resolution in support of our troops serving so well in Iraq, and opposing the President's call for escalating the troop levels in Iraq.
As a two-tour combat veteran of the Vietnam conflict, like many others in this body, I know first-hand the everyday sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform serving in Iraq. More than 3,100 have given the supreme sacrifice, and over 20,000 have been injured ---- many of them quite severe. This resolution recognizes our brave men and women for performing their mission to the best of their ability. All Members of this body stand foursquare behind their efforts.
As one Member of Congress who voted in support of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002, I recognize the pretext for going to war was based on faulty, misleading intelligence. I cannot reverse that vote, but I can no longer acquiesce to a failed and tragic military exercise in Iraq.
Two months ago, Generals Casey and Abizaid stated they did not support increasing U.S. troop levels in Iraq. Last month, President Bush maintained that military policy, with regards to Iraq, would be determined by our military leaders. However, last month President Bush ignored his top military advisors and called for a 20,000 increase in U.S. troops to Iraq.
I have been pressing the Administration to level with the American people on the status of the Iraqi security forces being trained and ready to defend their nation. If the Iraqis' are trained and ready, over 300,000, as we've been told, it is time to begin a planned, phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Sending more U.S. troops to Iraq does nothing to enhance the Iraqis' training. It only places more U.S. forces into harms way to become additional targets of the insurgency. This failed policy must be stopped. We CAN support our troops in the field and OPPOSE this escalation of U.S. forces.
The sectarian civil war violence in Iraq is increasing, and U.S. troops are becoming an increasing target of the various factions. We cannot continue to place ourselves in the middle of this civil war. It is time to insist that the Iraqis resolve their own civil war. We must allow the Iraqis to defend their own nation.
The Bush Administration has stated the Iraqi security forces are trained and ready in sufficient numbers to do the job. Again, over 300,000 trained and equipped Therefore, I believe now is the time to oppose any further escalation of U.S. troop levels, and to now begin the planned, phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.
I regret today's resolution is non-binding. We need to begin addressing this matter in real, substantive legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution, and to work in unison to begin bringing our troops home.
Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.
Iowa Senate approves resolution against Iraq surge
Today on a voice vote, the Iowa Senate became the third legislative body in the nation to formally oppose President Bush’s plan for a 20,000 troop surge in Iraq.
Senate President Jack Kibbie, a Korean War veteran, floor managed the resolution. Senator Kibbie’s opening remarks are below. The text of resolution and audio and video of Kibbie’s remarks can be found at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/iraq.
To contact Senator Kibbie during the week, call the Senate Switchboard at 515-281-3371. On weekends he can be reached at home at 712-852-4140. To e-mail Senator Kibbie or to subscribe to his weekly newsletter, write to john.kibbie@legis.state.ia.us.
Statement by Senate President Jack Kibbie:
Today I’m asking you to oppose President Bush’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq. The end of the war has to start somewhere, and stopping President Bush’s plan to send in more troops is a beginning.
This war has lasted too long. Setting aside arguments about how the war started, we accomplished our goals some time ago.
To be specific, there weren’t weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein is no longer in power.
What happens next in Iraq? I don’t know. But I do know that Iraq’s civil war is not going to be settled by the Iowa National Guard.
It is time to start bringing the troops home, and it is certainly time to stop sending more to Iraq.
I fought in the Korean War. I remember when President Eisenhower was elected promising to bring the troops home by Christmas. He missed that goal by only six months.
I wish we had more people like President Eisenhower in our top positions of leadership today. Because the war in Iraq is also not going to end just the way we want it, no matter how long it lasts or how many Iowa troops are sent there.
Why should Iowa Senate take a stand on this issue?
Because the people of Iowa want their elected leaders to do everything they can to end this war. Because this war has cost Iowans too much money and too many lives.
We ask so much of soldiers and their families. My daughter is a Captain in the Texas Air Guard. She was recently at the dedication of a new medical center to help veterans returning from Iraq. This center will be working with 800 soldiers who have lost a limb in Iraq. 500 had lost two limbs.
I support this resolution today because we are asking too much of our military. Enough is enough.
We’ve done a few things in the Legislature to help soldiers and their families. We can be proud of that.
But the best thing we can for them is to help bring this war to an end.
This resolution will help do that and I ask you to vote for it.
Iowa Democratic Congressman Braley Supports Iraq Resolution Condemning President’s Escalation
Washington, DC – Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) released the following statement today after voting in favor of a House resolution condemning President Bush’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq. The resolution passed the House with strong bipartisan support.
“The passage of this resolution sends a strong message to President Bush that it’s time for a change in Iraq,” Braley said. “A strong bipartisan majority of Congress has now joined with the American people in opposing the President’s ill-advised escalation of the war in Iraq. The vote today in the House is an important first step to charting a new course in Iraq that will keep our troops safe and begin the process of turning Iraq over to the Iraqis.
“On November 7th, the American people demanded a new direction in Iraq. President Bush had a clear blueprint for change from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, but he refused to follow their advice. I sincerely hope that the President will now get the message that he stands alone in his plan to escalate the war in Iraq.
“I agree with the Iraq Study Group: the answer for Iraq is a political solution, not a military one. It’s time to establish a timetable to redeploy our troops; they’ve done their job.”
Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack Delivers Speech Supporting Our Troops and Condemning the President's Plan for Escalation
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Mt. Vernon) participated in the 36-hour long debate on the Iraq war where he delivered a speech in support of our brave troops and in opposition to the President's proposal to escalate troop levels in Iraq.
The debate over H. Con. Res. 63, a concurrent resolution expressing support for American troops and disapproval of the President's plan to increase the number of troops in Iraq, began on Tuesday, February 13, 2007. Passage of the resolution is expected tomorrow, Friday, February 16, 2007.
Below is the text of Congressman Loebsack's extended remarks as submitted to the House record:
"Today, with my colleagues, I stand here in support of our brave men and women of the armed services as well as their families. We should honor their great commitment and sacrifices without hesitation.
"Madame Speaker, I support this resolution because I believe the president's plan for escalation is the wrong approach to the conflicts in Iraq but this must not be the end of our efforts in Congress. For too long Congress refused to stand up to the administration. Our actions today must mark the beginning of Congress's oversight role, not the end.
"The time has come to tell President Bush enough is enough! Last November, the American people spoke. They spoke loudly and clearly on a number of issues but none more passionately and forcefully than the war in Iraq. The American people, long before this debate this week, decided that the misadventure in Iraq must end.
"Our troops have performed valiantly in Iraq. In a just a matter of a few weeks, removed from power a brutal dictator and began to provide the Iraqi people with the opportunity to construct a new political order. Our troops also have contributed mightily to the reconstruction and development of the Iraqi economy and infrastructure.
"But over the course of this conflict, the mission of our troops has been transformed and now they find themselves in the middle of a civil war that involves not just two sides but almost innumerable factions in conflict with one another. What's worse is the continued presence of American troops in Iraq will likely only inflame the ongoing sectarian strife and create MORE, NOT FEWER enemies of America. The bottom line is that a continued presence of America troops will only exacerbate the multiple conflicts in Iraq.
"As a member of the Readiness subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, I have additional concerns regarding President Bush's proposed escalation. I believe such an escalation will further strain the limited resources available to our military. Already we know our readiness levels for our troops not yet deployed are inadequate. A further escalation of troop levels in Iraq will only exacerbate this problem and put more service men and women in harms way without the proper training or equipment.
"Our troops were not trained to be peacemakers in situations such as today's Iraq. Some have argued that we need to increase the number of American troops so we can engage in an action similar to what our forces did in Bosnia. Madame Speaker, this is at best a false analogy. Iraq today is not Bosnia of 1995. Today's Iraq is in the early stages of a series of conflicts that may indeed intensify, but this will occur irrespective of whether we insert another 21, 500 troops. We simply cannot solve the sectarian conflicts militarily.
"While it was the Bush administration who initiated hostile actions in March of 2003, I believe it is now necessary for the Iraqi people to step up and assume responsibility for their future. We are at a point in this conflict where the ONLY way forward includes a concerted and effective effort on the part of the Iraqi government to share both political power and the economic resources of their country.
"What is also needed now more than ever is for this administration to reach out to our traditional allies and those in the region who have a significant stake in the future of Iraq. The Bush Administration must do something it has been woefully reluctant to do. It must admit that it made a major strategic and foreign policy blunder when it invaded Iraq in the first place. I am willing to wager that such an admission would go some distance towards at least beginning to repair our relations with the rest of the world. And the improvement of our relations with our traditional allies beyond the British is a prerequisite to securing their help on Iraq.
"Madame Speaker, in conclusion I call on my colleagues to support this resolution today as a beginning of this chamber's efforts to protect the troops and bring our country's involvement in this war to an end."
Democratic Congressman Boswell's Statement in Support of the Iraq Resolution
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.Con.Res. 63, the Concurrent Resolution disapproving the President's decision to send 20,000 more troops to Iraq:
Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 63, a resolution in support of our troops serving so well in Iraq, and opposing the President's call for escalating the troop levels in Iraq.
As a two-tour combat veteran of the Vietnam conflict, like many others in this body, I know first-hand the everyday sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform serving in Iraq. More than 3,100 have given the supreme sacrifice, and over 20,000 have been injured ---- many of them quite severe. This resolution recognizes our brave men and women for performing their mission to the best of their ability. All Members of this body stand foursquare behind their efforts.
As one Member of Congress who voted in support of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002, I recognize the pretext for going to war was based on faulty, misleading intelligence. I cannot reverse that vote, but I can no longer acquiesce to a failed and tragic military exercise in Iraq.
Two months ago, Generals Casey and Abizaid stated they did not support increasing U.S. troop levels in Iraq. Last month, President Bush maintained that military policy, with regards to Iraq, would be determined by our military leaders. However, last month President Bush ignored his top military advisors and called for a 20,000 increase in U.S. troops to Iraq.
I have been pressing the Administration to level with the American people on the status of the Iraqi security forces being trained and ready to defend their nation. If the Iraqis' are trained and ready, over 300,000, as we've been told, it is time to begin a planned, phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Sending more U.S. troops to Iraq does nothing to enhance the Iraqis' training. It only places more U.S. forces into harms way to become additional targets of the insurgency. This failed policy must be stopped. We CAN support our troops in the field and OPPOSE this escalation of U.S. forces.
The sectarian civil war violence in Iraq is increasing, and U.S. troops are becoming an increasing target of the various factions. We cannot continue to place ourselves in the middle of this civil war. It is time to insist that the Iraqis resolve their own civil war. We must allow the Iraqis to defend their own nation.
The Bush Administration has stated the Iraqi security forces are trained and ready in sufficient numbers to do the job. Again, over 300,000 trained and equipped Therefore, I believe now is the time to oppose any further escalation of U.S. troop levels, and to now begin the planned, phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.
I regret today's resolution is non-binding. We need to begin addressing this matter in real, substantive legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution, and to work in unison to begin bringing our troops home.
Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home