Democrats on Iraq
The Democratic Party has under its tent a variety of views on Iraq. That said, the majority of Democrats support the following:
Democrats remain committed to working with Republicans for a new direction in Iraq that does not put additional troops in the middle of this civil war and makes it clear to the Iraqi people that they must take responsibility for their country's future. Democrats in Congress will do nothing to jeopardize the safety of our troops, but will ensure that Congress continues to exercise its Constitutional authority to hold the President accountable for a change of course that turns Iraq over to the Iraqis and allows for our troops to come home.
To sum up:
- No troop surge,
- Iraqi people must take responsibility,
- Democrats will not jeopardize troop safety,
- But, Congress will hold the President accountable.
1. Ignoring the lessons of history by increasing troop levels is not the answer."Operation Forward Together," a strategy begun in August 2005 under which "U.S. military officials stripped troops from elsewhere to boost manpower in Baghdad by several thousand troops," is instructive. "As the Pentagon recently conceded in a report to Congress, the effort did produce a reduction in insurgent and sectarian attacks in August, but it proved temporary, with attacks rising to record levels in September and October even as the operation continued." The plan was a "failure." [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Editorial, 1/10/07]
2. Blaming the military for the President's own mistakes is not the answer.Despite repeated assertions that he is listening to the "commanders on the ground," Bush's new strategy is to blame the military and ignore their expertise. The Washington Post reported in December that the Bush Administration was moving forward with its "plan" despite the Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimous disagreement. When Bush doesn't like what he hears from his commanders, he shows them the door. General Abizaid was replaced after arguing that an increase in troops was not the answer. [Los Angeles Times, 12/23/06]
3. Ignoring the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Commission Recommendations, including an emphasis on diplomacy, is not the answer.After saying for months that his Administration would wait for the committee's suggestions before submitting a new proposal for Iraq, President Bush dismissed their conclusions. Without a significant change of course, the report "warned of a 'slide toward chaos.'" [AP, 12/6/06] What is needed is an increase in diplomacy - a political solution, not more boots on the ground.
4. Ignoring the will of the American people is not the answer.The President's plan also ignores the American people who voted for change in November. The latest USA Today/Gallup poll found that the American people oppose "the idea of increased troop levels by 61%-36%" and only 26 percent approve of Bush's handling of the war. The same poll also found that "by 2-to-1, Americans say they want congressional Democrats, not Bush, to have more influence over the direction of the nation." [USA Today, 1/9/07]
5. Ignoring the Congress is not the answer.Despite saying he would consult with Congress to find solutions to the Iraq war, President Bush has ignored the views of both Democratic and Republican members of Congress. Today, Senate Leader Reid and House Speaker Pelosi will meet with the president on Iraq - but this meeting comes only after his "plan" was established and after his speech was written. And Even Bush's Republican allies are opposing his proposal for an increase in troops. According to UPI, "Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., has called Bush's plan 'Alice in Wonderland,' while Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn said: 'I will stand against any plan to increase the number of troops in Iraq.'" [UPI, 1/8/07] And, Republican Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, "who voted in favor of the Iraq war and has supported it ever since, now says the current U.S. war effort is 'absurd' and 'may even be criminal.'" [AP, 12/8/06]
