Supporting and Honoring the Men and Women who Serve in our Armed Forces, Expressing Deep Concern with the Bush Administration’s Performance in Iraq and Opposing the Escalation of the War in Iraq

The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Resolutions Committee at its meeting on February 1, 2007, in conjunction with the meetings of the Democratic National Committee, February 1-3, 2007.

Submitted by:
James Zogby, At-Large/DC
Lottie H. Shackelford, DNC Vice Chair/Arkansas
Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair/California
Susan W. Turnbull, DNC Vice Chair/Maryland
Alice Germond, DNC Secretary/West Virginia
Steven K. Alari, California
Moretta Bosley, Kentucky
Donna Brazile, At-Large/DC
Marty Dunleavey, National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee/Connecticut
Don Fowler, At-Large/South Carolina
Renee’ Gill Pratt, Louisiana
Jenny Greenleaf, Oregon
Wayne Holland, Jr., Chair, Utah
Ben Jeffers, At-Large/Louisiana
Debra Kozikowski, Massachusetts
Kalyn Free, At-Large/Oklahoma
Terry Lierman, Chair, Maryland
Betty McElderry, Oklahoma
James Metcalfe, Chair, Alaska
Mary Jo Neville, At-Large/Maryland
Christine Pelosi, California
John A. Perez, California
Cheryl Parker Rose, At-Large/Virginia
Meredith Wood Smith, Vice Chair, Oregon

Resolution Supporting and Honoring the Men and Women who Serve in our Armed Forces, Expressing Deep Concern with the Bush Administration’s Performance in Iraq and Opposing the Escalation of the War in Iraq

WHEREAS, we give our unqualified support to the men and women serving in the United States armed forces at home and abroad and their steadfast commitment to defend our nation; and

WHEREAS, President Bush led our nation into a war in Iraq based on questionable intelligence, without an adequate understanding of Iraq’s history, society and culture, and without leveling with the Congress and the American people as to the costs, terms of engagement and expected consequences of this war; and

WHEREAS, our servicemen and women have fought bravely in this ill-defined and ever-changing mission, doing all that was asked of them and winning what could be won on the battlefield. Because the Bush Administration did not properly outfit them nor did they prepare them for the roles they were to play and the extended service that has been required, our service men and women have paid dearly; and

WHEREAS, four years later, more than 3,000 Americans have died in this war, 22,000 have been wounded, and countless others have been scarred by trauma and stress. In addition, tens of thousands of Iraqis have died and despite the political transformation that has taken place in the country, Iraq is sliding into civil war; and

WHEREAS, according to the Congressional Research Service almost $380 billion have already been spent in this war, of which tens of billions have been squandered in corruption and fraud in no-bid contracts for which there has been little or no accountability; and

WHEREAS, this war has dealt a serious blow to the US effort to combat terrorist groups and extremists. It has diverted attention and resources away from the unfinished business of Afghanistan and the search for a comprehensive Middle East peace, and has emboldened a radical regime in Iran and fueled greater anti-American hostility and extremism in the Arab and Muslim world and beyond. As a result this war has taken a tremendous toll on support for the US and has cost us the cooperation of many allies in Europe and the Middle East – cooperation which we need if we are to be successful in combating terrorism and extremism. In fact, the National Intelligence Estimate suggests that Iraq has become a rallying point and recruitment tool for Anti-American groups, making both our allies and us less secure; and

WHEREAS, all of this has taken a toll on the American people causing them not only to increasingly oppose this war in Iraq, but to lose faith in the truthfulness and efficacy of their government; and

WHEREAS, Congress authorized the creation of an independent commission to examine this war and to recommend a bipartisan way forward. On December 6, 2006, this commission, the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group (ISG) proposed a comprehensive bipartisan plan that in essence called for, as stated by Co-Chair Lee Hamilton:

“Our three most important recommendations are equally important, and reinforce one another. First a change in the primary mission of US forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly. Two, prompt action by the Iraqi government to achieve milestones, particularly on national reconciliation. And, three, new and enhanced diplomatic and political efforts in Iraq and in the region;” and

WHEREAS, instead of embracing the ISG report, the President ignored their recommendations and those of his military command and has embarked on an effort to escalate the conflict in Iraq by expanding the US military role in a manner that will deepen US involvement and create more US casualties; and

WHEREAS, we can not ignore the continued strain this prolonged war has placed on our overstretched military, the growing frustration of the American people, the needs of our allies and the dangers to the US and the world if we abandon Iraq to civil war; and

WHEREAS, we agree with recommendations that Iraq cannot be stabilized and secured without broader international and regional support and cooperation in Iraq and without the US enhancing its credibility by using greater diplomacy in the pursuit of a comprehensive Middle East peace; and

WHEREAS, the Senate and House Democratic leadership have declared their resolve to conduct hearings and investigations into the intelligence, planning and financial aspects of this war for which there has been, to date, inadequate oversight and accountability;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) declares its opposition to President Bush’s plan to escalate the war by committing thousands more American troops to Iraq; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DNC urges the Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives to declare their opposition to troop escalation in Iraq and work to prevent the escalation of the war; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DNC recommends that the proposals of the ISG and other reviews and recommendations become the subject of a serious discussion by our nation’s leaders and that we reject unilateral escalation in favor of a broadening of diplomatic initiatives in Iraq and the broader Middle East that will create the opportunity and incentive for allies to become involved in efforts to create security and political reconciliation in Iraq while enabling the US to deescalate and redeploy our troops without abandoning that country to an uncertain fate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DNC supports greater Congressional oversight and hearings into the intelligence failures and failures in planning that pre-dated the war and the failures in implementation and financial management that accompanied the war; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DNC recommends that Congress provide greater support to our servicemen and women ensuring that they receive the equipment they require and the medical, financial and other services they deserve for the sacrifices they continue to make for our nation.

Comments (1) «

ALTERNATIVES TO WAR IN IRAQ

The United States should pursue a path of international cooperation and diplomacy to resolve the Iraq War. Congress should stop funding combat operations, and the President should bring the troops home away from further harm.

The United States is responsible for many mistakes in the Iraq War. Claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction were proved to be false. The US invasion of Iraq violated the UN charter. There were insufficient troops to maintain order after the US Armed Forces toppled Saddam Hussein. Dismissal of Iraqi civil servants and the Iraqi Army have disrupted their society and economy. Suspected terrorists were unlawfully detained without being charged with crimes, and prisoners were tortured.

The war has generated insurgents who have ventured into a civil war besides objecting to a US occupation. The war has brought death and injury to many Iraqi citizens and extensive destruction of their physical infrastructure. Many other Iraqi citizens have sought refuge elsewhere. The United States has spent much treasure to conduct the war, including the death and injury of its brave troops; still the United States is obligated to continue making reparations.

The United States should cooperate with the international community in helping the Iraqi government resolve the mess that has ensued there. Economic aid should be channeled to Iraq, not to war profiteers, so that Iraqi citizens themselves can be employed to restore order and repair damage caused by the war.

The presence of US Armed Forces abroad, ostensibly to protect US interests, only instills resentment among those being imposed upon. Other peoples are humiliated when the United States acts unilaterally to pursue only that which it believes is in its interest. Self determination has long ago replaced the likes of colonialism.

National security issues are best served through diplomacy among all nations, friend and foe alike. The United States is not the only nation that has to investigate, apprehend, and convict terrorists, which should be done under due process of law. The United States should cooperate with international organizations and champion human rights among all peoples.

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Krause on February 7, 2007 at 09:30 AM

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