Iraq

The United States invaded Iraq in March 2003. Since then, more than 4,000 American troops have lost their lives and thirty thousand more have suffered serious injuries, while as many as a million Iraqis may be dead. The financial costs of the war to the U.S. economy will ultimately exceed $3 trillion, that’s approximately $37,000 for each American child, so far. So responsible economists estimate a true cost of many trillions more.

The Bush administration and our current congressman have used shifting rationales for extending our military involvement in Iraq, with no end in sight. We, the American public, have been presented with a set of false choices: a semi-permanent military occupation of Iraq versus a precipitous and destabilizing withdrawal.

There is a deepening public desire for a new path forward and a cohesive military, diplomatic, and economic strategy that will end the war in Iraq while protecting American interests.

(See related press release [pdf].)

Here is my common sense plan to deal with the Iraq issue:

1. End U.S. Military Involvement in the Iraq civil war.
Enough is enough. The leaders of Iraq have had a chance to reconcile and build a better country for their people; but, they have refused to do so. We must begin a responsible orderly withdrawal of our troops to let them know that we are serious, that their time is running out, and that they will not be supported in continuing their civil war over the dead bodies of American soldiers.

2. Use U.S. diplomatic power
Much of the remaining work to be completed in Iraq requires the effective use of diplomatic power. Many of Iraq's neighbors are currently contributing to instability and need to be persuaded to assist instead in stabilization.

3. Address humanitarian concerns
Much of the remaining work to be completed in Iraq requires the effective use of diplomatic power. Many of Iraq's neighbors are currently contributing to instability and need to be persuaded to assist instead in stabilization.

4. Restore our Constitution
Many mistakes were made in the course of this war, and our systems of checks and balances have failed us at critical moments. To prevent repeating those mistakes, we must repair the underlying Constitutional framework of our republic and provide checks to executive authority.
Balance must be restored between the executive and the judicial branch (for instance through the restoration of habeas corpus), between the executive and the legislative branch (for instance through clarifying that the President does not have the Constitutional authority to unilaterally alter legislation through signing statements), and between the executive and the people of the United States (for instance by clarifying that the Fourth Amendment requires probable cause and a warrant for the government to spy on American citizens).

5. Restore our military
Repairing the damage done to our military will require reforms in contracting procedures, restoring benefits for members of the military and veterans, and investment in repairing or replacing damaged military equipment.

  • The need for contracting reform is substantial. Private militias have direct incentives to prolong the conflict rather than resolve it; their use needs to be phased out. Contractors must be legally accountable for their actions. War profiteering must be stopped, and those who have engaged in it must answer for their actions.
  • The safety of our men and women in uniform requires that we adhere to international standards with respect to treatment of prisoners. We must also make it clear that the United States does not torture, and that we do not send people to other places to be tortured, either.
  • The military is having substantial difficulty with recruiting and retention; we could begin to help by delivering on our promises regarding healthcare for veterans, by delivering on more of the promises of the original Montgomery G.I. Bill made, and by passing the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, the new GI Bill.
  • Our National Guard, which is our Florida State Militia, should be used to “guard our nation,” available here at home for relief from hurricanes and other disasters, to bolster the defense of our borders, and to swiftly repel any terrorist attack I our homeland. We should never send the National Guard overseas except in the rarest of national emergencies and only with clear specific Congressional authorization.

6. Create a new, U.S.-centered energy policy
Finally, we are clearly tied to Iraq through our dependence on oil, which makes us vulnerable. Moving away from that dependence is necessary for strategic, economic, and environmental reasons.
By using renewable, sustainable, ecologically responsible technologies, we must set as a bold national objective to be totally independent of all foreign energy sources by the year 2020.

I endorse “The Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.”
It’s a common sense approach which includes much of the positions I’ve expressed here.
Please see http://www.ResponsiblePlan.com for the complete text.