Democrats: It's the War

[dweller]

By Dennis Kucinich
In These Times
Monday 31 October 2005

Ending the war in Iraq is right for a lot of reasons. The war was unjustified, unnecessary and unprovoked. It is counterproductive, strengthening al-Qaeda and
weakening the moral authority of the United States. It is deadly: Many Americans, and many, many more Iraqis, have been killed or injured as a result of the
fighting. And it is costly: Well over $250 billion in taxpayer funds have already been spent, with no end in sight.

It is also increasingly unpopular. For all these reasons, plus the increased spotlight that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita put on how much the war is draining
resources desperately needed at home, Democrats should clearly call for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. If Democrats do not make this the centerpiece of
their campaign in 2006, they risk repeating recent history, in which they failed to recover seats in the House and Senate.

National Democratic leaders have already tried, and tried again, to ignore the war, and it didn't work politically. During the 2002 election cycle, when
Democrats felt they had historical precedent on their side - the president's party always loses seats in the mid-term election - the Democratic leadership in
Congress cut a deal with the president to bring the war resolution to a vote, and appeared with him in a Rose Garden ceremony. "Let no light show" between
Democrats and President Bush on foreign policy was the leadership's strategy, and it yielded a historic result: For the first time since Franklin Roosevelt, a
president increased his majorities in both houses of Congress during a recession.

Then, in 2004, with the president vulnerable on the war, the Democratic Party again sacrificed the opportunity to distinguish itself from Bush. Members
avoided the issue of withdrawal from Iraq in the Party platform, omitted it from campaign speeches and deleted it from the national convention.

Why is it an unconscionable political blunder to sweep the war and occupation of Iraq under the rug? Because the war is one of the most potent political
scandals of all time, and it has energized grassroots activity all over the country.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/103105R.shtml
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2372/

dp

[henslee]

1. Boy Mayor Make Sense.

[mhr]

2. I Voted For Dennis And He Underscores The Reason

I am now a registered Independent.

The Democratic Party is dead.

[Tom Joad]

3. Damn right -- its' the war, stupid

Nominated.
I wish Pelosi would take a look at this.
I am sure she is responsible for the Democrats relative lack of popularity by her support for the occupation. She is only timidly asking Bush (Bush!?!?) for an "exit plan". Refuses to back any resolution for pulling the troops out.

There should be a call for immediate withdraw. Anything else is very much like Bush policy.

[eridani]

4. He said the same thing last year at this time.

He was right then, and he's still right.

[callady]

5. Kucinich supporter here

Invasion and occupation by foreign forces to steal oil, water and destroy infrastructure, culture.

Thus providing opportunity for warfare state and corporate looting on international and domestic front.

Oh yeah and that other thing.


Nominated