Real
Solutions To The Quandary Of The Iraq Quagmire
By Kevin Zeese
16 January, 2007
Countercurrents.org
You
probably will not hear about it on the network and cable news shows,
but today the Progressive Caucus and Out of Iraq Caucus held an impressive
hearing on Iraq that offered real solutions to the quandary of the Iraq
quagmire. Witnesses put forward a common sense plan to get out of Iraq
while reducing the violence, and starting positive diplomatic activities
in the region.
This was the fourth Iraq
hearing held by the groups – but the first held in a room with
windows! That is one improvement that comes with the end of Republican
rule. The witnesses included former National Security Agency director,
National Security Council adviser to two presidents and retired four
star general William Odom; George McGovern a former Presidential candidate
and senator, Professor, author and former diplomat William Polk and
Representative Jack Murtha, the new chairman responsible for appropriations
for the military.
The news of the hearing was
Rep. Murtha’s announcement about how he plans to use the appropriations
process to bring some sense to Iraq policy. Murtha began saying a year
ago he spoke out describing Iraq policy as “a failure wrapped
in an illusion” and that has become more evident over the last
year. His said the goal should be “stability in that area”
and “we can’t do that with our troops in Iraq.”
He plans to use the appropriations
process to achieve his goals. He mentioned the need to close Abu Gharib,
and Guantanamo, as well as stop building permanent military bases. Regarding
the surge he said “we are exhausting our troops” and therefore
we need to put on restrictions. He said the supplemental will result
in extensive hearings on the war and contractors which will result in
restrictions on how Bush can spend the funds. “If Bush vetoes
it with our restrictions he will have no money,” he warned.
In talking with Rep. Dennis
Kucinich after the meeting, who is the only peace candidate running
in the Democratic primary, he expressed concern that Bush will ignore
the restrictions and there will be no way to enforce them. Kucinch has
put forward his own 12 point plan for withdrawal and urges that the
U.S. use the $70 billion already appropriated for 2007 to bring the
troops home and take other steps to reduce the violence.
Twenty Members of Congress
attended the hearing at one time or another and all those that spoke
expressed frustration with President Bush for doing the opposite of
what the voters sought in the November election. There was concern that
Bush was not facing reality and, as Rep. Barbara Lee, who co-chairs
the Progressive Caucus with Rep. Lynn Woolsey, said “He went on
a listening tour but did not hear.”
There was also concern about
President Bush escalating the war by getting into a military conflict
with Iran and Syria. Rep. Waters noted “We failed to stop this
president from going to war. We must stop him from expanding the war
into Iran and Syria.” A common refrain by the Members was the
voters need to get more active and more organized and increase the pressure
on Congress to do the right thing.
Senator McGovern and Professor
William Polk, who co-authored Out of Iraq, put forward a plan to withdraw
U.S. troops, and take sensible steps that reduce the risk of violence.
They also pointed out that historically when an occupation ends, the
violence subsides. McGovern described the U.S. as repeating the mistakes
of Vietnam as if we learned nothing from history.
Professor Polk, who knows
the Middle East as an academic, author and diplomat, commented on the
Baker-Hamilton report saying it made four good points: (1) started a
discussion about the need to get out, (2) the U.S. is stretched beyond
our military capacity, (3) the U.S. is moving toward bankruptcy, and
(4) other Middle East issues must be focused on.
Polk said that rather than
building an Iraqi military, which could cause all sorts of problems
in Iraq and the Region in the future, we should form a corps of engineers.
This will help reduce the very high unemployment estimated at 50% or
more. This combined with a stability force, and the end of the occupation,
would have the best chance of reducing the violence in Iraq.
All four panelists made the
point that one critical element the U.S. has minimized is the power
of nationalism – the desire to protect your country from an occupier.
Odom, who is well know writing
articles on “cutting and running” and cogently arguing that
everything we fear is made more likely by staying in Iraq, made the
point that his many years of experience in counter intelligence teach
him that you need a political solution – one that cannot be achieved
with a “colonial ventriloquist.” Another lesson he sees
from history is “if you can tax, you can rule.” In Vietnam
the south was dependent on U.S. dollars, while the north taxed the people.
In Iraq the equivalent is “he who controls the oil resources can
rule as that controls the economy.”
Odom made three points on
how to approach this. First, we can’t prevent the turmoil and
killing, we are the cause of it and the best thing to do is leave. Second,
we are diplomatically and strategically paralyzed as other countries
will not get involved as long as we are there. Once we leave other countries
will want to join the U.S. in regional negotiations. Finally, cutting
and running does not mean leaving the region but allows for a new strategy
for the region that can bring stability. This war has the opposite effect
and strengthens Iran and al Qaeda. “Iran and Syria are enjoying
our pain. If we get out that changes.”
Regarding Iran, several Members
asked questions showing their concern that the U.S. was sliding into
an expanded war. Odom said that if you put an attack on Iran to a referendum
of the troops you’d have 90% opposition. He also pointed out that
some neocons are advocating attacking Iran as part of an “Operation
Come Back.” He ominously warned that “terrorist incidents
can be perpetrated by other than terrorists.” In response to a
question from Rep. Kucinich, McGovern described an attack on Iran without
Congressional approval as an impeachable offense, but said he would
rather focus on ending the war in Iraq.
Kucinch argued that “only
a Congress that stands up as a co-equal branch of government will resolve
the issues before us.”
Kevin Zeese is Director of
Democracy Rising (www.DemocracyRising.US) and co-founder of VotersForPeace.US.
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