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We have committed the country and our allies to establishing a new democratic order in Iraq and we must honor that commitment. However, honoring our commitment does not mean an endless presence of American and ally forces in Iraq. Iraq is a country of Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis Moslems. These individual factions must be brought together before a united Iraq can emerge. Our continued presence in Iraq is not bringing that country any closer to peaceful coexistence among all these fractions.
We have been hearing for far too long that victory is right around the corner. A troop surge was needed in June of 2003, following the fall of the Iraq regime, to secure victory and stabilize the country. Those of us who learn from history have heard it before in every conflict the United States has been involved in since the end of World War II. We have to recognize that an ‘all out victory’ is an allegory, at best, and that more money, more troops and more patience is not the answer to a successful end to the conflict in Iraq. If decisive action is not taken, all we can count on in Iraq are additional casualties, (US, Ally and Iraqi) and continued destruction.
The Iraqi people, the people of the Middle East, our allies and the people of the world need to understand that the people of the United States are committed to bringing about an orderly end to the blood shed and destruction. Every country in the world has a stake in the establishment of a stable, productive and peaceful Iraqi state because of its’ geographic and strategic location in the Middle East.
The US and our allies need to bring a responsible end to their involvement in Iraq, in a manner that protects our troops, the people of Iraq, and the stability of the Middle East. The continued large scale presence of American troops in Iraq is a rallying call and an incentive for militants who promote resistance to interference by outside forces. A comprehensive all encompassing plan for uniting the Iraq people is an absolute necessity,
We need to build a new coalition and define an exit strategy that addresses the withdrawal of a majority of American troops and replacement of those troops with new coalition forces. This can be accomplished by bringing together the leadership of Iraq, the Arab League, our allies in the conflict and representatives of other countries. We must define a withdrawal plan with measurable goals. The building of a new coalition and our ongoing financial support will demonstrate our commitment to the rebuilding of Iraq, by and for a united Iraqi people.
If we do not call upon the this administration or the next to address the issues at hand and define an exit strategy, all we will have to look forward to is more death and destruction.
We need to bring a responsible end to our involvement in Iraq, in a manner that protects our troops, the people of Iraq and the stability of the Middle East. Therefore, I am calling for legislation to establish a new coalition, an end the to the conflict, the creation of a stable united Iraqi state based on a strong central government, a task driven plan to bring our troops home, and a sound fiscal strategy to reduce the US deficit.
“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”
James Madison
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