We are complicit in killings if we don”t demand exit from Iraq
The money is there “in the pipeline.” The Plan is there in the House of Representatives. And our “representatives” in Washington D.C. quibble and play politics while thousands of our youth and Iraqi civilians are dying. And our President, who listens to no one and reads very little will escalate the war and drag us down into his quagmire as long as we let him.
Congress gave the Bush/Cons $70 billion in October for Iraq. Surely that would be enough money to end the war instead of escalating it.
A reasonable solution to the quagmire was proposed in the House in November 2005. Yet all the talking heads, all the media and most of our elected Representatives have been ignoring it, apparently for political reasons. The solution is James McGovern”s Resolution to get out of Iraq. Here is a brief outline of what the Plan does:
* It would?end all funding for the deployment of U.S. troops in Iraq.
* It would?in no way prohibit nor interrupt U.S. non-defense funding in support of Iraq”s social and economic reconstruction, including support for democratic institution-building, elections, and the restoration of Iraq”s infrastructure.
* It would provide for the safe, orderly, and honorable withdrawal of the United States from military operations in Iraq.
* By continuing U.S. support for the economic and social reconstruction of Iraqi society and the financial and material needs of Iraqi security, it would maintain our moral and political obligations to the Iraqi people
For those who want specifics, a more detailed 12 point plan has been worked out by Dennis Kucinich. Both plans can be read? at www.pdamerica.org.
Why aren”t the House Democrats now demanding this Resolution be passed? For the same reason they say impeachment is off the table? It”s all political. And the only way we can end it is to sign petitions, write, phone, fax and e-mail our representatives and demand they cut off the funding for war. If we don”t, we are as complicit in the killing as they are.
Shirley Howland
Clearlake
”Thou Shalt Not Yell”
That silly crowd at the “Cathedral of Conformity” has concocted another new doctrine. “Thou Shall Not Yell” is now the law, “Penalty will double if you use four letter words. Your red face will be used as evidence against you.” Mullahs of the church say injustice and wrongdoing must be met with tranquility and a gentle voice. The trendy commandment is spilling out of church and across the country. All the sheeple [sic] are in agreement. Outrage is dead. Anyone who doesn”t go along to get along won”t get girl friends and his business will suffer.
Unfortunately, the peculiar decree applies to everyone; especially politicians, businessmen, school teachers, and church leaders. One local church leader, (names withheld to protect the innocent) is in serious trouble. He hollered at a church member. Why, doesn”t matter. He hollered and he”s guilty. He”ll pay a heavy price. He”ll suffer public embarrassment and possible unemployment. Thank God he didn”t use a four letter word and his face didn”t get red!
In another example, a local shopper was alarmed when a store wouldn”t accept his check-card. “Check with your bank,” said the grumpy manager. Fortunately, the shopper”s bank had a branch in the store. His bank clerk verified the card to the manager. The manager didn”t want to hear about his store”s problem. The riled shopper was asked to leave. It”s OK for store employees to be bungling useless. It”s wrong for shoppers to get upset.
Old Timers are alarmed at this new commandment. They know a blaring good bellow can turn dawdling laziness into lively ambition. Certain four letter words convert clumsy ineptitude into clever ability. Red faced outrage has righted many wrongs and corrected much injustice. Old Timers say laziness, ineptitude and injustice must only increase as the mad new law spreads.
Darrell Watkins
Kelseyville
Nothing has materialized from president”s previous speeches
The president”s State of the Union speech touched on many issues that are critically important to our district and country. His call for more affordable healthcare options, better immigration policies, an improved education system, sound fiscal policy and an effort to achieve energy independence speaks directly to the urgent needs of the American public. I”m anxious to help create strong public policy that addresses these and other important issues.
However, the president has used this speech to talk about important issues in the past, yet solutions have rarely materialized. He has made similar calls for improved healthcare, energy independence, immigration reform, expanding educational opportunities, job growth and fiscal responsibility in last year”s address; however, these proposals never became reality.
Last year, he also said that troop levels in Iraq would be reduced, but today he is calling for an escalation of our forces to Iraq. His words tonight certainly haven”t changed my mind about the war in Iraq, and I doubt that they have changed the minds of the American public. His policy for Iraq is severely flawed and he is ignoring the will of the Iraqi government, our military commanders on the ground, the Congress and the American people.
Fortunately, Americans voted to change the direction in which the federal government is leading our great nation. The Congress will provide aggressive oversight to all of the president”s proposals discussed tonight, especially his plans for Iraq.
I remain committed to creating solid public policy that addresses the needs and concerns of our district and country.?
Mike Thompson (D-CA)
U.S. Congressman, California District 1
Editor”s Note: Congressman Thompson released this statement Tuesday, Jan. 23, in response to the State of the Union address of President George W. Bush.
