I posted this in GD the other day because of all the attacks here on Dean for what he has always clearly said. Will agreed with me basically on this post. It is time to stop attacking Dean for this war for which our congress voted.
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"I believe Howard Dean and Will Pitt agree on a lot of things about getting
out of Iraq. Both are taking responsible approaches to this issue. I
have often said my opinion wavers day to day on this issue. I am glad to
see some are sort of on the same page. Most days I feel we should leave, but we have destroyed their infrastructure badly. I think of how we felt after 3 hurricane eyes hit us...lost, devastated, no infrastructure as we knew it. Then I rethink.
Here is something Howard Dean said in 2003 about getting out of Iraq. His words were almost two years ago, so some things are different. Let's concentrate on the similar tones of responsibility.
Agree or disagree, but be honest!
This is a man speaking from conscience.
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/001116.html Wednesday, August 20, 2003
"We Cannot Afford to Fail"
BURLINGTON--Governor Howard Dean issued this statement on Iraq:
"Since last April, I have been calling on President Bush to internationalize
the reconstruction effort in Iraq. I repeat that call today.
"Expert after expert has returned from Iraq stating that the window of
opportunity is closing faster than anyone expected and that our chance to
successfully stabilize and rebuild the country is quickly passing. Despite
this, the Bush Administration refuses to seek a UN mandate so that our
historic allies and friends can join us in this effort and speed up the
reconstruction process.
"I call on the Bush Administration to take the following steps to encourage
our proven allies and friends, including France, Germany, India, and Turkey
to join us in Iraq and to accelerate the reconstruction process. We must:
* Work with the UN to build the largest coalition possible to help us
succeed in Iraq;
* Make clear our intention to share decision-making on security and
reconstruction issues in Iraq with those countries and international
institutions that join the international coalition;
* Prioritize restoring law and order and the resumption of electricity,
water, and sanitation services -- they are fundamental to success in all
other areas;
* Focus on developing Iraqi capacity to undertake key functions as soon as
possible;
* Decentralize the operations of the Coalition Authority and make money more
forthcoming and flexible;
* Employ the sizable number of available Iraqis with short term public works
projects and get state-run enterprises up and running, even if they must be
downsized and privatized later;
* Push for UN oversight of the successor to the Oil for Food program;
* Award reconstruction contracts to the best US or foreign bidder in a
transparent and open process.
"Yesterday's bombing of the UN headquarters in Iraq appears to have been an
effort to dissuade other members of the international community from
assisting us. It is vital to our chances of success that the Bush
Administration redouble its efforts to internationalize the military and
civilian presence and to speed up the stabilization and rebuilding process.
We cannot afford to fail."
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And here is a post from Will Pitt from Sunday. Very responsible ideas, thinking of the Iraqis and that we not leave them in the devastation we caused.
"Some ideas:
* End the Houston-based contracting of work in Iraq and open the doors to Iraqi companies and workers. The believers in privatization here should practice what they preach and allow Iraqis to make money off the work and repairs needing to be done. As funds flow into the Iraqi economy, burgeoning and reconstituted private companies can take it upon themselves to make sure the lights work, the roads are paved, the water is running, and the trash is picked up. Once upon a time, Iraq was the most modern and industrialized nation in that region, filled with highly educated workers who know how to run a country. The Iraqi people must be allowed to run their country once again, and must be paid well for their work by Iraqi employers not beholden to profit margins in the United States.
* Arrange for the creation of a base of operations outside of Iraq where an Iraqi National Guard and police force can be trained to take over the security of their country. The old Christian canon states that whenever two or three people are gathered together to pray, Jesus is with them. In Iraq, whenever two or three people are gathered together to sign up for the army or the police, a suicide bomber is there with them to deal death. Establishing a place away from the violence where Iraqis can be prepared and armed for the work needed to gain control of the country will ultimately allow American forces to back away from policing the country, something that has been the chief aggravating factor among that populace. Doing this away from the violence will allow Iraqis to sign up for this work without fear of being blown sideways out a recruiting station.
* Until the infrastructure is repaired and security forces are assembled, steps must be taken to achieve stability without an American face on the action. Work in good faith with both the United Nations and the Arab League to assemble a large security force comprised of people from the region. Care must be taken to avoid any pitfalls regarding potential ethnic and religious friction between the Iraqi people and these Arab security forces, but this can be managed. Once Iraqi infrastructure is restored and a security and police force is in place, the Arab forces can begin a phased withdrawal. Meanwhile, American forces can be removed en masse.
* Practice what has been preached about bringing democracy to that nation. Democracy is not the installation of some bastardized Vichy government managed by remote control from Washington. The Iraqi people will never accept such a government, and the violence and chaos will never end. Provide security by way of the aforementioned steps and let the people decide how their country will be governed. The recent farce of an election did not achieve this; almost all of the candidates were anonymous because they feared assassination, and large swaths of the populace did not participate because they saw it as the sham it was. Let the government be formed as it will, and prepare for the diplomatic ramifications.
* A vital element to the process will be the establishment of a set timetable for withdrawal. Timetables are dangerous; if they are not met, rage is the inevitable result. Yet the changes required of our status in Iraq need date markers and deadlines to push the process along, and the Iraqi people need to know exactly when their country will be their own again."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/031405Z.shtml 
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