Iraq: Republicans Prefer Slogans to Solutions

[Kevin Spidel]

Given the ongoing debate on Iraq, below please find talking points on Iraq.

President Bush and Congressional Republicans have no plan in Iraq. They had a flawed plan going in; a failed plan to win; and no plan to get out. “Stay the course” is a slogan, not a solution. It is a prescription for an endless occupation of Iraq.

Also attached is information on the Levin-Reed amendment that is expected to draw strong Democratic support in the Senate this week.

IRAQ: Republicans Prefer Slogans to Solutions

· President and Congressional Republicans have no plan in Iraq.
· Flawed plan going in
· Failed plan to win
· No plan to get out

· “Stay the course” is a slogan, not a solution. It is a prescription for an endless occupation of Iraq.

· Democrats are united on the need for a New Direction in Iraq:
· 2006 must be a year of significant transition
· Iraqis must take control of their security
· Begin the responsible redeployment of U.S. troops

· The American people have seen the results of the President’s failed Iraq policies: why should they expect a different result from doing more of the same?

· In last week’s House debate on Iraq, Bush Republicans endorsed continuing failed policy:
· Poor planning – troops without equipment, protection, no plan for success
· Mismanagement - $9 billion in reconstruction money lost or stolen
· Lack of accountability – GOP Congress refuses to oversee conduct of war and taxpayer money
· No bid contracts - $17 billion for Halliburton alone


Democrats were clear in the debate:

· “Only the Iraqis can solve the problems in Iraq. They are fighting with each other, and our troops are caught in between.” -- Rep. Jack Murtha

· “Trying to fudge and blend together the war in Iraq, which is separate and distinct from the war on terrorism, is disingenuous.” -- Rep. Ike Skelton

· “The war in Iraq has increased, not decreased, terrorism and the resolve of terrorists. It has created conditions in Iraq that allow terrorism to thrive.” -- Rep. Mel Watt

· “Our troops are performing magnificently, but the Administration is functioning without any adequate plans. The results are disastrous consequences for our troops, for our country, for our relations with our friends and allies, particularly people in the Arab world.” -- Rep. John Dingell

· “The troubling reality is that our continued presence also makes success more elusive. It serves as a disincentive for Iraqi military and political leaders to take courageous risks to stabilize their country and assume responsibility for their government.” Rep. David Price

· Facts can not be rebutted by slogans:
· More than three years into the war, sectarian militias undermine efforts to secure Iraq
· 263,000 Iraqi security forces haven’t created conditions allowing redeployment of one U.S. soldier
· Cost to United States more than $8 billion each month
· Army alone will require $24 billion over the next two years for equipment repair and replacement



Office of the Democratic Leader, June 21, 2006



Following is the press release sent out by Senator Levin’s office sent out regarding the Iraq amendment introduced by Levin-Reed Amendment.

The text of the amendment can be found here: http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2006/Iraqamdt.061906.pdf


June 19, 2006

Senators Levin and Reed Introduce Amendment on U.S. Policy on Iraq

WASHINGTON – Senators Carl Levin, D-MI, and Jack Reed, D-RI, will offer an amendment today on U.S. policy on Iraq urging the President to press the Iraqis to take greater responsibility for their own security and future. The amendment calls for the beginning of a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of the year. Senators Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, and Ken Salazar, D-CO, are cosponsors of the amendment.

“Our current open-ended policy is counterproductive and unsustainable,” Levin said. “The Administration’s policy of ‘we’ll be there for as long as Iraq needs us’ will result in Iraqis depending on us longer. Three and a half years into the conflict, we should tell the Iraqis that the American security blanket is not permanent. Beginning a phased redeployment this year will add incentives for the Iraqis to make the hard compromises necessary to bring their country together and secure it. They need to do that job themselves and our amendment is one way to prod them to make that commitment and stick to it.”

Sen. Reed added: "Instead of offering a blueprint for success in Iraq, the President continues to rely on glib slogans like: ‘As the Iraqis stand up, we’ll stand down.’ This gives Iraqi leaders the false impression that our military presence is open-ended. American troop levels will be determined by conditions on the ground, but the Iraqis must join us to shape these conditions. This amendment sends the Iraqi government a clear message: you need to get to work and achieve a meaningful political solution. It also calls on the President to truly make 2006 a year of transition and begin redeploying our troops."

The Levin-Reed amendment continues the progress made in last year’s “United States Policy in Iraq Act,” which passed the Senate by a vote of 79-19 as part of the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. In that Act, Congress called for 2006 to be a year of “significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq.”



Specifically, the Levin-Reed amendment urges:

° Expediting the transition of U.S. forces to a limited mission of training and logistic support of Iraqi security forces, protection of U.S. personnel and facilities, and targeting counterterrorism activities.

° A phased redeployment of U.S. forces should begin in 2006.

° By the end of 2006, the administration should submit to Congress its plan for continued redeployment beyond 2006.

In addition, the Levin-Reed amendment highlights steps the Iraqis need to take to put their country on the path to success including:

° Achieving a broad-based and sustainable political settlement.

° Fairly sharing political power and economic resources to invest all Iraqi groups in the formation of their nation.

° Disarming the militias and purging Iraqi security forces of members not loyal to the national government.

Finally, the amendment calls for:

° Convening an international conference to assist Iraq in overcoming problems such as the potential threat of interference by neighboring countries and payment of pledges.

° Sustaining non-military support for reconstruction and governance.

The Levin-Reed amendment does not address the speed or pace of the redeployment, i.e., it doesn’t establish a timetable for redeployment and it does not call for a precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. It urges that phased redeployment begin this year as a way of moving from an open-ended commitment and Iraqi dependency.

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[snowbear]

1. Great post! You should copy it and put it on the DNC blog...

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