Why? Well, for starters because we are approaching 4,000 dead U.S. Soldiers and have wasted over a trillion of the tax payers dollars. If it there’s anything worse than those considerations it’s the outrageous losses in Iraq: estimates of over a million Iraqi deaths and over 3 million displaced refugees.
Why isn’t it George Bush’s War? Because it isn’t even a war any longer, it’s an occupation; an occupation that steals the future wealth of the Iraqi people by privatzing their oil and reconstruction, an occupation that partitions their country and increases volatility, destabalizes the region and inflames American resentment; an occupation that enriches and empowers multinational companies and mercenaries, undermines America’s international standing and security at home, and acts as strategic position for more aggressive actions in the region.
Why isn’t this George Bush’s War? Because he is our Representative. The crisis in Iraq is mine, yours, his and hers; ours, as Americans and theirs, as Iraqis to Iranians to Israelis to just about anyone who is affected: a long list. Sorry, Mrs. Clinton and frontunners, this involves the whole country and we need to take action now. Sorry, Mrs. Pelosi and too many Congressional members, it’s our problem and we need to reassert Congressional authority where the Constitution has granted it. No more politics. No more games.
Let’s be clear, however. George Bush has a very large share of responsibility. I’m not writing this to vindicate him. He is certainly blameworthy for many decisions leading us here. These were his plans, his deceptions and his corruptions. But, then again, I’m not vindicating Clinton and Edwards either for not reading the NIE, or along with Obama, their consistent funding of the war and subsequent occupation, silence on the Oil Privatization and weak leadership in ending this conflict. On the contrary, I’m talking about responsibility and leadership here.
It’s time to accept responsibility for every death, every bullet, every dollar involved in Iraq as ours. It’s a proposition as weighty and profound as one can imagine, a dark and dreary idea that most don’t seem ready to accept, as many times as I hear “Bush”. Really, I can only imagine someone like Sartre not blushing. But, with this heavy responsibility comes a great power: We will end this disaster in Iraq!
As we finally accept this as our problem (“our” being President, Congress, citizens, etc.) we will no longer depend upon others to provide the solution. We will no longer wait for the President to change course, or the congress to “get enough votes”. We will act now as we are able to. And what is the only way to end this occupation now? No more money. Congress as a representative of the 70% of Americans who want to end this conflict now, will not offer a bill to the President for further action.
The power of the purse is soley the authority of Congress and it is the only way we will end this conflict now, rather than 2013 or later. The Congress does not offer legislation for continuing military action, but will allow appropriation to safely withdraw U.S. troops in a timely fashion, upon consultation and recomendation of the military. It is that simple. No 2/3 majority. No veto. Done. Bush can’d do anything and if Republicans tried to enact legislation, the Democrats (who virtually all say they are against the war but don’t have the votes to overide the veto) fillibuster to block it, for which they only need 41 votes to do and which they surely have. Please read here, here and here.
Needless to say, the Democrats have not been telling us about this, but rather hiding behind the troops or just misleading us about not haveing the votes. However, Dennis Kucinich has been a lone exception throughout the campaign. Just as Kucinich lead the effort to opposing the vote for war originally (actually citing the faulty intelligence), 100% voted against funding it, spoke out alone against the Oil Privatization, as well as aggressive action against Iran, Kucinich has lead here as well. Time and time again he has told us what the others would not: that we can end this war whenever we have the will.
After cutting off funding, Kucinich’s plan for ending the occupation, H.R. 1234, incorporates a plan for a safe withdraw of U.S. troops, who are then replaced with an international peacekeeping force to stabalize the region. The national Oil and reconstruction contracts will be given back to Iraqis, as the U.S. engages in multilateral regional negotiations for long term solutions. It is the most reasonable and most practical plan. After all, what is inflaming the violent insurgency, but the occupation?
Kucinich has taken up the leadership here as he has on other issues. He is offering an active plan and immediate steps toward a solution. Kucinich is claiming his responsibility. We need to do the same.