Well, ok, so don't forget Iraq completely. We all need to write our Congress-critters and demand they stop the escalation while there's still time. This war needs a strategy -- I doubt it's ever had one -- or we need to get the hell out. I prefer the first option. But twenty-two thousand more troops is not strategy, folks; it's tactics. Probably not even good tactics, but that's not the point. Congress needs to hold the President's feet to the fire, make him do his job, and stop him from telling his generals how to do theirs.
So by all means, write your representative and senators about this insane escalation. Just be sure to tell them, Don't forget about Iran! This administration, driven by neo-conservative ideology, has always wanted to take on Iran. Seems likely they have done it already if everything had gone the way they planned in Iraq.
Demand they do it now!
The two voting-age members of this household wrote a letter to our congressman just yesterday.
We enjoy the good fortune of being represented by Dennis Moore, as sensible and responsible a Blue Dog Democrat as you are likely to find. We write him frequently, so maybe his first reaction is along the lines of, oh no, not them again. But he alway always writes us back, and never the form letters we get from our Republican senators, so at least someone on his staff is taking notice of what his constituents are telling him. Here's what they heard today:
Dear Congressman Moore:We were pleased to receive your e-mail that said you will oppose the president's plan to "surge" (escalate) the troop level in Iraq. We both strongly believe that this is a political move on his part that will not significantly relieve the situation in Iraq, misses the point of changing the strategy (possibly intentionally) and will only end up getting more of our men and women in uniform killed.
In our opinion, the fact that George Bush would endanger the lives of our soldiers and marines to advance his political standing (as he did when he neglected any attempt to controlling Falujah until just after the 04 election... and probably when he decided to invade Iraq in the first place) or to save his "legacy" (such as it is) ought to be an impeachable offense.
But the main reason we're writing is to ask you to look over the horizon of Iraq and examine what is being planned for Iraq. As you well know, Wes Clark has been warning about President Bush's intentions against Iran for several years, and now it seems almost certain that he was right all along (just like he has for everything else).
We MUST stop this administration from starting another war. It is wrong morally, it is stupid strategically, it will only break down our military further, alienate more of our allies, and put us deeper in debt.
We have heard that Congressman Walter Jones is proposing legislation to forbid Bush to attack Iran unless we are attacked first or explicit permission is received from Congress. Not having actually read the proposal but assuming it reads as advertised, we hope you will support the bill, and consider signing on as a co-sponsor.
We realize the president is also the commander-in-chief, with the power to deploy military forces. But you in Congress have a constitutional DUTY to provide a check against his abuse of this power. We expect you to perform this duty.
Thanks and sincerely, yada yada yada...
If you don't know your reps, or you don't have their addresses, you can find them on line here (for the House) and here (for the Senate). Please please please write them today. Let them know where you stand, and where you expect them to stand.
UPDATE:
When we wrote to Mr. Moore yesterday, I had only heard in passing about Mr. Jones' bill, which I now know is House Joint Resolution 14. Today, I find I can google some of the details, in case anyone wants to take a look before commending its to his own representative. Unfortunately the text of HJ Res 14 is not yet posted.
