Iraq --What should the Dem Platform be?

[BeFree]

What is the best way to end the Iraqi mistake?

Now is the time to begin forming the Democratic Party Platform. At least the Underground Platform.

I say: As soon as a Democratic President is inaugurated, he or she shall bring in the UN and the rest of the International community and the US begin bringing troops home.

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. As usual, it depends on your goal

Having people from other countries join the US in committing war crimes is a popular idea with the US voting classes, but the crusade victims and their families are unlikely to share the enthusiasm.

[redqueen]

2. There's this sticky issue

sometimes referred to as 'privatization' or 'reconstruction contracts' or 'oil contracts'... it all boils down to the same thing.

The US wants to be the big boss and call all the shots.

Until that stops, you can pretty much kiss that fairy tale about UN cooperation goodbye.

[judge_smales]

3. I'm not completely on board w/ the idea of

pulling the troops out. Repub or Dem, the US made this mess and we need to be a big part of cleaning it up. I'm 100% with you on getting some international help in there- and our traditional allies would be more than glad to help us out if we give them some control over the process and allow some REAL democracy into the proceedings.

So- the Dem position should be to give our allies what they want and to put the well-being of the Iraqi people first. They've been victimized twice: first by Saddam and now by the Bush admin. in it's arrogant insistance that no one but the US knows how to do it right.

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. There is a conflict there. What our allies want is Iraq oil money

I'm not sure that the Iraqi people would agree that giving it to them is consistent with putting their best interests first.

[IrateCitizen]

4. From a political standpoint...

It should be that the invasion and occupation of Iraq has made America less safe, because it has diverted tremendous manpower and resources to an objective that, prior to invasion, did not pose a danger to the United States. It has reduced funds available for shoring up security measures of strategic centers at home (nuclear facilities, chemical plants, ports and cities). It has diverted the focus of our intelligence apparatus. It has placed our men and women in the armed forces in danger's way for little or no benefit. It has driven a wedge between us and much of the rest of the world, diplomatically-speaking. It was predicated on false pretenses and the cherry-picking and mischaracterization of intelligence estimates.

As a means out of the mess, we should really be advocating many of the things that Dennis Kucinich currently is.

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While this isn't as strong as I would like to see, it is something I am willing to settle for as a first step toward a reduction in militarism.