JOSHUA FRANK: A Plan to End the War -- Dump the Democrats

[Tace]

by Joshua Frank -- World News Trust

Across the country opposition to the war in Iraq is fast setting in. The latest Bush job approval ratings are dismal, hovering around 35%, in large part due to peoples’ wariness about the disorder and uncertainty engulfing Iraq. Two weeks ago 24 towns in Wisconsin passed antiwar resolutions. According to Institute for Policy Studies in Washington that pushes the total number of cities to pass similar referendums nationwide to 100. But as the sentiment against the war continues to mature, the most significant question still remains unanswered: What are all of us who want to bring our troops home now going to do to stop the war?

Getting off our lazy haunches and protesting in the streets is one thing, but until we are willing to voice our objections at the ballot box, nothing in Iraq will ever change. Marching through our Main Streets with anti-Bush placards in hand, no matter how refreshing and energizing it may seem, still doesn’t hold all the hawks accountable for the war they have instigated. And I am not just talking about the Republican warmongers. On the other side of the isle the antiwar movement is faced with its principal challenge -- the Democratic Party.

It’s more than a challenge. In fact antiwar allegiance to the pro-war Democrats may well be our biggest problem. Despite the mounting opposition across the United States to the war in Iraq, not one major Democrat has endorsed an immediate unconditional withdrawal of troops from Iraq. A few have supported Rep. Murtha’s “strategic redeployment” plea, which would sanction air strikes of Iraq as well as continued U.S. military outposts throughout the region. But not one leading Democrat wants U.S. troops home now. And what has the antiwar movement done to punish them? Nothing.

The Dems’ complicity shouldn’t come as too much of a shock. The majority of leading Democrats in the Senate voted for Bush’s war as well as all of its boondoggle funding along the way. Sure, they may loft a few soft criticisms at the president for his handling of the botched crusade (it wasn't mismanaged, it was illegitimate from the very start), but now that we are there, they say, we have to support our troops’ mission. Whatever that mission is (or was), I haven’t a clue. It surely wasn’t about democracy, WMDs or bin Laden. If anything, it was just a covert (overt if you ask me) expansion of U.S. Empire. No Democrats will expose, let alone oppose, this gross underlying premise of the “war on terror.” No Democrats will resist the State-sanctioned torture or killing of innocent civilians if they aren’t punished at the polls for supporting it.

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http://worldnewstrust.org/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=3188

[wtmusic]

1. How simplistic.

"Dump the Democrats". And, pray tell, install whom in their places?

Instead of looking at a half-empty glass, let's support antiwar Democrats. That keeps it in a positive, proactive light.

[bemildred]

5. That's what primaries are for.

To decide who the Democrats are. We need to dump the pro-war Democrats in the primaries. We need Democrats that will give voice to the will of the American people, who will kick ass and take names.

[blm]

2. Frank sees the GOPs in trouble and his plan is to work AGAINST Dem party -

that will really make sure Conyers and Waxman get subpoena power.

Frank is vying for the David Horowitz Faux Lefty Award.

[sandnsea]

7. I am so sick of that guy

There aren't words to express my disgust. Faux Lefty or complete idiot, I can't decide which.

[mdmc]

3. The USA is so down with war

we will be in iraq until we can admit another vietnam style defeat or there is a pro west democratically elected government in iraq. This is as much the dems fault as it is bushes.

[paulk]

4. Ken Mehlman couldn't have said it any better

The checks in the mail...

[understandinglife]

6. Isn't it plagiarism to publish Karl's faxes, Josh? Just asking ...

Never Forget: George W. Bush willfully violated National Security to cover-up his willful launch of a war of aggression and illegal occupation of Iraq.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Congress needs to set a TIMETABLE

The Democrats (with the exception of a few brave souls) have been pretty disappointing in regards to their position on the Iraq War/Occupation. While I am somewhat forgiving about (most of) them giving Bush AUTHORIZATION for use of military force against Iraq given the timing and circumstances surrounding that vote(although I think that they were a BIT naive to take Bush at his "word" that his administration would pull out all of the diplomatic stops first), but given how things have since played out with Bush's rush to start the invasion despite the active presence of UN inspectors, no firm evidence uncovered of WMDs, and the slow but steady detangling of the web of lies that comprised Bush's "evidence" against Iraq, there is really NO good excuse for them to continue to support what most people have come to agree is/was a failed, unnecessary, and costly (both in terms of lives and in money) military gambit. Despite the fact that Americans are increasingly turning against our involvement in Iraq, there still does not seem to be a massive groundswell of support for full and immediate withdrawal because a lot of Americans seem to have bought the somewhat understandable "we broke it, we need to fix it," which seems to be reflected among most elected representatives. What I believe we need more than anything from our elected representatives, Democrat AND Republican, is for them start demanding a plan and a concrete "Exit Strategy" from Bush and a TIMETABLE for withdrawing forces and stepping down our military involvement in Iraq and if Bush doesn't give us one, we need them to develop a bipartisan plan and somehow FORCE him into doing something. Him failing to clarify what we're still over there fighting for, as well as openly suggesting that he may leave this mess on another President's table for him/her to deal with after the 2008 elections should simply be unacceptable to Congress, the public, and most of all, our men and women in uniform fighting over there. Of course, given the current "saber-rattling" that Bush seems to be engaged in with Iran, freeing up military forces for him to just turn around and take into Iran may not be such a good idea either since the strongest and most practical argument against military action against Iran at this time is that we simply don't have the military resources to mount a sustained bombing campaign and possible ground invasion.

[madfloridian]

9. Josh Frank should be ashamed of how he distorts.

He does this to all Democrats. He seldom ever goes after Republicans, but he does not mind telling fibs about Democrats.

He has no credibility left with me.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

10. I'm locking this.

You are not permitted to use this message board to work for the defeat of the Democratic Party nominee for any political office. If you wish to work for the defeat of any Democratic candidate in any General Election, then you are welcome to use someone else's bandwidth on some other website.