The wartime media taboo: withdrawal from Iraq

[Cocoa]

Since this was written, another dem called for withdrawal, Marty Meehan, and just now Ted Kennedy called for withdrawal. I expect them to be ignored as well, the whores will keep telling us that "everyone" thinks we "have to" stay in Iraq.

http://www.sfbg.com/39/17/x_mediabeat.html

<snip>

Now – at the outset of Bush's second term – strong advocacy for immediate withdrawal should become part of the national debate. Sixteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives launched an initiative in that direction Jan. 12 with a letter to Bush urging him "to take immediate steps to begin the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq." Led by Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California, the signers contended: "It has become clear that the existence of more than 130,000 American troops stationed on Iraqi soil is infuriating to the Iraqi people – especially because Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction and did not have a connection to the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, or to the al Qaeda terrorist organization. Indeed, the very presence of Americans in Iraq is a rallying point for dissatisfied people in the Arab world."

Few media outlets beyond California did any substantive reporting on the letter. But it could turn out to be an initial step on a long journey for efforts to achieve a congressional cutoff of funds for the Iraq War. Such efforts can only be successful if immense grassroots pressure develops to compel members of Congress to take action.

Woolsey is set to take another step by introducing a resolution in the House of Representatives calling for U.S. troops to come home from Iraq as soon as logistically possible. Her office told me Jan. 19 that Woolsey's resolution – still in draft form and not yet circulated to House members – was scheduled to be introduced in late January.

If left up to newsroom editors and mainstream pundits, the Woolsey resolution will scarcely cause a ripple in the national media pond. But the resolution could do much more than sink like a stone. It has the potential to serve as a catalyst for nationwide debate.

[htuttle]

1. What? You mean 'cut and run'?

That's the code word they use to shut up any talk of withdrawing from Iraq.

You know, if I'd accidentally lit my house on fire, I'd consider 'cutting and running' a wise move.

[paineinthearse]

2. See Meehan thread in the Massachusetts forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x2581