PDA: Open letter to ALL elected Democrats

[welshTerrier2]

We hear all kinds of talk about "the grassroots movement" in the Democratic Party ... we're told that Dr. Dean is very committed to "the grassroots" ... of course, Dr. Dean has only very recently taking over the Chairman role so its unclear exactly what changes he will seek and how successful he'll be at implementing change ...

PDA, the Progressive Democrats of America, has issued a letter to elected Democrats about the "war" in Iraq ... let's hope that all progressive Democrats get behind the ideas set forth in this letter ...

source: http://www.pdamerica.org/policy/iraq-to-dems.php

We believe that Democrats must hold the Bush Administration and the Republican Party fully responsible for the expanding and continuing quagmire which military experts and pundits now predict may last five-ten years or longer. Democrats cannot oppose the war and occupation while supporting the Republican goals of military victory. Only a negotiated solution based on real self-determination for the Iraqi people, including a negotiated timetable of military withdrawal, will lessen the trauma that has been inflicted on Iraqis during the past generation.

First, we call on Congressional Democrats to devise a strategy to expose and oppose the Administration's expected request for a $100 billion supplemental appropriation for the war. We are joined with the peace movement in a permanent campaign to end funding for this war. We have no objection to funding for body armor that will protect our troops from preventable deaths, but we oppose open-ended funding for an unwinnable war. At the very least, Congressional Democrats should demand a timetable and plan for withdrawal in 2005 in exchange for additional funding over the estimated present level of $200 billion.

Second, we call on Congressional Democrats to become a watchdog force for the American public by asking questions that the Administration is unwilling to answer, such as these:

1. Does the Administration plan to maintain the staffing levels of its Embassy in Baghdad, now larger than any similar facility in the world?
2. Does the Administration plan to maintain its nearly 20 military bases in Iraq?
3. What is the US budget for the Iraqi January elections, and is our government in fact supporting the incumbent Allawi regime?
4. If Iraqi forces cannot be trained sufficiently to defend the interests of the "coalition," will US troops continue to fight and die on a permanent basis?
5. Has the US already expanded the war by deploying Special Forces units in Iran or other countries in the region?
6. What is a true accounting of American casualties, including Americans killed working on private contracts for the US-sponsored regime or corporations based in Iraq? Are Americans wounded in Iraq who die after being airlifted to other countries included in the listing of American deaths? Are fatalities among soldiers not yet naturalized as American citizens considered American deaths in Pentagon releases?
7. Charles Graner, who was convicted of torturing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, was praised at his sentencing hearing for distributing Christian bibles to the Iraqi people. Is it US policy to approve of soldiers who engage in such proselytizing?

Third, we call on Congressional Democrats to sponsor public forums in their districts to hear public debate on military withdrawal, concerns of military families, and release information on the local budget consequences of spending on the war and occupation.

Fourth, we call on Congressional Democrats to actively support the peace movement, including dissenting soldiers and reservists, by joining rallies and demonstrations, by signing public declarations, and by opposing any political repression under the Patriot Act or other mechanisms designed to stifle vigorous dissent and discussion of alternatives.