Kucinich Exit Strategy for Iraq

[AnAmerican]

"We have now lost nearly 500 U.S. soldiers in Iraq, with many times that number of Iraqi civilians killed, and with several times that number of U.S. soldiers wounded. The question we must all ask ourselves is: How many lives is enough? I'm once again calling on the Administration to change its international policy direction, to reach out to the world community through the United Nations, to bring U.N. peacekeepers in and to bring our troops home. This exit strategy has been on my website for three months now and represents the best plan to ensure the stabilization of Iraq, the end of the war and the beginning of world security, and to bring our troops home."

Dennis' Plan to Bring Troops Home: http://www.kucinich.us/bringourtroopshome.php

[Nadienne]

1. It's clear what Kucinich's

priorities are.

[el_gato]

2. self determination

for people of other countries

[AnAmerican]

3. Peace

And getting rid of the "blow em all to hell" attitude of far too many in this country.

[Nadienne]

4. An end

to corporate war profiteering

[redqueen]

5. several times that number of U.S. soldiers wounded?

The Kooch needs to update his figures.

Medical evacuations from Iraq near 11,000 link to Dec 18 article

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The total number of wounded soldiers and medical evacuations from the war in Iraq is nearing 11,000, according to new Pentagon data provided in response to a request from United Press International.

The military has made 8,581 medical evacuations from Operation Iraqi Freedom for non-hostile causes in addition to the 2,273 wounded -- a total of 10,854, according to the new data. The Pentagon says that 457 troops have died.

The Pentagon's casualty update for Operation Iraqi Freedom listed on its Web site, however, does not reflect thousands of the evacuations.

It is a toll the country has not seen since Vietnam, said Aseneth Blackwell, former national president of Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., a support group for people who lose a spouse from war.

[iowapeacechief]

6. Who else has one?

Can anyone provide links to any comparisons of post-war plans?

[worldgonekrazy]

7. There are several problems with this plan

1) The UN will not take over the Iraq occupation. Why would they? The attacks against occupying forces (which would still be necessary) would continue, as a UN occupation would still be seen as a Western occupation. It might win over a few "hearts and minds", but the conflict would continue.

2) You can't just pull out and leave anarchy in your wake. This is a vital region in the world in terms of U.S. interests. Not to mention the havoc and devastation it would wreak on the citizens of that country (which I think would actually be even worse than the havoc the occupation has caused).

I like Kucinich and I agree with his premises, but his conclusion is my problem. I was agaisnt the war, I marched against it, I wrote letters against it, I called my Reps against it, but it happened anyway. Now that we are there we simply cannot leave without a reasonable exit strategy. Therein lies the quagmire.

[redqueen]

8. The UN is hesitant, because we're 'hogging' the spoils

Take the "US-OWNED" stamp off the situation and watch how fast they change their tune. You say it's about attacks, but I disagree. You have a point about the appearance of a western occupation, but I don't think that will generate as much rancor as our presence is.

Do you not admit that if the UN were to agree to Kucinich's plan to take over administration of the reconstruction, that it would be the best thing for all involved?


Your second point is entirely without merit, since Kucinich would never do that.

I wonder why people persist in raising it as a legitimate issue? Hmmmmmmmmmm.......

[Terwilliger]

9. response

1) When you change your attitude toward the Iraqi people wholesale, their attitude will change. Give them control of their own destiny, and those elements causing the problems will not be in a position of influence anymore

2) NOBODY has ever shown me where that is what Kucinich is saying AT ALL! He NEVER said to pull out and just leave anarchy in place. So, your second point isn't really a point.

The reasonable exit strategy is, immediately declare the oil located within Iraqi borders as thoroughly belonging to the Iraqi people. Send food and supplies in MASS quantities, and pull the troops back and rely on civilian authorities keep the order. Bring the UN in slowly to assure that there is no inter-ethnic or inter-religious fighting, and the Iraqis will get to a place where they can start thinking about the best way to create their own country.