Pallone for New Jersey: Focus on Iraq

[Kire]

From: Ali Savino, Pallone for New Jersey <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
To: Kire@...
Date: Aug 12, 2005 3:12 PM
Subject: Focus on Iraq


Dear Friends,

Yesterday, President Bush declared, “It would be mistake to withdraw from Iraq now”. We here at Pallone for New Jersey, got to thinking, “Well, it would indeed be a mistake if the president doesn't change course in Iraq either by internationalizing the force or holding members of his administration accountable for their miscalculations."

With dozens of soldiers dying in the past few weeks, and the focus turning to a grieving mother standing at the gates of President Bush’s ranch, we believe it’s time to revisit questions such as “Is the Bush administration leveling with the American people and Congress about the current status of the war” and “Is it time for members of the president's war cabinet to be held accountable for the incompetent way they've executed the war since day one?”

Last month, the Department of Defense was required to submit to Congress a plan for success in Iraq. Even though the report was mandated by law, Donald Rumsfeld thumbed his nose at the legislative branch and sent Congress a woefully inadequate report. If they won’t talk about what to do about Iraq, we will. That’s why this week we started posting a series of articles analyzing Iraq, our military, and our options. Visit Frank’s blog to learn more.

www.pallonefornewjersey.com/frankblog

We will continue our conversations on Iraq at our monthly meetups this coming Monday. Please visit a meetup to join on the conversation, and if you’re in northern New Jersey consider visiting our Bergen/Passaic Pallone for New Jersey meetup, where Congressman Pallone will be meeting with concerned citizens to talk about the Iraq War, and where we can go from here.

www.meetup.com keyword: pallone

And finally, for those who can’t make it to the meetup with Frank, he will be doing a live blog on the Iraq war, Thursday, August 18, 2005 from 8 to 9 pm. We encourage you to log on and join us for a question and answer period to discuss this important issue.

www.pallonefornewjersey.com/frankblog

Thank you,
Alexandra Savino

www.pallonefornewjersey.com

[Kire]

1. The Road Out of Iraq

From: Congressman Frank Pallone <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
To: kire@...
Date: Aug 18, 2005 11:45 AM
Subject: The Road Out of Iraq


Dear Friends,

The month of August has refocused American attention on the war in Iraq. With escalating violence against our troops, President Bush’s freefalling approval ratings, and one grieving mother’s determination to be heard, it is clear that the public has taken notice, and the majority do not like what they see.

Now is the time for Democrats to take a strong stand and clearly define our vision to end this tragic war. We can and must lay out a plan to win the peace and bring our brave troops home.

I would like to extend an invitation to you to join me to discuss ideas on Iraq. That’s why tonight, from 8pm to 9pm EST I will hold a Live Blog Discussion on Iraq. Please join us to share your ideas and questions.

www.pallonefornewjersey.com/frankblog

For too long progress in Iraq has been deadlocked. Many argue that for us to leave now would condemn the Iraqi people to civil war or a theocratic state, possibly both. Yet the continued sense of occupation has bred greater resentment and violence by the day.

Some think that the opportunity to internationalize this conflict has passed. Many have said that international bodies would never agree to the cost of sending their own troops. Yet I am not convinced that this is a stalemate. The costs of failure are too great to allow us to be blinded by pride.

The DoD and Donald Rumsfeld have told us that 14 of Iraq’s 18 of the provinces are secure. If that’s the case, let's bring NATO, the UN, or an international coalition into the 14 secure provinces and start rebuilding. This will take some pressure of the US forces and take the target off our troops’ backs. Then we can begin to bring some troops home and focus on the 4 provinces that are not secured. Let’s break up the Halliburton & friends monopoly on contracts in those 14 provinces and give other countries an incentive to help bear the economic costs of the war.

We need to end this war the right way, and that begins with a renewed commitment to engage with the international community.

To share your thoughts, please visit our Live Blog Discussion tonight, 8PM to 9PM EST.

www.pallonefornewjersey.com/frankblog

Thank You,
Congressman Frank Pallone