Kucinich: Brazen Attacks in Iraq Defy Administration's Rhetoric

[LWolf]

Iraq Out of Control; January Elections Will Be a Sham

http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/1221-01.htm

WASHINGTON -- December 21 -- Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today on the escalating violence in Iraq:

"The brazen executions, captured on film for the world to see, shows Iraq out of control, despite Administration rhetoric. The US occupation has failed to provide security. It's time for the Administration to be honest with the American public: Free and fair elections cannot, and will not, happen under such conditions. The January election can only be a sham.

"American troops and American taxpayers are footing the bill for a war that was never needed, and a war that is counterproductive to the security interests of our nation. No weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq and the 9/11 Commission has determined that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the September 11th attacks.

"This Administration is conducting a war with no end. Iraqi elections, while an important step, will not bring an end to the US occupation of Iraq, and will not bring our soldiers home.

"The continued occupation of Iraq is draining our financial resources here at home, and is harming our military readiness worldwide. We cannot continue down this path.

"Now is the time for a new direction in Iraq. We must end the occupation of Iraq. It is time for a new plan. It is time, to begin the process of getting the UN in and the US out."

I've always stood firmly with Dennis on Iraq. Now that my son's best friend was shipped to Mosul last fall, I can hardly stand to read the headlines; like this that appeared on my screen today:

<snip>

Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Insurgents fired explosives into a dining tent at a U.S. Army base in Iraq's northern city of Mosul today, killing more than 20 people, including at least 14 U.S. soldiers and seven civilians doing work for the Pentagon contractor Halliburton Co.

``The carnage was extensive,'' said Army Captain Phil Ludvigson, a spokesman in Mosul, who cited the American death toll in an interview. ``It takes some time to put together the identifications, the remains, and to get an accurate count.''

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a1Cbvlw132dM&refer=top_world_news

It looks like more and more people are waking up:

<snip>

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- A solid majority of Americans believe, for the first time, that the war in Iraq was a mistake and most people believe Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld should lose his job, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll published Tuesday.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/22/content_2364948.htm

Better late than never, but I'd like to bring our troops home before any more lives are lost. Every single one of our troops has a life here at home, and family and friends to return to; enough blood has been shed on all sides without cause. Let no more lives be lost to advance corporate or political power agendas or to pump up the self-esteem of the powerless.