President Bush, swear off permanent Iraqi bases---by Rep Jane Harman

[kpete]

President Bush, swear off permanent Iraqi bases
by Rep Jane Harman
Fri Mar 10, 2006 at 11:29:39 AM PDT

After three long years in Iraq, America needs an exit strategy for bringing our troops home. I believe that there is still a chance that we can leave Iraq with a stable, functioning government -- but with the escalating sectarian violence we're witnessing, that chance of success is quickly slipping from our grasp.

From the very beginning, the Bush Administration has mismanaged the entire operation -- from hyping and cherry-picking pre-war intelligence to failing to plan for the invasion's aftermath.

We don't have much time left to get it right. And it's going to require an aggressive diplomatic effort from President Bush to forge true power-sharing among Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds.

One major issue stands in the way: many Iraqis suspect that the United States intends to maintain permanent military bases in their country and that we harbor designs on Iraqi oil. They think that we plan on staying there -- which is fueling the insurgency and providing disincentives to Iraqi leaders to share power and form a stable government.


So earlier this week, I wrote to President Bush, urging him to state clearly and unequivocally that we do not seek permanent military bases in Iraq, and that Iraqi oil belongs to the Iraqi people. His continuing failure to clarify U.S. intentions provides an excuse for many Iraqi leaders to avoid compromise and jeopardizes our ability to succeed in Iraq.

Please email the White House now and join me in demanding that President Bush go on record and tell the Iraqi people the US will not keep permanent military bases in Iraq!
http://www.democracyinaction.com/dia/organizationsCOM/secureus/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1741

Only when Iraqis understand that we plan to leave Iraq as soon as possible -- not to referee their civil war -- will they realize that power-sharing is the best hope for security and prosperity.

http://www.democracyinaction.com/...

-- Jane

P.S. After I left last time, Armando posed a terrific question about the President's assertion of Article II power with respect to warrant-less NSA wiretaps. He asked whether Democrats are standing up to this over-reaching by the Executive Branch.

Democrats -- including this Democrat -- believe that no person is above the law, not even the President. The President's NSA program must fully comply with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and I believe it can. FISA is the exclusive way to conduct electronic surveillance in the United States. I agree with you that the White House's invocation of "inherent" Constitutional authority is highly strained. It not only cuts against Supreme Court precedent (The Steel Seizure case) but also against our Constitutional order. As I have said before, Article I (Congress) comes before Article II (the Executive).

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/10/132939/014

[biscotti]

1. Wonder if her issuing

this statement has anything to do with her new opponent? In any event at least now she is speaking out. So far she has been an enabler to the administration in her role in the intelligence comittee in the house.

http://www.winogradforcongress.com/
Winograd vs. Harman, Bush & Cheney
A Real Democrat for the People
Marcy Winograd, President of Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, thinks it's time a real Democrat challenged 36th District Congresswoman Jane Harman, a supporter of the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, new nuclear weapons development, secret detentions and the suspension of due process, and illegal government wiretapping of private American citizens. Harman, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, remained silent for over a year after being briefed on the Bush administration's violation of federal wiretapping law (FISA) and recently told "Meet the Press" that she deplores the New York Times for informing the American people that the Bush Administration ignored the law.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. jr isn't going to respond to that letter. They have every intention

of keeping permanent bases in Iraq.

[blm]

3. When Kerry sent his letter about the permanent bases a few months ago,

Pace actually responded.

Unfortunately he acted as if permanent bases were NOT a factor - they respond, but they lie when they do.