Kucinich: "I join the President in that celebration."

[ProSense]

Kucinich Response to President Obama’s Statement Regarding the Future of Iraq

Washington, Aug 31 -

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s speech from the Oval Office regarding the future of Iraq:

“The President is rightly celebrating that less American troops are in harm’s way. I join the President in that celebration.

“We need to dispense with the fiction, though, that this announcement in any way diminishes our financial or resource commitment to Iraq. Fifty thousand “non-combat” troops will remain, and that number does not include the State Department’s plan to double the amount of mercenaries through next year--whose only loyalty is to the highest bidder--and fortify numerous ‘enduring presence posts’ throughout the country. This fortification will include the recent State Department request for Black Hawk helicopters, mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles, and advanced surveillance systems. Such a substantial reliance on mercenaries amounts to a privatization of war.

“We will continue to spend billions in Iraq with absolutely nothing to show for it. Two weeks ago, one of the most influential Iraqi bishops--Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad--went so far as to say that US combat troops are leaving the country in worse shape than they found it. Indeed, just last week a series of coordinated attacks in 13 cities throughout the country killed and wounded dozens of people.”

“We must admit that our mere presence there undermines any hope for a peaceful and stable Iraq. We need to remove all American forces--military and otherwise--and commit to working diplomatically for a viable government.

“I am, however, encouraged that the President acknowledges that our economy continues to sputter as $15 million Americans desperately search for work. My constituents and I will be eager to hear how the President plans to restart our manufacturing sector and create opportunity for Americans.”

Kucinich has been one of the leading Congressional voices in opposition to the US military involvement in Iraq.

Progress is great.

[boppers]

1. How does he feel about Germany?

We have more troops and assets there, does he think we should leave Germany, as well?

[ZombieHorde]

2. "We must admit that our mere presence there undermines any hope for a peaceful and stable Iraq."

Our presence in Germany does not undermine any hope for a peaceful and stable Germany.

[burrowowl]

6. We use Germany as a staging area

we are not there for Germany's benefit.

[ZombieHorde]

16. I agree with your claim, but our post-war pressence was not and is not a threat

to peace and stability to Germany.

[boppers]

10. So, if we leave troops there for 60 years, things might be the same?

Germany in 1946 was no picnic.

[dflprincess]

11. But in Germany in 1946 we were trying war criminals

strange how that works when it's some other country committing them. And not to long ago we allowed an sick, elderly man to be deported to face trial for crimes he committed 65 years ago (as well we should have). But when it comes to prosecuting Bush - it's time to "look forward".

[boppers]

13. When did we prosecute FDR? Truman?

Strange how that works, indeed.

[dflprincess]

15. So that excuses Bush's crimes?

The number of people on this board that are suddenly defending Bush is amazing.

I'll bet you wouldn't be so ready to forgive and forget if a Republican president was telling us to "look forward". But because it's Obama running the cover up, it's okay.

Strange how that works.

[ZombieHorde]

17. I wish. One of the major differences between our war against Germany and our war against

various terrorist cells is we actually won the war against Germany. Military might was an effective tool against our WWII enemies, but our current enemies can only be defeated through propaganda or the annihilation of the entire planet.

[BeFree]

3. Sure he does

Me too. You want billions of our SS dollars spent in Germany? What... do you think hitler is doing an OBL?

Is Germany gonna bomb Pearl Harbor again if we cut and run?

[impik]

14. Or South Korea? Or Japan?

[Warren Stupidity]

18. Of course we should leave Germany and Japan and the 899 or so

other foreign garrisons. We should get the fuck out of the empire business. It is ruining us.

[chill_wind]

4. I believe this is what is known as damning with faint praise. n/t

[IndianaGreen]

5. Dennis did mention the Blackwater/Xe mercenaries in Iraq

We just renewed their contract for Iraq and Afghanistan. The killings will go on, but now we will call them "training mishaps" so as to not cast a shadow on our Great Leader.

[chill_wind]

7. His celebration pretty much ends with the first sentence,

OPer's deliberate choice of titling notwithstanding. I don't disagree with him anywhere.

[slipslidingaway]

19. Agreed. n/t

[Radical Activist]

8. Nice statement.

He acknowledges the progress and talks honestly about the problems and obligations that remain. It's remarkably different from the nihilists who would rather chop off an arm than say anything positive about Obama.

[chill_wind]

9. Yes, he's calling it exactly as he sees it: What amounts to a privitization of the war. n/t

[DemocraticPilgrim]

12. I like DK but can he leave this reminder till after November, because like yeah we get it.