[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Message From Senator Durbin

[Morton K. Brussel]

FYI: Although an improvement on Obama, still not willing to see come  
to grips explicitly
with our imperialist adventure. What do you all think?  --mkb

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Correspondence_Reply at durbin.senate.gov
> Date: December 8, 2006 1:42:40 PM CST
> To: mkb3 at mac.com
> Subject: Message From Senator Durbin
>
>
> Mr. Morton K. Brussel
>
> 2003 George Huff Drive
>
> Urbana, IL 61801-6203
>
>
>
> Dear Mr. Morton Brussel:
>
>
>
> Thank you for letting me know of your support for withdrawing U.S.  
> military forces from Iraq. I appreciate hearing from you.
>
>
>
> I agree that our policy toward Iraq needs a new direction. With our  
> involvement there now in its fourth year, it's clear that the  
> current "stay the course" approach is not working. This war is  
> costing us nearly $3 billion each week and has claimed far too many  
> American lives. The increasing sectarian violence in Iraq and  
> faltering reconstruction effort have underscored the Bush  
> Administration's lack of a coherent strategy to stabilize Iraq and  
> achieve victory.
>
>
>
> It is time for American troops to start coming home. In June 2006,  
> I voted for legislation to require the President to redeploy most  
> U.S. forces from Iraq by July 1, 2007. Under this proposal, U.S.  
> forces in Iraq would transition to a more limited mission focused  
> on counterterrorism, training and logistical support for Iraqi  
> security forces, and force protection for U.S. personnel. Reducing  
> the U.S. military presence in Iraq will not only give the Iraqis a  
> greater incentive to take the lead in securing their own nation,  
> but will also allow U.S. forces to respond more easily to  
> contingencies affecting the security of the United States elsewhere  
> in the world.  Although this legislation was defeated in the  
> Senate, there is a growing awareness in Congress and throughout the  
> country that the current course in Iraq is unsustainable.
>
>
>
> I did not agree with President Bush's decision to go to war, and I  
> voted against the resolution authorizing the invasion of Iraq. From  
> the beginning, the Bush Administration discounted any evidence that  
> did not fit with its view that Saddam Hussein was an imminent  
> threat to the United States and that Iraq could be easily rid of  
> him and turned into a democracy. The main reasons offered for going  
> to war with Iraq -- that its possession of weapons of mass  
> destruction and its close ties to global terrorist groups  
> represented an imminent threat to the United States -- were gross  
> exaggerations. Similarly, Administration officials greatly  
> underestimated the difficulties associated with the post-war  
> occupation and reconstruction of Iraq. Despite warnings from both  
> internal and independent experts, Bush Administration officials  
> insisted that U.S. troops would be welcomed as liberators and  
> reconstruction would not place a financial drain on the U.S.  
> Treasury. The reality has been quite different, and the Bush  
> Administration's unilateralist policies have left the United States  
> bearing the bulk of the costs -‑ in human lives as well as  
> financial resources.
>
>
>
> Our troops have done everything we have asked of them. We owe it to  
> them to make it clear to Iraq's political leaders and its people  
> that it is time for them to take responsibility for securing and  
> governing their country. The Iraqi government faces a difficult  
> road ahead, and we should continue to help them as they strive to  
> move forward. But by continuing the current open-ended military  
> commitment in Iraq, the Bush Administration is simply prolonging  
> the day when the tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers there are able  
> to return home to their families. I will continue to urge President  
> Bush to adopt a new direction in our nation's policies toward Iraq.
>
>
>
> Thank you again for your message. I will be sure to keep your  
> concerns in mind as this situation develops further.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Richard J. Durbin
>
> United States Senator
>
>
>
> RJD/rp
>
>
>
> P.S. If you are ever visiting Washington, please feel free to join  
> Senator Obama and me at our weekly constituent coffee. When the  
> Senate is in session, we provide coffee and donuts every Thursday  
> at 8:30 a.m. as we hear what is on the minds of Illinoisans and  
> respond to your questions. We would welcome your participation.  
> Please call my D.C. office for more details.
>
>
>
>
>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/private/peace-discuss/attachments/20061208/55739aef/attachment.html