5 Years is Too Long

A couple of months ago, as part of a small MoveOn contingent, I met with Congressman Dave Reichert, R-WA. The Iraq war wasn't on the agenda, but nevertheless reared it's ugly head.

I can sum up Congressman Reichert's Iraq policy in four words, because he can, did, and does on a regular basis, sum up his Iraq policy in four words. These four words: "We can't just leave". I almost forgot, I'm suppose to block quote:

"WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE"

  –Dave Reichert, Republican Congressman, 8th District, WA

He's right, you know, we can't just leave. But that isn't a policy, and it's not a strategy. The fact is, we must leave, because, as Reichert's opponent Darcy Burner has put it "this war is undermining our country". Let me put it another way:

"THIS WAR IS UNDERMINING OUR COUNTRY"

       - Darcy Burner

The Bush, McCain, Reichert goal is to continue the war. Darcy's goal is to end it. Until ending the war and bringing our troops home is the objective, it can not happen.

Of course Bush, McCain, and Reichert will argue that their objective is to "win". That's a great objective, except for one small problem. It isn't, wasn't, and never will be within the power of the U.S. military to "win" in Iraq, at least beyond the "win" of defeating Saddam Hussein. The peaceful, unified, democratic state we wish for Iraq cannot be achieved by our military, and there is no evidence that a continued occupation can or will bring about such a result in a year, five years, or fifty.

5 years is too long.

Fortunately, at least 30 Congressional and Senatorial candidates throughout the nation, led by Darcy Burner, have come up with a plan. A real, viable, responsible plan to end the war. Darcy put it this way in a Seattle Times Editorial (and inspiration for this diary) titled "5 Years is Long Enough":

This plan presents a set of actions that Congress can take to convert our current military approach in Iraq to a more effective civilian one that addresses the root problems we face. It proposes using the full strength of our nation to achieve our goals and strengthen our country, and includes measures to rebuild the military, expand the capabilities of the State Department, and keep our promises to returning veterans.

5 years is too long, folks. Congress simply hasn't had the will to stop this war. Can we please elect some new leaders to take charge and end the status quo? "THIS WAR IS UNDERMINING OUR COUNTRY!"

You can read more about the "plan", and the Darcy Burner campaign at www.darcyburner.com.