Stewart A. Alexander
National Membership Campaign Coordinator
Peace and Freedom Party

December 31, 2006

Only days and weeks before the November 2006 Mid-Term Elections Democrats nationwide took hard line positions against the Iraq War; many Democrats were predicting the possibility of ending America’s involvement within 4 to 6 months into the new year, others predicting by the end of 2007; now less than 60 days since the elections most Democrats are projecting that American involvement could extend well into 2008 or beyond.

Republicans on Capital Hill have continued their support to “Stay the Course” and to commit additional troops into a war zone that lacks any clear defined strategy; and Senator John McCain, R-Arizona, is asking for an additional 30,000 troops within the next few weeks.

Due to declining enlistments, for all military branches, there remains a strong possibility that Congress may re-introduce the draft to increase troop levels.

The Iraq Civil War has been costly in terms of American lives, civilian loses and the financial burden to the United States. The war has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 Americans and civilian losses are now over 685,000. Now members on the Democratic side of Congress are preparing a joint commitment for an additional $100 billion to continue the war.

The Iraq Civil War has continued to deteriorate over the past year with a newly elected government that is unable to control the wide spread violence throughout the nation. The security forces within Iraq have been infiltrated by the insurgency by as much as 80 percent.

Any hopes of the present government being able to establish control could take years and to rebuild Iraq and the nation’s infrastructure will cost $100’s of billions; money that America can not afford to pay.

The new Democratic controlled Congress will have the task to set short term goals to end America’s occupation in Iraq and the Middle East. The task that Americans expects to be accomplished is to bring the troops home; and most Americans want the troops home now.

In 2006 the Iraq Civil war has evolved into regional conflicts throughout the entire Middle East, and more American troops and money will not solve these growing problems within this decade. To bring peace to the region will require diplomacy and communicating with all the regional governments, including Iran.

The governments in the Middle East have had conflicts for thousands of years and they have always been able to solve their differences; even thousands of years before the United States came into existence.

Americans are not prepared for a Vietnam State of occupation in the Middle East and the Iraq government must take control and lead their own nation. The Democratic controlled Congress must understand that Americans expect Congress to provide limited financial support to rebuild Iraq; Americans expect the Iraq government to seek and secure funding to rebuild their own government with a minimum financial burden on the United States. Americans expect short term plans to liberate American troops and any long term plans will further jeopardize our security as a nation.

This is the message that a majority of Americans sent to national leaders on November 7, 2006; this Congress should not continue to fail the American trust.

For more information search the Web for Alexander: PFP Setting Tone for 2008.

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