Senator Dodd has issued the following statement on the positions of his colleagues Clinton and Obama on Iraq.
"I am pleased to see that Senator Obama has followed my lead and committed to oppose any Iraq measure without a deadline. I urge him to make such a deadline meaningful and enforceable by co-sponsoring the Dodd Amendment which sets a firm deadline that is tied to funding. However, I remain deeply distressed that Senator Clinton has yet to state whether she will oppose an Iraq measure without a firm and enforceable deadline. Ending our involvement in this civil war will take conviction and leadership that is willing to stand up to the President - not political gamesmanship and vote counting.
"Her silence is deafening." [Link added]
Senator Obama should join Senator Dodd in pushing for the only meaningful legislation that will end the Iraq war by putting a firm date for withdrawal from Iraq's civil war that is enforced by tying that deadline to funding. The Dodd Amendment would:
- Begin to immediately redeploy troops from Iraq
- Mandate a phased redeployment of US troops to be concluded by April 30, 2008
- Provide funding for redeployment operations and end all funding for combat operations by April 30, 2008
- Redirect any savings from a reduced military presence in Iraq to our war-battered National Guard and armed services
The American public deserves to know where Senator Clinton stands. Does she want to end the Iraq war before the next President (cough, Chris Dodd) takes office? Or is she content to wait on the sidelines while Senator Dodd fights to end the war now?
Comments
Good on Dodd for challenging Clinton to do the right thing.
And good on Dodd for losing the word "combat."
HOWEVER, there's still the matter of the bases and the Air Force ramping up its air assaults and expanding its infra-structure as reported by the AP:
Note that this report about air assets being deployed is from July. My Congresswoman tells me she's not been able to get data about how many bombs are being dropped on Iraq and how many missiles are being dispatched. And the reporter of this information, Charles Hanley, seems to have been relieved of his duties and is now on a lecture tour.
Also, it seems that some "terrorism experts" espouse the rationale that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq was prompted by IRAN's intransigence. This habit of blaming others for what the U.S. does is perhaps the most reprehensible. It's worse than blaming the victim, as the spousal abuser typically does; it's the hallmark of the terrorist.
You know, Republicans frequently complain about "situational ethics." That's because they don't want to judge the morality of an action by the result and prefer to go with the intent--as in "we intended to bring democracy to Iraq and the five million dead or displaced is just an unfortunate result." As far as I'm concerned, even one dead is too much, especially when the malefactors, like Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, were first enabled by the U.S.
To tell you the truth, I didn't pay much attention to Chris Dodd at the beginning. But lately, I see him more and more, and every time I hear him speak, I must say: He's right! And Obama and Clinton are just sitting on the sidelines!
Get our troops out NOW. Not in 6 months. Not in 10 years. N-O-W. Dodd understands this and is willing to get the job done. No more blank checks. 160,000 troops in Iraq, and only 5,000 out by Christmas? NOT GOOD ENOUGH. No timeline, no money. Period.
Restore Habeas Corpus! I was appalled when the Military Commissions Act was passed in 2006. Finally we can undo it, and again I notice that it's Dodd taking the lead.
I never liked Hillary, and always considered myself an Obama supporter. But to tell you the truth, Dodd is the democratic candidate that really has PROVEN that he supports the same ideals that I do. Keep up the great work Dodd, and I hope you continue to work for what's right. You certainly have earned my admiration.
I admire you so much. You are now my FAVORITE of all the Democratic candidates for the nomination of President of the United States! Hang in there.