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Staying the Course (in Iraq) is not an Option

Friday October 13, 2006

A spat of recent news stories on Iraq have made it more clear than ever that we can no longer adhere to the current Republican Administration’s ‘stay the course’ policy in that war torn nation.

The New York Sun reported yesterday that a bipartisan 10-member commission has ruled out the prospect for victory in Iraq and will propose redeployment:

A commission formed to assess the Iraq war and recommend a new course has ruled out the prospect of victory for America, according to draft policy options shared with The New York Sun by commission officials.

Currently, the 10-member commission — headed by a secretary of state for President George H.W. Bush, James Baker — is considering two option papers, “Stability First” and “Redeploy and Contain,” both of which rule out any prospect of making Iraq a stable democracy in the near term.

Meanwhile, also on yesterday Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the British Army – America’s most important ally in Iraq – told the British press that the presence of British armed forces in Iraq “exacerbates the security problems” and that they should “get out some time soon”

All of these critical developments are coming at a time when American casualties are surging amid worsening violence in Iraq. At the current level of violence, October would be the deadliest month for our forces since January of 2005. The level of American troops wounded in combat in Iraq is also surging. September’s total of 770 was the highest since November, 2004.

Meanwhile a study published this week from Johns Hopkins University estimated 654,000 Iraqis have died due to this war.

We cannot go on like this. We cannot let the carnage in Iraq continue by rubber stamping the current Administration’s policy in Iraq. That is why it is more important than ever to take this country into a new direction on November 7 by electing a Democratic Congress, one which will exercise oversight over the Administration’s failed Iraq policy. So please join my campaign today to put Democrats back in power of Congress

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