Iraq: "…I wouldn’t have gone to war in Iraq," said Schriner. -- Xenia (OH) News "What if we let the weapons inspectors into Montana?" Joe, ABC News, Toledo, Ohio Schriner said he believed changes could have been made in Iraq through non-violent means, just as Martin Luther King Jr. did in the south and Ghandi did in India. - Valley Courier, Alamosa, Colorado. the issues ~ I would have weighed a potential, pre-emptive war in Iraq (and any possible future war), against the criteria of “Just War” principles. In this case, it didn’t match up. ~ Before declaring any war, I would go to Congress, not with a pre-conceived plan, but with an open mind. And I would respect the consensus decision. ~ Likewise, I would go to the U.N. with the same type of paradigm. ~ What’s more, we went into Iraq predicated on finding weapons of mass destruction. They weren’t there. (I told the Cortez (CO) Journal that the irony is “we have 10,000 weapons of mass destruction (nuclear missiles) aimed all over the world!”). ~ Our actions have destabilized Iraq, opening the door to sectarian civil war. ~ Our actions have also galvanized jihad (Holy War) alliances and significant insurgency into Iraq. And it has stoked more anti-US sentiment in the Arab world in general. ~ We are now looked at as “occupiers” interested in controlling Iraq oil. ~ There have been massive civilian deaths and maiming. And there are now 1.8 million Iraq refugees, and counting. ~ Our use of depleted uranium munitions (bullets and bunker busing bombs) is leaving Iraq radioactive in many spots and spiking the incidence of cancer and other disease in the civilian populace exponentially. ~ The Iraq War has diverted attention away from such international crisis as the genocide in Sudan, and diverted a tremendous amount of money that could have been used to cut world hunger, fight disease, help reverse global warming… ~ At home, the Iraq War has meant U.S. military deaths and maiming, significant cuts to domestic social programs, increasing emotionally disturbed families from new cases of soldier post traumatic stress syndrome… the plan *A growing negative could be turned into a tremendous positive -- for world peace. ~ As president, I would extend a formal, and heartfelt, apology to the Iraqi people (and the world) for starting the war, for killing civilians and military, and for destabilizing the country. (I told the Athens (OH) Post that these types of civilian deaths aren’t “inevitable collateral damage,” they are Moms, Dads, children…) ~ Set up an Iraq War Victim’s Fund intended for families of war victims, including for families of those who died from the U.S. urged, and U.N. backed, 12 year sanctions against Iraq before the war. (An estimated one million Iraqis died as a result of these sanctions, some 500,000 of them children.) ~ As president, I would also formally apologize for starting a pre-emptive war predicated on finding weapons of mass destruction. I would also admit there is a tremendous duality in telling other nations they can’t have WMD’s -- when we have the biggest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world. ~ Nix recently, proposed uranium upgrades of our nuclear weapons and propose we unilaterally disarm these nuclear weapons. This would free up money to help Iraq rebuild – with Iraqi contractors – and free up money for other domestic and worldwide humanitarian projects. ~ Call for an immediate end to the use of depleted uranium munitions. ~ If we were still wanted, I would lean toward the Iraq Study Group’s recent proposal to move more U.S. troops out of combat and get them more involved with training and supporting the Iraqi military. In addition (and also in line with the Study Group’s report), I would ready some U.S. brigades to leave Iraq by the first quarter of 2008. ~ Carry out the Study Group’s report recommendation that calls for more diplomacy in the Middle East. (The report states that the Israeli/Arab conflict and regional instability must be addressed in total to help deescalate the situation in Iraq.) This would include setting up talks between Israel, Lebanon and Palestine leaders. ~ Approach the United Nations about more UN Peacekeepers in Iraq. ~ Propose each Iraqi get yearly oil dividends to help them recover and recommend the U.S. match these for a five year period. ~ In line with Study Group recommendations, I would also declare publicly that the U.S. seeks no control of Iraq oil. ~ Our administration would work stridently to move America away from dependence on foreign, and domestic, oil (and all that brings with pollution, global warming, urban sprawl…). ~ Set up a division within the State Department to offer as much help as possible to Iraqi refugees to help them either resettle, or with their transition to another country. ~ In the aftermath of the Iraq War, I would urge “Truth and Reconciliation” hearings throughout Iraq (like what was used in the aftermath of Apartheid in South Africa) to help quell residual sectarian strife. ~ Help institute an Iraq version the “Ulster Project,” which has been successful in reversing some of the prejudice and hate for future generations of Northern Ireland youth. (I believe this would work with Sunni and Shiite youth.) ~ Through a proposed U.S. Department of Peace, I would recommend U.S./Iraq Sister Cities to mobilize even more financial help, cultural exchange and camaraderie. *Through all this, as Iraq (and the Middle East in general) saw our earnest efforts at apology, amends and peace building, some of the tension and anti-U.S. sentiment would diminish in kind – as might worldwide terrorism. And even more importantly, the combined effort may well domino into much more world peace. |
