| Helena,
Mont. Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate
Paul Richards welcomed fellow candidate Jon Tester’s
announcement today that Tester now favors a clear exit strategy
to bring American troops home from Iraq.
"Standing for peace has been the cornerstone of my campaign
since I announced July 12,” Richards said. "We
need to stop the war now," he said. "Our campaign’s
most popular bumper sticker is one that reads ‘Support
Our Troops – Bring Them Home!’”
The tide is turning concerning the war, Richards said.
“As I campaigned last summer, people were split about
50/50 over the Iraq War. In the fall, things changed
dramatically. Now, about two-thirds of those I talk
with are for getting OUT of Iraq as soon as possible.
“I’m glad Senator Tester now supports bringing
our troops home. I hope he also comes out against Bush’s
plans to build 14 new military bases in Iraq and central Asia
to protect oil supplies. Building these bases will only
stir the enmity of China, Russia, India, and other crucial
countries of the region.”
“Instead of spending hundreds of billions of dollars
playing world policeman, supporting regional dictators, and
protecting oil supplies, we can and should invest that money
into our nation’s energy infrastructure,” said
Richards. “Every farmer could harvest wind power,
every rooftop generate solar electricity, every car made be
fuel-efficient, and every home and factory insulated –
all for a pittance of what we are spending on ill-advised
oil wars.”
“Instead of endlessly occupying other countries, let
those in the military come home to help with the essential
rebuilding of our own country,” Richards said.
“Thirty years ago, we all knew we had to kick the fossil
fuel habit," said Richards, who served in the Montana
House of Representatives in the 1970s. "It expands
our trade deficit, contributes to global climate change, encourages
arrogant attempts to be global policeman, and weakens our
country. We simply can't afford to let fossil fuel lobbyists
continue to dominate federal energy policy.” |
