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Our Troops Bring them Home! By Paul Richards, Candidate for U.S. Senate - Montana |
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On
Independence Day, July 4, 2005, I signed at the top of the following
petition, now being circulated by the Montana PeaceSeekers, to be
submitted to Sens. Baucus and Burns and Rep. Rehberg: “We call for the immediate planned withdrawal of all U.S. troops, and the cessation of any plans for permanent U.S. military installations in Iraq and for the control of the Iraq economy.” I signed this petition because the War Against Iraq and U.S. Occupation of Iraq are mistakes. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11-01. After so many years of war and corrupt leadership, the people of Iraq now need food, tools, building materials, water treatment facilities, and medical supplies. Instead of more bombs, let us airdrop these essential items so Iraqis can rebuild their country! Most Americans agree we need to support freedom, empowerment and independence around the world. However, many question the Bush/Cheney administration’s fervent belief that we must play “world policeman,” especially where oil supplies are concerned. It is expensive playing world cop. And, if we throw our weight around like a bully – unfairly or with disrespect – ill will is generated. If we ignore the Geneva Conventions, the Kyoto Protocols, and other world treaties that promote respect between countries, we give ammunition to those who condemn us.
One of the first acts of the U.S. takeover of Iraq was to occupy the Oil Ministry and to “privatize” Iraq’s oil; that is, give it to transnational oil corporations. Moves like this give other countries substantial cause to question the Bush/Cheney administration’s motives. The Iraqi people need to control their own resources and their own destiny. The American people need to learn from this colossal mistake we call the Iraq War. Americans can no longer afford to let the oil industry drive U.S. foreign policy. We need to get back to principles, ethics, or belief in democracy. We need to start walking our own talk. The United States simply does not need all the new military bases in the mid-East and central Asia that we are constructing as quickly as possible, in order to ensure U.S. domination of both areas. In addition to morally and economically bankrupting our own country, heavy militarization and U.S. policies of occupation will only stir the enmity of China, Russia, India, and other crucial countries in the region. Opportunistic oil-dictated policies can prop up repressive foreign dictatorships, such as the U.S. currently does in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, or as we did in the past with Saddam Hussein and the Shah of Iran. Instead of spending hundreds of billions of dollars playing world policeman and supporting dictators, we can invest that money into our nation’s energy infrastructure. Every farmer could harvest wind power, every rooftop generate solar electricity, every car be made fuel-efficient, and every home and factory be insulated – all for a pittance what we spend on shortsighted, mean-spirited oil wars. Energy independence is the solution. And, that doesn’t mean the dependence nightmare scenarios of the oil, coal and nuclear industries. It means renewable energy, serious conservation programs, millions of small-scale generation projects, and subsequent strengthened local economies now! Instead of endlessly occupying other countries, let those in the military help with this essential rebuilding of our own country. We need their talent and skills! Support Our Troops! Bring Them Home Now! For simple, easy-to-understand up-to-date analyses of the money we are wasting in the War Against Iraq, go to: Cost of War. Back to Top |
| Paul
Richards 2006 • Richards for U.S. Senate P.O. Box 422 • Boulder, MT 59632 406-225-4235 paul@richards2006.us |