A Roadmap Out of Iraq: Six Signposts to Iraqi Sovereignty, Security

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A Roadmap Out of Iraq: Six Signposts to Iraqi Sovereignty, Security

A Principled And Responsible Withdrawal From Iraq

Despite the ceremonial transfer of power in Iraq that took place two days ahead of schedule, the US occupation of Iraq is not over.
- US troops and bases remain in Iraq under Administration and Pentagon, not Iraqi or UN, authority.
- The Administration continues to control Iraqi reconstruction funds.

The presence of US troops in Iraq is incitement to insurgency, and most Iraqis believe that the violence will depart with US troops. Since security in Iraq starts with sovereignty, not vice versa, we can expect the violence in Iraq to increase.

According to the most recent polls of the Washington Post and MSNBC, Americans are already solidly behind full, Iraqi economic and political sovereignty, and that 70% of the public believes that the invasion and occupation of Iraq is unjustified. We are divided only on the conditions under which US troops are brought home, and how soon.

We can clear the path to bring US troops home this year if we can provide an alternative exit strategy that holds fast to our core principles, meets the American people in their concerns and values, and accounts for the political and logistical realities of getting US troops out of Iraq, and UN peacekeepers - especially from Arab and/ or Muslim nations - in.

We can create enough political will in the public, in our political officials, and in at least one of the Presidential Campaigns to shift the course of US policy, and put American troops and corporations on the road out of Iraq.

In so doing, we can not only help to decide the President for the next four years, but his policies, by advancing our principles and Peace Platform policy goals through the vehicle of the road map out of Iraq.

It will take all the passion, commitment, compassion and hope that each one of us can muster to make this happen. But, given the current rule of war, terror and repression, let’s take this chance together!

Six Signposts to Iraqi Sovereignty and Ending the Occupation

Secure a UN Security Council Resolutions that:

1. Places all foreign troops in Iraq immediately under UN mandate and defines their mission as a peacekeeping force. (International Cooperation)

2. Provides for the rotation of foreign troop commitments to the peacekeeping force in order to replace US troops by a specified date (end of 2004); (International Cooperation)

3. Provides for the UN oversight of free elections, and grants the elected government of Iraq full power to order the departure of UN peacekeepers and foreign bases from their lands. (Human Rights and Rule of Law)

4. Places reconstruction budgets under the sole control of Iraqi ministries and local councils, and ensures that contracts go to Iraqi companies and workers first. (Economic Justice)

5. Establishes the power of the elected government of Iraq to renegotiate and dissolve any contracts brokered by the occupying power or its appointees, the interim councils. (Economic Justice)

6. Commits the US, UK and its “coalition of the willing” to provide long-term, financial support from their own budgets for Iraqi reconstruction. (International Cooperation and Rule of Law)

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1. Plan For Peace Rally Report

http://www.peaceintheprecincts.org/index.geni?mode=content&id=238

The Plan for Peace Rally on Sunday Sept. 26 drew overflow crowds.
THANKS TO EACH OF YOU WHO TOLD YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, COWORKERS! THANKS TO EACH OF YOU FOR LEAFLETTING GATHERINGS, SPREADING THE WORD TO YOUR CHURCHES, COMMITTEES AND EMAIL NETWORKS! People came in droves! We energized each other and our elected officials to "keep on keeping on" until Iraq is sovereign and secure and our troops are brought home. It is no understatement that many, many who came to the rally left ready to keep sending the strongest message to our Congress people and to the Bush and Kerry campaigns: stop the killing, start rebuilding, bring our troops home!

Here are some highlights from our press release sent on Monday:

On September 26, 2004, Peace in the Precincts called for leadership to plan for peace, not corporate takeover, in Iraq. An overflow crowd of over 500 filled the chapel at Augsburg College in support of the Roadmap Out of Iraq. Joining the public in support of the Plan were local, state, and federal elected officials who spoke about the failure of the Bush administration’s plans for post-war Iraq. The plan lays down six signposts for securing peace in Iraq and bringing our troops home. The key to the plan is making full Iraqi sovereignty the link to security and to successful engagement of the international community.

”George Bush’s recipe for Iraq has failed, and my sons have been sent to serve in a disaster of this administration’s making” stated Julie Larson, of Blaine, rally speaker and mother of two servicemen deployed to Baghdad and Kuwait. State Representative Keith Ellison of North Minneapolis talked about how the war has cost over 200 billion dollars, representing resources not spent here at home to promote opportunity and prosperity for people in his low-income district. Iraqi-American speaker Salih Radhi “cheered the fall of Saddam” and visited his family in Iraq for the first time in 25 years afterward. "However,“ he said, “the mismanagement and lack of a plan for peace afterward leads me to believe we need an alternative plan and the 6-point Roadmap Out of Iraq plan is an excellent one. It’s what is needed”. U.S. Representatives Betty McCollum and Jim Oberstar pledged to continue working in Congress to advance a plan for peace in Iraq that makes Iraqi sovereignty, not military offensives, the center point for success. Rep. McCollum stated that U.S. foreign policy should be based on human rights, the rule of law, economic justice and international cooperation, not pre-emptive war (our Peace Platform!). Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered a video-taped message to the rally congratulating Minnesotans for taking the lead nationally to promote a plan that puts sound principles at its center. He said we are leading the way!

WHAT'S NEXT?

Peace in the Precincts is working with Congressman Oberstar and Congresswoman McCollum's offices to craft a resolution calling for Congress to pursue a plan that meets the objectives of the Roadmap Out of Iraq. Congressman Oberstar has committed to advance a resolution with his colleagues.

Congressman Sabo has provided his support of the Plan. Senator Dayton's office is interested in what we are doing, as well.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich has come out with strong support and we are pursuing opportunities with his national network to help make the Roadmap Out of Iraq campaign available nationally! What a gift Dennis has given the progressive community - a national network arising from his national campaign for president.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Write or call your Congress person! Thank you calls are due to Oberstar, McCollum, Sabo, and Dayton. Letters asking Kline, Ramstad and Peterson to support the Plan still needed. Ask Kennedy, Gutknecht and Coleman for a meeting to present the Plan to them - these three still haven't given us a face to face meeting.

Write letters to the editors of your state and local newspapers. Letter writing guidelines and talking points are at www.peaceintheprecincts.org in the Tool Shed.