Rep. Waters: Americans Should See Through President's Staged Strategy Meetings' Diplomacy is Only Real Plan
Rep. Waters: Americans Should See Through President's Staged Strategy Meetings' Diplomacy is Only Real Plan
U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (CA-35) today urged President Bush to make diplomacy the guiding principle of his new Iraq policy which is to be announced sometime next year:
"The President's Iraq policy is an utter failure - for our security, our military and our reputation in the world. For the past several weeks, the President has been holding high-profile meetings with various experts in an attempt to reverse Iraq's downward spiral into chaos and intensified civil war. However, these meetings appear to be staged. It appears that the President has all but decided to send more troops to Iraq - in spite of the concerns of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and many other military experts."
"The President should put the full weight of the United States behind diplomatic efforts to bring stability to Iraq and the Middle East. Throughout its history, the United States has recognized the importance of aligning itself with allies and, at the appropriate time, utilizing diplomacy to win its battles."
"Dozens of individuals with a variety of backgrounds - from the Iraq Study Group, former Secretary Colin Powell, former Senator George McGovern, outgoing-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and others - have counseled the President to focus less on a military solution to the situation in Iraq and more on one based on diplomacy. Yet, the President continues to focus on guns and boots on the ground - perhaps in an attempt to live up to the macho, cowboy image he has created for himself."
"However, with the number of U.S. deaths approaching 3,000 and the cost of the war nearing $500 billion, we urgently need to change course in Iraq. Diplomacy is the best way to restore stability and reduce US involvement in Iraq. I urge the President to heed this advice."
Representative Maxine Waters is Chair of the 73-member Out of Iraq' Congressional Caucus. The Caucus was founded in June 2005 to pressure the Bush Administration to conclude the Iraq war as soon as possible.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca35_waters/PR061221_realplan.html