¬ Fifth, we should offer all the help we can muster to the growth of civic institutions, professional societies and grassroots organizations.
This is a far more complex and long-term process than the previous steps.
You might compare it to reeducation after surgery: without it, Iraqi society will never recover from the trauma of the war and occupation.
But, this is a field in which we have not only much experience but also many talented people and existing organizations. We can encourage our great foundations, universities and professional societies to interface with existing and competent Iraqi educational, public health and development authorities.
10:17 Polk argues, as he has very well for many months, against staying or simply leaving, but for leaving while taking many steps to help Iraqis rebuild and recover.
10:12 Polk is criticizing Congress for not educating the public, although only the best few Congress Members are here, and anything they say has to get through the media filter. Polk cites the example of Senator Fullbright as a case of someone courageously standing up against war and benefitting from doing so. Polk wants Congress to demand to know what is going on and claims Congress has the power to insist on that (although Congress clearly does not while impeachment is off the table).
10:05 Polk draws lessons from Vietnam, Westmoreland, Tet Offensive, and faulty picture painted by Petraeus. Polk says counterinsurgency rarely if ever works, and that massive force in Iraq is not working. "No insurgency in modern times has been defeated by foreigners because in an age of politically conscious people, which is the age we live in, people refuse to be ruled by foreigners."
9:55 Rep Waters here. Dr. Polk begun. Room filling some - no corporate media AFAIK. Assuming I did not mishear, Polk puts cost at $6 trillion, and says if we do not withdraw there will likely be terrorist attacks in the US.
9:53: Rep Clark, who better represents New Yorkers than Hinchey right now, is perfectly saying we are misguided if we blame the Iraqi government that we have set up.
9:51: Rep. Hinchey is accusing Bush Admin. of generating fear and of using falsified information to launch the war (yet he won't sign onto impeachment or introduce it).
9:46: Rep. Yvette Clark also here. I didn't recognize her (but I applaud her for standing for impeachment, as do all the members here except Diane Watson and Maurice Hinchey (what's with that??). Steve Cohen gave brief opening remarks. Now Watson is. Meanwhile Tim Carpenter of PDA is here and also does nto know who #80 might be. Code Pinkers are straggling in too. Rev Yearwood just got here. A dozen more peace activists just got here. Watson is blaming the Iraqis - UGH :-((( But she's blaming Bush for claiming he's training Iraqis, suggesting he isn't really doing so.
9:40 Rep. Barbara Lee praising Woolsey for starting Congressional debate to end the occupation. Says ending the occupation is key to our national security. [Obviously true but rarely said in this room (The Cannon Caucus Room in the Cannon House Office Building).] Iraq an dits neighbors will not work out a peace plan as long as US maintains an indefinite occupation. Lee says there are "approximately 79-80 Members" on the letter to Bush. WHO'S # 80??
9:35 Rep. Woolsey opening it up with welcome. "Congress has the power of the purse. We must pass a bill requiring that all war spending be used for one purpose only: safe and orderly withdrawal of all troops and contractors." Glad she said withdrawal instead of "redeployment." Ooops, she just said reployment. Glad she said all troops and contractors. It's a shame she said "We must pass a bill" since EVERYONE KNOWS any bill like that will be vetoed, and what Congress must do, either now or after that veto or senate failure, is announce that there will be no more bills. Rep. Woolsey is introducing Dr. William Polk, who of course published a terrific plan to end the occupation together with former Senator George McGovern, but who now has a new book.
9:34 C-Span is taping for Book TV, which plans to air in a couple of weeks. Reps Diane Wilson and Maurice Hinchey are here. There are 18 people in the audience including me. Two Virginia PDAers are passing out flyers about an upcoming PDA fundraiser with Rep. Barbara Lee.
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