Article: A few words for Chuck Schumer

In August 2006, Senator Chuck Schumer(D-NY) wrote to tell me about his "strong belief" that the U.S. remain committed to maintaining a presence in Iraq and begin addressing the extreme humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people.

He also expressed his hopes that the memory of those who lost their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom "will serve to remind us of the cost of our freedom and security."

In October 2006, I received another letter from the senator in which he mentioned that the Iraq situation had deteriorated and expressed his concern about "the way in which this war has been waged..."

In addition Senator Schumer stated that "regardless of what one thinks about how we got into the Iraq war, it is clearly time to find a workable strategy..." to "protect our troops, transition Iraq into Iraqi hands, and allow for a U.S. withdrawal..."

Several weeks ago I wrote the following response to Senator Schumer, which he has yet to acknowledge:

Dear Senator Schumer:

I want to thank you for taking the time to inform me that your position on Iraq had evolved to the point where you now accept that "staying the course" is the wrong plan and the wrong time. I must offer you my utmost respect for accepting the uncomfortable truth rather than continuing to support the comfortable lies of Iraq.

I too am saddened by the deaths of those who made the ultimate sacrifice however I do not believe it was made for our freedoms or security. Indeed the evidence is that we have less freedom now under the Bush Administration and we have less security now knowing that in reality our invasion of Iraq has increased the threat of terrorism. Our men and women in uniform made the ultimate sacrifice for a series of lies perpetuated by this president and members of his administration. Perhaps our men and women in uniform should have stayed here to protect and defend the Constitution from the enemies at home.

The documented evidence is overwhelming that the Bush Administration lied to the Congress and lied to the public in order to wage war in Iraq and the documented evidence is overwhelming that the Bush Administration continues to lie to the Congress and continues to lie to the public about the situation in Iraq.

Given the realities of "documented evidence" I am somewhat perplexed by your statement that "Regardless of what one thinks about how we got into the Iraq war," because without considering "all" the facts related to the issue of Iraq the proper solution will never be realized as long the cause is ignored.

Until we accept the reality that we waged an illegal, unjust, and immoral war we will by design ignore our responsibility for the carnage in the cradle of civilization, evade our accountability for the death and destruction in Iraq and as a people inevitably experience the unpleasant consequences of the actions because violence does beget violence.

I offer the following suggestions for your consideration in the pursuit of a new course of action in Iraq:

1. A resolution be presented to the U.N. that Iraq be divided in three states among Shia, Sunni, and Kurd. U.S forces be replaced by a U.N. peacekeeping force acceptable to each state be established along each states borders and their border states. Each state provide strict and continued adherence to human rights before U.N. peacekeepers leave. The corporations who profited from the invasion of Iraq will bear financial responsibility in this venture.

2. The oil reserves be handled by a U.N. commission closely monitored monthly by an independent commission to insure the oil profits from Iraq be shared equally among those newly formed states. In addition no U.S. oil company profit from this arrangement unless the total profit be used to reduce costs to the U.S. consumers.

3. The United States and the coalition of the willing assume all financial responsibility for reparations and for rebuilding all that it destroyed and no company from the United States or the coalition of the willing profit from such a venture but will offer their expertise.

4. The United States and the coalition of the willing assume all financial responsibility incurred by providing health care for all those on both sides who suffered physically or mentally as a result of our preemptive strike.

5. If we are indeed a nation of laws not men the United States Congress will keep its oath to uphold the Constitution by following Article II, Section 4 thereof and considering articles of impeachment against both George Bush and Dick Cheney for high crimes and misdemeanors including but not limited to their violation of the Constitution and the Geneva Convention.

6. Finally the United States Congress should seize the opportunity to take the moral high ground and set an example for the world community by accepting responsibility for our actions and holding those accountable for all the death and destruction in Iraq which resulted from the deceit and deception of this administration. To that end Congress should introduce legislation to turn over George Bush and his co-conspirators to the world court to be charged with war crimes committed when our country invaded another based on their deceit and deception.