“'. . . he's repeatedly called on President Bush to bring the American people a plan to bring our troops home safely and responsibly as soon as possible.'
“But Cardin believes it is Bush who needs to establish the timetable.”
Every day U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians are dying, every week billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are spent and Iraq continues to be a recruitment and training ground for terrorists – making the United States less secure. Surely, you are not seeking to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate in order to merely stand on the sidelines letting President Bush decide while you watch the daily disaster unfold.
Congress has the constitutional responsibility to declare war. Regarding the Iraq War no declaration of war ever occurred. Yet, you have consistently voted to fund this illegal war and voted against even the development of an exit strategy.
On May 25, 2005 you voted against the Woolsey Amendment, which simply expressed “the sense of Congress that the President should develop a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq, and submit this plan to the congressional defense committees.” Note this amendment did not create an exit strategy it merely required the president to do so. This is inconsistent with the comments of your spokesperson. Where do you actually stand?
On July 20, 2005 you voted for the House Resolution authored by Bush supporter Rep. Ileana Ross-Lehtinen (R- Florida), which specified that the U. S. must not withdraw from Iraq until “it is clear that United States national security and foreign policy goals relating to a free and stable Iraq have been or are about to be achieved.” Your support for this resolution puts you in President Bush's camp on the Iraq War as it authorizes the President to keep U.S. troops in Iraq indefinitely until he certifies these goals have been met. Again, your vote is with the President.
Even when you voted against the resolution authorizing the use of force you straddled the fence by voting the wrong way on three amendments the same day:
You voted for the Spratt Amendment, which would have given Bush a provisional two-step war authorization: step 1, the President would have been authorized to go to the UN Security Council with a use of force resolution to pressure them to allow inspectors in; if the UN said no, or if the UN said yes but the inspectors weren't allowed in, then the President would have to follow step 2, return to Congress for a second vote to actually commit troops to battle.
You voted against the Lee amendment, which was designed to continue containment and begin negotiations; and
You voted against the Kucinich Motion to Recommit which would have sent the Resolution back to committee with instructions to come up with estimated death tolls, estimated casualties, the environmental and economic costs of war, an exit plan, and so on.
Now you are standing by and allowing President Bush to proceed in conducting an ill conceived, poorly executed war based on lies, deceptions and falsehoods. This is shirking your constitutional responsibility.
On this important issue you need to let Maryland voters know where you really stand.I urge you to participate in a candidate forum on the Iraq War issue – including all declared candidates for the U.S. Senate. Silence by those seeking office on this critical issue is unacceptable.
Sincerely,
Kevin Zeese
Candidate for U.S. Senate
301-257-3847
