Religious Leaders Urge Congress to Declare U.S. (is not occupying Iraq)

[truthpusher]

This statement was released to the press yesterday...I have been watching since then and so far this "middle-east-online" link is all I have seen from the media...otherwise it has gone ignored...


http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=13737

First Published 2005-06-10, Last Updated 2005-06-10 15:22:42
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Religious Leaders Urge Congress to Declare That U.S. presence in Iraq is Not Open-ended
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A call by:
Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Joe Volk, Executive Director, Friends Committee on National Legislation
Jim Winkler, General Secretary, Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church
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(Statement)

Having invaded and occupied Iraq, the United States must not abandon the Iraqi people. And U.S. military forces and bases must withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible.

We call on the Congress to go on record that it is the policy of the United States not to remain in Iraq as a military presence.

(snip)

The United States military has been occupying Iraq and effectively controlling the political situation for more than two years. In May the Congress voted final approval for tens of billions of dollars to fund the Iraq war and occupation. Military leaders tell us that U.S. troops will be needed in Iraq for years to come. We believe there is a way to change this dynamic, to shift the discussion from troop strength and weapons to how the U.S. may responsibly withdraw.

In the midst of this turmoil and tragedy, surely we can all agree that the United States does not intend to remain in Iraq indefinitely or establish permanent military bases.

(snip)

Therefore, now is an important time for the Congress to go on record with a declaration that it is the policy of the United States not to remain in Iraq. Such a declaration requires no timetable -- it simply establishes that the official policy of our nation is to eventually depart from Iraq.

complete statement/article here: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=13737

[Supersedeas]

1. not just linguistics here folks...great link tp

[getmeouttahere]

2. With no timetable....

this sounds like a big waste of time. How can you not have a timetable?

[Benhurst]

3. But its policy IS to remain as a permanent military presence. Jeez!

And the Bush Crime Family doesn't give squat about the Iraqi people.
What then are these religious leaders calling for? More lies?

[pissed_American]

4. - it simply establishes that the official policy.....

of our nation is to "eventually" depart from Iraq.

WTF? Isn`t that what we have now? We WILL depart...... EVENTUALLY.


What a waste of enegy.

[TankLV]

5. And this DEMOCRAT says: Look at what they DO, not what they SAY!

Never trust what a repuke-christo-fascist-fundie says!

THEY ALWAYS LIE!

[Dhalgren]

8. Agreed. But let's make 'em lie on the record. Congress

aught to respond to these requests...

[AnneD]

6. This is

the first step of Christians and liberal Christians to both put Christ back into Christianity and to cut the fundamentalist Christians off at the knees (in a Christian way of course). Making them (the GOV) state this adds both light AND transparancy to the Bush agenda. While those of us on the DU may be well aware of what is going on, many outsiders need proof in writing. They have to respond because they cloak themselves in Christian righteousness and this an attempt to wrestle the cloak off Bush et al.

[alfredo]

7. It needs to be done.

[Roland99]

9. We won't occupy all of Iraq...just some key areas...

along with pulling the strings on the "sovereign" gov't.

[shraby]

10. 14 permanent military bases and

the largest embassy in the world all being built in Iraq doesn't speak to me of anyone leaving Iraq very soon, if ever.