X

A scathing open letter to my congressional delegation

Dear Representative DeFazio, Senator Smith, and Senator Wyden,

It is clear to me, and to most Americans, that the war in Iraq was knowingly begun under false pretenses.

On the first anniversary of the September 11attacks the Bush administration began trumpeting the importance of some aluminum tubes. Condoleezza Rice went on television and said “we don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.” Donald Rumsfeld made similar comments. It was clear, however, to the intelligence community that the tubes were not of sufficient quality to be used in centrifuges.

On September 25th, 2002, Rice stated that there had been “important contacts” and that there was “a relationship there” between Al Qaeda and Iraq. It was clear at the time that no such relationship existed. Nonetheless, on the same day President Bush warned of the danger that “Al Qaeda becomes an extension of Saddam’s madness.” Your colleague Bob Graham (D, FL) was the chair of the Senate intelligence committee at the time. His spokesman told USA Today that the Senator had seen no intelligence linking Saddam to Iraq.

Fellow intelligence committee member Richard Durbin (D, IL) also did not see the threats as they were publicly discussed by the administration. He said, “The most frustrating thing I find is when you have credible evidence on the intelligence committee that is directly contradictory to statements made by the administration.”

On October 1, 2002, the CIA released the now fateful National Intelligence Estimate that made the Administration’s case for war. It must have been clear to anyone aware of actual intelligence (including the DOE’s assessment that the aluminum tubes in question were not suitable for use in uranium enrichment) that the NIE was politicized. Senator Wyden, you sat on the intelligence committee at the time, and I am pleased that you voted against the Iraq war resolution.

Not only is it plainly clear that this is an illegal war of aggression, begun under false pretenses without the support of the international community, it is also clear that the US presence in Iraq continues to fan the flames of resentment and violence. We are seen as an occupying power, and while some Iraqis would like the occupation to continue in order to stave off the explosion of sectarian violence, many others are radicalized daily by frustration at what they correctly see as an illegal occupation.

Today it has been reported that a ‘compromise’ has been reached between the White House and leaders in Congress. The administration will get continued funding for their illegal war until September, with no accountability. In place of holding Bush and his cronies accountable, the deal will cut off reconstruction funds unless the Iraqi government meets specific benchmarks. This is not an acceptable compromise; it is a capitulation to the Bush administration. Nancy Pelosi says the compromise is a step toward ending the war. I think that it is a step backward.

I will consider a ‘Yea’ vote on any bill that provides continued funding for this illegal war without tying those funds to clear benchmarks for progress by the United States government and armed forces toward a withdrawal an act of treason against the United States. I apologize for my strong wording, but it is truly the way I feel; you may not continue to fund this illegal war without holding the warmongers to account for the lies that they have told. You may not write a blank check to continue funding the military occupation of Iraq without tying those funds to some measure of progress by OUR forces (not theirs).

Let me be one-sentence clear. If you vote for this bill, I will not vote for you ever again.

Lest you think that my position is purely negative, allow me to present you with a plan for peace that I favor. The Network of Spiritual Progressives has put forth a three-point plan that they call “An Ethical Way to End the War in Iraq.” Their strategy can be read here. Just as clearly, if you support this three point plan I will probably continually vote for you in every election until I move or you retire. And, hey, if you want to let your favorite democratic primary contender in on this little secret, I’ll be basing my vote on whose Iraq plan looks the most like this one.

Sincerely,

Samuel J. Rutledge