November 10, 2005: NORTON ASKS D.C. RESIDENTS FOR VETERAN'S DAY ACTION FOR D.C. VOTING RIGHTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2005

NORTON ASKS D.C. RESIDENTS FOR VETERAN'S DAY ACTION FOR D.C. VOTING RIGHTS AND TO END IRAQ WAR

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today called on D.C. residents to use Veteran’s Day tomorrow to remember D.C. troops serving abroad without a vote and 44,000 D.C. veterans who have given our country the same service, as she released a letter being sent to President Bush by dozens of members of Congress pressing for a “transition from war to peace” that would facilitate withdrawal from Iraq.

Norton said that “This year’s observance of Veteran’s Day in the midst of a war which has lost the confidence of the American people is not another day off here. In the name of those who serve without a vote, tomorrow must be a day to rededicate ourselves to full D.C. voting rights by finding more effective and aggressive ways to move the No Taxation Without Representation Act, or similar bills, to greater public and congressional consciousness and action.” Citing D.C. resident Wesley Brown, honored by the Library of Congress this year as the first African American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy (1944), Norton said that, “we must make ourselves as proud of the work we do at home for full freedom and equality as we are of the risks D.C. troops and veterans have made and continue to make for us without a vote.” The full text of the letter on the Iraq War follows.

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November 10, 2005

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Washington, D.C. 20500 Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Despite two and a half years of warfare, including the deaths of over 2,000 American soldiers and injuries to 15,000 others, Iraq remains as unstable as it was when you declared an end to major combat operations in May 2003. We need to face the fact that the situation in Iraq is not improving – nor will it improve as long as our troops remain there, because the presence of over 160,000 American soldiers on Iraqi soil is the main catalyst fueling Iraq’s insurgency.

The time is long overdue for the U.S. to change course in Iraq and bring our troops home. To transition from war to peace, we recommend that your administration immediately make four pivotal policy changes in Iraq: 1) engage in greater multilateral cooperation with our allies; 2) pursue diplomatic/non-military initiatives; 3) prepare for a robust post-conflict reconciliation process; and 4) withdraw the U.S. Armed Forces.

Multilateral Cooperation

The U.S. must engage the international community, including the UN and NATO, to establish a multinational interim security force for Iraq. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations, for example, is well suited to this task.

Diplomatic/Non-Military Initiatives

The U.S. must pursue a “diplomatic offensive,” shifting its role from that of Iraq’s military occupier to its reconstruction partner. This means giving Iraq back to the Iraqi people, working with them to rebuild their economic and physical infrastructure, and creating Iraqi jobs. The U.S. must also engage the United Nations to oversee Iraq’s economic and humanitarian needs, renounce any desire to control Iraqi oil, and ensure that the U.S. does not maintain lasting military bases in Iraq.

Post-Conflict Reconciliation

An international peace commission must be established to oversee Iraq’s post-war reconciliation. This group would include members of the global community who have experience in international peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and would be tasked with coordinating peace talks between Iraq’s various factions.

Withdrawal of the U.S. Armed Forces

The cost of the war in Iraq – both human and financial – has been staggering. Tragically, the American and Iraqi lives lost, and the billions of dollars spent, have failed to actually make our country safer from the threat of international terrorism. To end the war in Iraq, save lives, and prevent the U.S. from spiraling even further into debt, the U.S. must withdraw its Armed Forces from Iraq.

Mr. President, after Iraq holds its December parliamentary elections, the country’s leaders will be responsible for charting Iraq’s course. The international community, including the U.S., can then provide non-militaristic support to ensure a self-sufficient Iraq. We look forward to your response to our recommendations and would welcome the opportunity to discuss them with you.