West Virginia Patriots for Peace, along with a majority of Americans, Iraqis, and US Troops serving in Iraq, believe it is time to bring our troops home and end the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
While bringing the troops home will not cure all of Iraq's problems, it's the first step toward securing a better future for Iraqis and the American people. This war and occupation has cost 17 West Virginians their lives and has deprived our state of over $893 million. With more than 2,500 U.S. casualties and over 18,000 wounded, tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, and more than $315 billion spent and the remaining members of the international coalition packing their bags, the only question that remains is not when but how to bring home U.S. troops.
The first step for the U.S. is to announce its plan for an immediate measured withdrawal of all troops, military contractors and U.S. corporations backing the U.S. occupation.
In the short period between the announcement of a date certain for troop withdrawal and its completion...
The U.S. Administration should:
- Remove all U.S. bases
- Let go of Iraqi oil
- Downsize our presence in Baghdad
- Support negotiations between Iraqi leaders and resistance
Congress should:
- Support a phased withdrawal of US troops beginning immediately and completed by December 31, 2007.
- Slash spending on occupation and support economic assistance to the Iraqis to help rebuild infrastructure destroyed in the war.
- Shift training of the security forces in Iraq to the UN.
- Establish an economic development plan for the reconstruction of Iraq that replaces US business interests with local and regional companies.
- Turn over reconstruction to Iraqis
The Administration and Congress together should:
- Support reconstruction that involves the support of the international community.
- Relinquish control over Iraq's economy
Withdrawal of all U.S. troops, military contractors and U.S. corporations backing the U.S. occupation should be complete no later than December 31, 2007.
How withdrawal is accomplished will be our legacy. What we propose is that that legacy be based on giving the Iraqis true control over their political, economic, and military conditions.
