A Letter from Senator Lieberman
The following is a letter from Joe Lieberman to my mother. She recently contacted his office (and a couple others) about her concern for our soldiers in the Middle East; she's obviously just worried about my upcoming entry into the US Army. While I do not agree with her BBC-fed views on the world, I respect her opinions. I am glad Joe continues to stick to his guns on this one:Dear Mrs. (Carl's Mom):
Thank you for contacting me regarding U.S. military operations in Iraq.
Like you, I would like our troops to return safely from Iraq as soon as possible. However, I believe that any decision to draw down our forces must be based on conditions on the ground and the recommendations of our military commanders and diplomats, rather than arbitrary deadlines imposed by politicians in Washington.
I have never hesitated to criticize the many mistakes the Bush Administration has made in its prosecution of this war. However, I also believe that the consequences of an American defeat in Iraq would be catastrophic for Iraq, the Middle East, and our national security here at home.
Al Qaeda's own leaders have repeatedly told us that they consider Iraq the central front of their global war against us. Indeed, al Qaeda's strategy in Iraq is clear. It is perpetrating horrific suicide bombings against the Iraqi people, in the hope of radicalizing the country's population, sparking a civil war, and creating a failed state in the heart of the Middle East, which it can then use as a base.
Iran is also trying to drive America from Iraq. The Iranians are waging a proxy war against us in Iraq, providing weapons, training, and other forms of support to terrorists who are responsible for the murder of hundreds of American soldiers.
After pursuing the wrong approach in Iraq for far too long, the Bush Administration changed course earlier this year, appointing a new commander, General David Petraeus, who is implementing a new strategy in Iraq based on classic counterinsurgency principles.
There are encouraging signs that General Petraeus' new strategy is working. In Anbar province, which just a year ago was al Qaeda's main stronghold in Iraq, the security situation has dramatically reversed, and what was once one of Iraq's most dangerous places is now one of its safest. Elsewhere in Iraq as well, the Sunni Arabs who once formed the core of the insurgency are increasingly coming over to our side to fight against al Qaeda.
In Baghdad, as well, thanks to General Petraeus' strategy, security is improving, with the sectarian violence that paralyzed the city dramatically down. According to General Ray Odierno, the deputy commander of our forces in Iraq, total attacks are on a month-long decline and are at their lowest level since August 2006. Attacks against Iraqi civilians are also at a six-month low, and civilian murders in Baghdad are at their lowest level in more than 18 months.
Obviously, there are still major challenges remaining before us. Both al Qaeda and Iran are determined and ruthless enemies, and they are far from defeated. In addition, Iraq's national politicians continue to struggle to find consensus on a range of daunting and difficult issues.
In September 2007, General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, will report to Congress on the situation in Iraq. I look forward to receiving their report and listening to their recommendations on the way forward.
For now, however, I believe that there is sufficient, compelling evidence of progress against al Qaeda and Iran on the battlefields of Iraq that Congress should allow General Petraeus and his troops to continue in their mission, rather than order them to retreat.
As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, I am closely following the situation in Iraq. I appreciate your taking the time to write me with your thoughts. I will keep your views in mind as we move forward.
To read more about the work I have done toward securing Iraq, please view this section of my web site. My official Senate web site is designed to be an on-line office that provides access to constituent services, Connecticut-specific information, and an abundance of information about what I am working on in the Senate on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. I am also pleased to let you know that I have launched an email news update service through my web site. You can sign up for that service by visiting http://lieberman.senate.gov and clicking on the "Subscribe Email News Updates" button at the bottom of the home page. I hope these are informative and useful.
Thank you again for letting me know your views and concerns. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman
UNITED STATES SENATOR
Thank you for contacting me regarding U.S. military operations in Iraq.
Like you, I would like our troops to return safely from Iraq as soon as possible. However, I believe that any decision to draw down our forces must be based on conditions on the ground and the recommendations of our military commanders and diplomats, rather than arbitrary deadlines imposed by politicians in Washington.
I have never hesitated to criticize the many mistakes the Bush Administration has made in its prosecution of this war. However, I also believe that the consequences of an American defeat in Iraq would be catastrophic for Iraq, the Middle East, and our national security here at home.
Al Qaeda's own leaders have repeatedly told us that they consider Iraq the central front of their global war against us. Indeed, al Qaeda's strategy in Iraq is clear. It is perpetrating horrific suicide bombings against the Iraqi people, in the hope of radicalizing the country's population, sparking a civil war, and creating a failed state in the heart of the Middle East, which it can then use as a base.
Iran is also trying to drive America from Iraq. The Iranians are waging a proxy war against us in Iraq, providing weapons, training, and other forms of support to terrorists who are responsible for the murder of hundreds of American soldiers.
After pursuing the wrong approach in Iraq for far too long, the Bush Administration changed course earlier this year, appointing a new commander, General David Petraeus, who is implementing a new strategy in Iraq based on classic counterinsurgency principles.
There are encouraging signs that General Petraeus' new strategy is working. In Anbar province, which just a year ago was al Qaeda's main stronghold in Iraq, the security situation has dramatically reversed, and what was once one of Iraq's most dangerous places is now one of its safest. Elsewhere in Iraq as well, the Sunni Arabs who once formed the core of the insurgency are increasingly coming over to our side to fight against al Qaeda.
In Baghdad, as well, thanks to General Petraeus' strategy, security is improving, with the sectarian violence that paralyzed the city dramatically down. According to General Ray Odierno, the deputy commander of our forces in Iraq, total attacks are on a month-long decline and are at their lowest level since August 2006. Attacks against Iraqi civilians are also at a six-month low, and civilian murders in Baghdad are at their lowest level in more than 18 months.
Obviously, there are still major challenges remaining before us. Both al Qaeda and Iran are determined and ruthless enemies, and they are far from defeated. In addition, Iraq's national politicians continue to struggle to find consensus on a range of daunting and difficult issues.
In September 2007, General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, will report to Congress on the situation in Iraq. I look forward to receiving their report and listening to their recommendations on the way forward.
For now, however, I believe that there is sufficient, compelling evidence of progress against al Qaeda and Iran on the battlefields of Iraq that Congress should allow General Petraeus and his troops to continue in their mission, rather than order them to retreat.
As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, I am closely following the situation in Iraq. I appreciate your taking the time to write me with your thoughts. I will keep your views in mind as we move forward.
To read more about the work I have done toward securing Iraq, please view this section of my web site. My official Senate web site is designed to be an on-line office that provides access to constituent services, Connecticut-specific information, and an abundance of information about what I am working on in the Senate on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. I am also pleased to let you know that I have launched an email news update service through my web site. You can sign up for that service by visiting http://lieberman.senate.gov and clicking on the "Subscribe Email News Updates" button at the bottom of the home page. I hope these are informative and useful.
Thank you again for letting me know your views and concerns. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman
UNITED STATES SENATOR
posted by Carl Soderberg at
12:29 PM
2 Comments:
Joe truely is the man. He is a man of his word and doesn't flip sides on issues just because of "Party pressure." If the Dems were the mafia, Joe Lieberman wouldve shown up at the bottom of the Long Island Sound...and Chris Dodd's fingerprints would be all over the crime scene.
Instead they just bailed on him after 18 good years and he was their Vice Presidential candidate. Then they put up that tool Ned Lamont who did nothing but whine on one issue.
I may not agree with Joe all the time, but the fact that he;s just such a stand-up guy says alot. Nicely written letter too, I wouldve expected something much shorter and much less in depth.
Very well written letter. I am impressed, wouldve expected less from a Senator or Congressman.
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