Correspondence with Senator Schumer

Since August of 2002 through March of 2006 I wrote several letters to my representatives in Congress expressing my outrage over the U.S. preemptive strike in Iraq. While I received replies from Senator Clinton and Congressman McNulty I never received a reply from Senator Schumer.

On August 14, 2006 I received a letter from Senator Schumer in which he expressed his “strong belief” that the U.S. remain committed to maintaining a presence in Iraq and begin addressing the extreme humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. Senator Schumer also noted that our “initial military action in Iraq was swift and successful” and expressed his hopes that the memory of those who lost their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom “will serve to remind us of the cost of our freedom and security.” Finally, he stated that intelligence reports he received indicated that although WMD were not found “such discoveries remain very possible.”

Although I did not respond to Senator Schumer’s state of denial on October 3, 2006 I received another letter from the senator in which he mentioned that the Iraq situation had deteriorated and expressed his concern about “the way in which this war has been waged…” Senator Schumer also took issue with this administration’s “stay the course” in the face of the recent NIE disclosure that our Iraq war has actually increased the possibility of terrorism.

In addition Senator Schumer repeated the sentence from his August 14, 2006 letter expressing his hope that our men and women “who lost their lives in Iraq will not be forgotten and that their memory will serve to remind us of the cost of our freedom and security.” In conclusion Senator Schumer stated that “regardless of what one thinks about how we got into the Iraq war, it is clearly time to find a workable strategy..” to “protect our troops, transition Iraq into Iraqi hands, and allows for a U.S. withdrawal…”

In response to Senator Schumer’s October 3, 2006 I wrote the following and will post his reply if and when I receive it.


Dear Senator Schumer

I want to thank you for taking the time to inform me that your position on Iraq had evolved to the point where you now accept that “staying the course” is the wrong plan and the wrong time. I must offer you my utmost respect for accepting the uncomfortable truth rather than continuing to support the comfortable lies of Iraq.

I too am saddened by the deaths of those who made the ultimate sacrifice however I do not believe it was made for our freedoms or security. Indeed the evidence is that we have less freedom now under the Bush Administration and we have less security now knowing that in reality our invasion of Iraq has increased the threat of terrorism. Our men and women in uniform made the ultimate sacrifice for a series of lies perpetuated by this president and members of his administration.

Perhaps our men and women would have better served the interests of freedom and security by staying here to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against the domestic enemies of our Constitution. Indeed the contents of my letter are written while Americans still have the opportunity to exercise their right to petition our government for a redress of grievances before this and succeeding administrations spins another freedom into the dust bin of our history.

Senator Schumer I must assume that you are aware that the documented evidence is overwhelming that the Bush Administration lied to the Congress and lied to the public in order to wage war in Iraq and the documented evidence is overwhelming that the Bush Administration continues to lie to the Congress and continues to lie to the public about the situation in Iraq.

Presuming my assumption to be correct I am somewhat perplexed by your statement that “Regardless of what one thinks about how we got into the Iraq war,….” because without considering “all” the facts related to the issue of Iraq the proper solution will evade you efforts to establish a "workable solution" especially if you ignore the cause.

My personal concerns are not strictly limited to how this war has been waged indeed they are only a part of the picture which includes the cause. For until we accept the reality that we waged an illegal, unjust, and immoral war we will by design ignore our responsibility for the carnage in the cradle of civilization and evade our accountability for death and destruction caused but only in this lifetime.

As I do share you concerns to find a solution I offer you the following:

1. A resolution be presented to the U.N. that Iraq be divided in three states among Shia, Sunni, and Kurd. U.S forces be replaced by a U.N. peacekeeping force acceptable to each state be established along each states borders and their border states.
2. The oil reserves be handled by a U.N. commission closely monitored monthly by an independent commission to insure the oil profits from Iraq be shared equally among those newly formed states.
3. The United States and the coalition of the willing assume all financial responsibility for reparations and for rebuilding all that it destroyed and no company from the United States or the coalition of the willing profit from such a venture.
4. If we are indeed a nation of laws not men the United States Congress will keep its oath to uphold the Constitution by following Article II, Section 4 thereof and consider articles of impeachment against both George Bush and Dick Cheney for high crimes and misdemeanors including but not limited to their violation of the Constitution and the Geneva Convention.
5. Finally the United States Congress should regain the moral high ground by setting an example for the world community by accepting responsibility for our actions and holding those accountable for all the death and destruction in Iraq which resulted from the deceit and deception of this administration. To that end Congress should introduce legislation to turn over George Bush and his coconspirators to the world court to be charged with war crimes committed when our country invaded another based on their deceit and deception.

Sincerely,


Yova