Tommy Thompson on War & Peace Former Secretary of H.H.S.; former Republican Governor (WI)

Iraqi parliament incapable of partitioning Iraq

THOMPSON: I differ with Senator Brownback. They can’t even decide in parliament in Iraq whether or not they’re going to be able to take a month or six weeks off for summer. How will they ever decide three particular divisions? They’ve already got that country divided into 18 states that have been there since 1921. And if, in fact, you’re going to elect people, why don’t you a elect state leader, like you do in Iowa, like we do in Wisconsin, all over America? And those individual governments will be Shiite, Sunnis and Kurds. And it will stop the civil war.

Let Iraqis vote if US should stay; re-deploy if “no”

A: The first thing the president should do is demand the al-Maliki government to vote as to whether or not they want the United States to stay in Iraq. We’ve been there four years. Give the government the responsibility of voting. If they vote yes, how are they going to help us win this war? And if they vote no, we should redeploy our forces outside.

Split oil revenue 1/3 federal; 1/3 local; 1/3 to people

A: It’s time for the al-Maliki government to vote whether or not they want us to stay in their country or go home. Secondly, if in fact they do allow the 18 territories, which, geographically defined, allow them to elect their leaders like we elect the 50 governors in the US, they will feel that they have a stake in their government. And if you split the oil revenues--one-third to the federal government, one-third to the territories, and one-third to every man, woman and child--then they’ll start using that money for peace and for building businesses and making sure they build their country. That’s why my plan will work, and it will win the peace in Iraq.

Elect 18 Iraqi provincial governments, & share oil revenues

A: First, you have to support the troops. Beyond that, there are 3 things that I have laid out.

1. The al-Maliki government should be required to vote as to whether or not they want America in their country. If they vote yes, it gives us a legitimacy for being there. If they vote no, we should get out.
2. There are 18 territories in Iraq, just like we have 50 states in America. I would require those territories to elect governments, just like we do in our states. And if you do so, the Shiites will elect Shiites. Sunnis will elect Sunnis. Kurds will elect Kurds. And you won’t have this internecine civil war.
3. I would split the oil reserves: 1/3 to the federal government, 1/3 to state governments & 1/3 to every man, woman & child. If every person is getting part of the oil proceeds, they’re going to have a vested interest in their country. And they will be building the country on democratic grounds.

Saddam starved Iraqi people of basic health care

They didn’t even have light bulbs. And he was depriving children with cancer from drugs so that they would drive up the infant mortality, so he could blame the US for the blockade. It was just an insidious example of a maniac that has really tried to ruin this great country. And now we’re trying to rebuild it.

And I got to tell you, it’s coming around. And the people, the doctors, and the people are so supportive.