Barbara Radnofsky on War & Peace

US presence destabilizes Iraq; leaving causes stability

RADNOFSKY: We are destabilizing Iraq by our presence. The NIE indicates as such, and British generals indicate as such. By withdrawing, we will allow international building, by the US taking its role as leader among nations. My opponent has said we must increase troops, and also that we cannot leave until we've stabilized the country. Our presence is destabilizing there. Therefore when we leave, we will be able to mount, if we take our lead among the nations, a better international effort. We must realize that we can't go it alone. It is reprehensible to suggest that we ought to stay in Iraq so that our soldiers become targets--cannon fodder--so we don't take the war on terror to all the trouble spot in the world. We must set a timetable and we must withdraw.

HUTCHISON: I can't think of anything worse than America cutting-and-running because times are tough. I think it would hurt our troops.

Partition of Iraq will increase terrorism

HUTCHISON: It is clear it is not going well in Iraq, and we should come up with ideas. One of the things we should put on the table as an option is semi-autonomous regions. This is provided for in the constitution of Iraq, and the parliament of Iraq has set out a process. The Sunnis reject that idea, because they're worried about not having the oil revenue, but that can be handled as well.

JAMESON: I am upset for the way the Iraq war is funded. It is inappropriate to fund a war on a constant emergency basis, because Congressmen can add in extra appropriations and pork barrel spending that they know will get passed.

Secret CIA papers at time of war vote skeptical of WMD info

HUTCHISON: If I had known then what I know now about the WMDs--which was a key reason that I voted to go in there-- I would not vote to go into Iraq the way we did. But the President would not have asked for that vote, either. We had intelligence that we relied on. So did the British. Everyone thought they had WMDs.

RADNOFSKY: At the time of the Iraqi War Resolution, Sen. Graham of Florida begged his colleagues to read the secret papers that we weren't privy to. We now know that those secret papers revealed that the WMD documentation from the CIA was quite skeptical. I don't believe that our senators read the secret documents. Our senators made a mistake when they voted. They should have read the secret papers. Any senator who did not do as their colleagues begged was derelict in their abilities to lead. We need new leaders.

Supports creation of a Palestinian state

• Q: Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
  A: Yes.
• Q: Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
  A: Yes.

Expose the failures of the current war on terror

Integrated homeland security
• Expose the failures of the current war on terror which have hurt our security: Bin Laden remains at large and global terror incidents have increased
• Have U.S. personnel run our sea ports, strengthening post-graduate requirements at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to include port service obligations
• Reward efficiency and expertise and punish corruption, self-dealing, and cronyism

Planned, professional exit from Iraq

Planned, professional exit and protecting our troops
• We should set a timetable and withdraw
• Insist on the right and responsibility of Congress to be informed fully about the military situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war on terror.
• Demand intelligence and information accountability from defense leaders, civilian and military.
• Our defense professionals are eager to provide this information
• Provide proper equipment for our troops

Set a timetable and safely withdraw from Iraq