Boxer tells Mills grads U.S. needs to pull troops from Iraq

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Sen. Barbara Boxer told Mills College graduates on Saturday that the United States needs to begin pulling troops out of Iraq this year.

"We went to Iraq on false pretenses, and we're staying there on false hopes - false hopes that our military can solve the age-old problems there between ethnic groups," said Boxer, D-Calif. "The Iraqi people simply have to want democracy and freedom as much as we want it for them. And I want an exit strategy."
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She also warned graduates of the challenges they will face in the future, including protecting privacy rights from government abuse, the threat to abortion rights, the genocide in Sudan and global warming.

"You will not shine as brightly as I know you can until America shines again and regains its luster, and right now that luster is diminished," she said. "But with hope and commitment to change, I'm confident it can be restored."

http://www.fresnobee.com/state_wire/story/12182270p-12926043c.html

She's got the scope and the depth and the range and the tenacity and the charisma.

A tremendous public servant.

Okay, fine, that's her excuse to say Americans aren't failing Iraq, Iraqis are failing Iraq. Um fine, if that makes you feel any better.

But personally as I see it, Americans aren't helping. This makes what the Iraqis want or don't want rather moot.

gleaming model for advancing civil liberties, is using the semantics of "liberty" and "freedom" to impose "democracy" on Iraq, and that an overlay of "democracy" is ineffective in cultures with no frame of reference for it, not to mention that Bush only wants the oil and ultimately doesn't give a damn about civil liberties here or abroad.

If Bush wanted to emphasize civil liberties and a constitutional republic, he would be building schools and hospitals in Iraq, not sucking oil out of the ground.

Democracy, if that's what Bush is calling it, has not been successful in Iraq because there is no precedent for it there, and because the warring factions in the "government" there are interested in control and not in civil liberties for Iraqi citizens.

A Chicago TRIBUNE piece by Steve Chapman from 2003 highlights the difficulties the U.S. faces ini overlaying "democracy" in Iraq:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0304030110apr03,1,7343395.column?coll=chi-navrailnews-nav

g--there is the appearance that this elusive 'freedom' takes back stage--and the troops are in the middle of it.

"We went to Iraq on false pretenses, and we're staying there on false hopes - false hopes that our military can solve the age-old problems there between ethnic groups," said Boxer, D-Calif. "The Iraqi people simply have to want democracy and freedom as much as we want it for them. And I want an exit strategy."

helping, not because we're Americans, but because the Bush administration comprises the Americans involved, and no longer the will of a majority of U.S. citizens.

Boxer might just as easily have said (though it would be impolitic), "In addressing a class of gradutating seniors, I urge you not to align yourself with the Republican Party, which tends to preach against tax-and-spend liberals and then jacks up the federal deficit to record totals, and which has a bloodlust that makes Dracula looks like Ronald McDonald."

There's a strong sense that Chalabi and other U.S.-backed thugs are the ones who don't want the democracy, not the Iraqi people. I honestly feel that's what Boxer meant.

I'm tired of the White Establishment politicians playing this game, trying to excuse our country of blame and making it seem like a huge Iraqi debacle -- continuing to keep up this lie of freedom and democracy being the reasons for the US presence and invasion and manipulation of the current situation there.

I like Boxer, but she didn't say anything right here except for us having to get out.

If you look at the Iraqi society before the US went in and destroyed it...they were oppressed by Saddam yes (I am not supporting his regime)but they had the basic essentials to live their lives...they could walk down the street, they could catch a bus and go to the market, their children could go to school, (it was not the perfect system) but they were able to live their lives......

The policy of Democracy was forced upon them by this administration...and this administration forgot to tell the Iraqi people that their lives would turn into a fiery living hell.....their lives would be determined by where they lived, what religion they are....or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time....

In my opinion...I think the Iraqis are indifferent to this notion ofDemocracy...I think they want to live through the day....that doesn't mean they don't want a better life...