Dennis Kucinich: Peace is Possible with a New Direction

Run time: 02:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cO422cHaF8   Posted on YouTube: March 09, 2010 By YouTube Member: electdennis Views on YouTube: 36   Posted on DU: March 10, 2010 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 442

 
Dennis Kucinich:

I get asked all the time if I believe that peace is really possible.

When you look at U.S. foreign policy throughout the last dozens of years, we've been involved in one military adventure after another that would defy the concerns of people and the ability of this nation to create peace. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan - three wars, which collectively have had an enormous impact on our nation and collectively have left a stain on this country's reputation in the world.

We need to take a new direction and tomorrow is exactly the opportunity that we should seize to take a direction out of Afghanistan and in a new direction with our international policy.

We need to challenge the thinking that the only way that we can change people's minds is to conquer them militarily. We need to change direction and use diplomacy and put a premium on diplomacy no matter how long diplomacy takes to keep using diplomacy.

We can insist on our nation defending itself, but our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan have not made us more safe; it made America less safe. Because every occupation fuels an insurgency and creates resentment, particularly when innocent people are killed.

It's time for America to take a new direction. So contact your member of Congress and let them know what you think about the Afghanistan resolution. Let them know tomorrow is a chance that we have to be able to take a new direction. We need people's voices and their votes on H. Con Res. 248, the concurrent resolution which will take us out of Afghanistan.

But good stuff in all.