Say Anything Blog

This was a waste of tax payer dollars.

The full text of the resolution from the ND Peace Coalition website is below, though the report above indicates that they changed the wording at some point.  I’m not sure if this text of the resolution reflects those changes or not.  Regardless, the part where it calls on the President and Congress to “pursue peace” in Iraq by disengaging U.S. troops from combat duty in Iraq is ludicrous.  I would ask the supporters of this resolution how withdrawing our troops at this point, before Iraqi security forces are entirely ready to stand on their own, “pursues peace.”

If we left Iraq now the resulting power vacuum would be filled with bloody chaos that would make what has been going on today look like a picnic.  Much as when we left Vietnam, Iraq would become a killing field with various insurgent and terrorist factions all battling for control with civilians in the middle.  In fact, murder and genocide rates would undoubtedly return to Saddam-era levels, and maybe even higher.

Put bluntly, I don’t think the citizens of North Dakota are served well by a resolution calling for making the mission in Iraq - a mission North Dakota troops have been fighting and dying for at rates higher than most of the rest of the country - a failure. 

Let’s not make what our troops sacrificed be for nothing, and let’s not make Iraq worse than it is - and possibly worse than it was - by abandoning the country.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4022

Introduced by
Senator Tim Mathern
Representative Bill Kretschmar

A concurrent resolution urging Congress and the President to pursue peace in Iraq and disengage American combat forces from Iraq duty.

WHEREAS, American forces on duty in Iraq serve bravely in the midst of an Iraq civil and sectarian war and merit the respect and support of all; and

WHEREAS, the continued cost of the Iraq war in lives and health of American forces and innocent civilians is exceeding our expectations;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:

That the Sixtieth Legislative Assembly urges Congress and the President to pursue peace in Iraq and disengage American combat forces from Iraq duty; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State forward copies of this resolution to the President of the United States and to each member of the North Dakota Congressional Delegation.