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During the Vietnam war, I marched for peace in Washington DC. There was a tune then that many sang. It was called 'Give Peace a Chance'.
In one such event over a million people had attended in Washington DC. Some say today that the Vets were resented back then for fighting in Vietnam. I never saw that as the case, and in fact marched in their honor instead. I was also '#3' in the draft lottery, and also had no desire to go to war for any reasons except if our nation was under direct threat.
Below is a letter ( email ) that was sent out to a number of the 'coalitions and Vet groups for peace' on March 18th, and 19th 2007. It is suggesting 2 things that would make their efforts speak as a single voice to Congress. Although wanting to reach out, the email omits any suggestion of personal involvement. In being a candidate for Election 2008, such suggestion would intend some personal gain which could undermine the stated intent of the peace coalition groups. The first suggestion is to aggregate into a critical mass through signatures on a petition that can be brought to Congress. This is not intended to be through a 3rd party ( 527 online political action group which has no land mail address, telephone number, nor direct email address, but will take your donations); and secondly to also provide a 'Peace Plan' where the Pelosi time table in of itself is good, but does not demonstrate a plan. What the time table does provide collaterally, is that any Democrat Election 2008 Candidate can also safely state as their plan a phased withdrawal, which again as a plan offers no substance. Personally down-sizing of our troops for me offers the Republican counter argument more legitimacy in that when having less of a force makes for easier targets. There is a request to consider the 'Iraq Exit Strategy' as one of many that should be reviewed, but notes that what ever the plan that is collectively decided, that it should intend to bring all our people home from Iraq. In having an actual plan, a united coalition backed by it signatures can obtain a Congressional hearing, where Congress would have to take the action seriously. Without such an action as suggested, if there are future peace marches then the question is posed here, as to what purpose is really served ? Dear Peace Maker: Wanting peace is not 'cutting and running' when considering that over 3,000 brave Americans gave their lives and another 30,000 or more were severely wounded in Iraq. This is what former NY Gov. Mario Cuomo pointed out at Cooper Union in NYC on Feb 28th, 2007. In a TV show on March 18th, 2007, Tom Delay said that giving a date was unpatriotic because it would be telling the enemy when we would be leaving. I do believe that timelines are critically important when it comes to milestones. For Iraq, besides telling the so-called insurgents, and so-called Iraqi government that it's time to act, it also affords the opportunity to start putting political options on the table which the Iraqi people in all fairness can and are compelled to consider. This is regardless of their leanings. It's a matter of what options are put on the table then, or to opt out, and let others decide. The Congress has been some what responsive, but slow in addressing options. In the 70's the Vets confronted Congress with the war issues of that time. Today, if the Vet groups were backed by the signatures of all the peace coalitions in America, they could bring this to Congress. Although peace protests are vitally important, this brings the face to face impact with Congress as it was in the 70's when millions had backed it by a march in DC. If the Vets brought a plan, then Congress would then have to accept it as guidelines that they would have to align with. This is in effect a rally, where the smaller coalitions can forward signatures, and perhaps recommend plans to the larger coalitions, who in turn forward the sum to the Veteran groups for peace, which then forward these to the largest of the groups. Within a month, such a petition can be finalized, and an agreed upon plan can be brought by them for a Congressional hearing. There are many plans, and one of which I do ask you to consider is what I call 'Peace with Dignity'. Like all plans, its a strawman, and needs the minds of many to be complete. http://unity2008.org/IragExitStrategy.html. What ever the plan is though, its got to bring our people home. Please note, that there was no major email list for sending this. If it makes sense to you, please forward it on - Sincerely Yours, In Retrospect, 
Orion Karl Daley Presidential Candidate for 2008 for the Strategic Future of our country Balanced Party http://unity2008.org |