Peace

55% of them think it has made the U.S. less safe from terrorism. [CNN Poll, Aug. 18-20,m 2006]

72% think the war with Iraq is making the U.S. image in the world worse. [CBS News/NY Times Poll, July 21-25, 2006]

53% think that U.S. military forces in Iraq should be decreased. But 66% do not think the Democrats in Congress have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq. [CBS News Poll, Aug. 11-13, 2006]

Given what the public thinks of the Republican Administration’s war policies, but how little confidence there currently is that the Democrats will do any better, we hope that you, Mr. Sestak, if elected to be our Congressional Representative from the 7th District, will initiate legislation and advocate priorities to create more sensible policies in the Middle East.

These would include:

• Rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq in a safe manner, leaving no permanent U.S. bases behind. If possible, U.N. or Arab League peace-keepers would play a role during the transition to Iraqi self-policing. Adequate funding for rebuilding what we destroyed in Iraq. This policy could be described not as “cutting and running,” but as removing the bull from the china shop and paying for damages.
• No more pre-emptive wars. While we fervently hope there won’t be any future terrorist incidents within our shores, if any do occur, handle them as police matters, tracking down the individuals responsible and trying them in the domestic or international courts.
• Public renunciation by the U.S. of any use of nuclear weapons. U.S. adherence to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NNT), which calls not only for non-nuclear nations to forego developing any, but also for the major nuclear powers to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons. No new nuclear weapons such as “bunker buster” bombs.
• Direct negotiations with Iran and North Korea, with a recognition of their aspirations and their perception of a double standard being applied to them compared to other illegal nuclear club members such as Pakistan, India, and Israel, who have all violated the NNT.
• A more balanced policy regarding Israel – Palestine; stopping sales of weapons to Israel that greatly harm civilians, such as cluster bombs, and active diplomacy toward a 2-state solution with realistic boundaries for a Palestinian state. Resolving this situation will go far in promoting peace in the Middle East, in contrast to our failed Iraq war policy.
• Encouraging our allies, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to move toward greater democracy. Saudi Arabia’s oppressive policies contributed to the rise of al Qaeda and the 9/11 hijackers.
• An end to any use of torture, including by the CIA.
• Protection of civil liberties; use of FISA courts to authorize surveillance, rather than extra-legal spying on U.S. citizens.
• Shifting federal budget priorities, using a portion of the Defense Department budget for human needs that will strengthen our society, such as job training, education, and housing, and for enhancing security at home.
• Recognition of the correlation noted by researchers between the amount of violence within a nation and the level of disparity between the highest and lowest income groups. Advocating tax policies that will reduce, rather than increase, the gap between rich and poor in the U.S. Additionally supporting policies such as gun control measures and increased educational opportunities in order to reduce the tragic violence in our cities and huge prison population.
• Co-sponsoring Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s bill to establish a Department of Peace and Nonviolence, which would take a proactive, strategic approach in the development of policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, and mediation.
• Fostering the creation of jobs that will build housing, mass transit and other peaceful products as an alternative employment for current employees of defense contractors. Work with unions to promote this kind of re-tooling.