Dear Congresswoman Davis,
I am angry about your vote on Thursday to support the Iraq War Funding bill. I gave my anger time to cool before writing, but not a lot of cooling has happened, and I don't foresee much more cooling happening.
Early in our correspondence regarding the impeachment of Bush and Cheney, on January 31st of this year, you said:
"If we were to pursue impeachment, it would be the only issue people would focus on. To me, ending the war in Iraq is a higher priority."
And while I strongly disagree with that premise, I can respect and appreciate that you would give top priority to getting our troops out of Iraq. As you know, I disagree with the premise because I consider impeachment one of the best ways to put pressure on this president to end our occupation of Iraq - but that is a disagreement over means and tactics, not over objectives. But Thursday's vote betrays that priority; it tells me, stronger than words can, that you support the carnage our nation is engaged in Iraq.
Your press release regarding the vote says that, "The reality is opposing this bill would not end the war." You say that cutting off funding will hurt our troops in the field and military families at home. I say you're wrong; I say Shame on you for voting to extend our illegal occupation of Iraq.
"The reality" is that you voted for ninety-eight billion dollars' more bloodshed. Ninety-eight billion dollars' more killing, more torture, more oppression and incitement. Ninety-eight billion dollars' more ill-will from the world generally and the arab world in particular. Ninety-eight billion dollars more to Halliburton, Titan, Blackwater and their ilk for corrupt no-bid contracts, contracts for killing and graft.
"The reality" is six months more of killing and dying; several hundred more US troops killed, several thousand more maimed, uncounted thousands traumatized in ways our VA hospitals are ill equipped to deal with. Thousands more Iraqi civilians killed as a consequence of our presence, and postponement for six more months of the only thing we can do to bring about an end to the bloodshed, which is our withdrawal from their country. I don't pretend for a minute that the bloodshed will end with our absence - but it will never end while we are there; our departure from Iraq will remove a primary source and stimulus of violence, and the only source that we control.
"All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," says the title of an old book. Did you learn in kindergarten how to deal with bullies? I think most of us did. The way to deal with bullies is to stand up to them. "Bully" is one of the nicest things I can call George W. Bush - and "terrorist" would probably be more accurate. When he holds American troops hostage, refusing to accept funds for them on any terms but his own, it is your duty in the Congress to stand up to his bullying - to serve as a check on the power of the Executive branch - and hold your ground. It takes courage to stand down a bully - but the alternative is to enable him, to reward his bad behavior. You in the Congress have rewarded Bush's very bad behavior and I say again: shame on you. Until you stand up to this bully, he will continue to abuse you, abuse the American people, and subvert the Constitution that you and he are both sworn to uphold and protect.
That Constitution gives you in the Congress the sole authority to declare war; it gives you sole funding authority, and it gives you the authority and the responsibility to impeach, convict, and remove from office Executive branch officials who commit high crimes and misdemeanors. I urge you, on this Memorial Day, to reflect on that responsibility.
Sincerely,
--Carl Manaster
manaster@pobox.com