I would like to thank Daily Kos and the entire netroots community for all of the support for my campaign for U.S. Senate. Your efforts, energy, and contributions were a great help, and a major reason I am able to stand on the floor of the U.S. Senate and fight for the issues that we collectively care about. And, only two months into the new Congress, we are beginning to make progress on matters most important to the majority of Americans.
Last week, I stood on the Senate floor and outlined what I believe needs to be done in Iraq. Below is an excerpt of my statement regarding a troop surge:
Quite simply, there is no way, other than through a strong resolution or restrictive language in an appropriations bill, for this body to communicate to this Administration that its so-called new "strategy" is lacking in the most crucial elements that might actually lead to a solution in Iraq. This is not a strategy. It is a one-dimensional tactical adjustment that avoids the elements of a true over-arching national strategy. It relies too heavily on our military, while ignoring the overwhelming advice of those with long experience in this region that we must pursue robust diplomacy in order to bring this misguided effort to a conclusion.
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I would caution any political leader who claims to speak on behalf of the political views of our men and women in uniform. Our military people are largely a mirror of our society, particularly in the ranks, and their political views are as diverse as our own. As one example, last year a survey of those in Iraq indicated that more than 70% believed the U.S. should exit Iraq within a year. As I have said before, it is inverted logic to claim that we should continue to fight this war on behalf of the troops. The fact is that they are fighting this war on behalf of the political process. They deserve political leadership that is knowledgeable, and that proceeds from an assumption that our national goals are equal to the sacrifices we are asking them to make.
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The time has come for a new approach. The answer in Iraq, and to our fight against international terrorism, and to our diminished posture around the world, is for us to show not only our prowess on the battlefield but also our leadership in the diplomatic arena. Indeed we have an obligation to the men and women who have served so selflessly on our behalf—to match their proficiency and their loyalties with the kind of thoughtful leadership that will bring this effort to a proper conclusion.
In my response to the President's State of the Union Address last month, I addressed the dual issues that I believe we, as a Congress, have a responsibility to tackle. The first relates to how we see the health of our economy - how we measure it, and how we ensure that its benefits are properly shared among all Americans. The second regards our foreign policy - how we might bring the war in Iraq to a proper conclusion that will also allow us to continue to fight the war against international terrorism, and to address other strategic concerns that our country faces around the world.
The Democratic majority in Congress realizes the importance of these issues to the American people, and we are beginning to send a loud message to the President that it's high time he address them. In fact, if you heard President Bush's recent comments on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange regarding executive compensation -- acknowledging that "income inequality is real" -- it seems we are beginning to change the debate in this country. (See Mort Kondracke's story from yesterday.)
I am encouraged by the progress we have made in the past month. You can be assured that I will continue to advance the platforms on which I ran my campaign.
I thank you for interest in my diary and I look forward to joining in the discussion and comments below.
Jim Webb
P.S. I invite you to join my new organization, Born Fighting PAC, www.bornfighting.com. Our mission is to support candidates and entities that promote the following platforms: 1) reorienting our national security posture, 2) bringing fairness back to our economic system, and 3) developing greater accountability in government.
[Update 5:59pm ET]: I need to run off to a meeting. Thank you for reading my diary. I hope to be back soon.