*** Picture: Red, white & blue ribbon." ***
*** Text: "These colors don't torture." ***
Dear Congressman Goodlatte:
I am disappointed that you voted against H.R. 2956:
[Below from: < http://www.congress.... >]
Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act, H.R. 2956
On Passage, 07/12/2007, House Roll Call No. 624, 110th Congress, 1st Session
The House passed H.R. 2956 to require the Secretary of Defense to commence the reduction of the number of United States Armed Forces in Iraq to a limited presence by April 1, 2008, by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 201 nays, with 08 not voting, ...
[Above from: < http://www.congress.... >]
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Measures such as H.R. 2956 deserve your support. Whatever anyone may say about the past, no one makes a convincing case that any worthy cause will now be served by our continued presence amidst the emerging Civil War in Iraq. To illustrate why I say this, let me offer a fictional, or "what if", historical analogy, with the USA substituted for Iraq:
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Chapter 15: England and Prussia attempt to conquer the USA.
The year is 1858, and England and Prussia [E&P] (the two hyper-powers of that day), plan to invade the USA, via Canada and The Chesapeake Bay. England floats the largest and most powerful navy of the era. And the Prussian Army, while not the largest Army, is numerous and the most effective in combat, comparing units of any given size. And the Prussian General Staff system was the world standard for excellence in military planning, especially logistics, and command and control of combat operations.
So, in 1858, E&P proclaim that the USA is guilty of a recent [1848] aggression against Mexico. E&P point out that in the USA human slavery is widespread; and many slave labor powered "plantations" have whipping posts and rape rooms. The remaining indigenous ("Indian") populations of the USA are also being steadily dispossessed and oppressed. The USA has employed biological weapons of mass destruction [smallpox contamination] against the Indians since 1607. This genocide remains in progress. All of these people deserve liberation.
But, outside of E&P, world opinion is very much against the proposed E&P "liberation" of the people of the USA. And inside E&P, dissenters say that their governments intention is blatant self-aggrandizement for their well connected, and already wealthy, elites. The developing USA offers riches, in coal, oil, crops, iron ore, fishing, emerging industrial potential, etc. And during the era, there should be (the usual) contracts on offer, including no-bid government contracts. Relatives/cronies of the nobility/wealthy may well be showered with Crosses of Iron & St. George, and with lucrative government appointments all around. And these may well be available regardless of the relatives/cronies accomplishments or competence.
The English Prime Minister says that the E&P forces will (probably) be greeted as liberators. And afterward, US territory will serve as a platform from which to block French interference in Mexico and/or Russian tinkering in Alaska. The Prussian Vice-Chancellor agrees and allows that the wealth of the USA will pay for the post-liberation reconstruction of the USA; Canada will be made secure from US aggression. Finally, the invasion of the USA will not involve much of a fight, because the regular US forces are tiny; and their supporting militia barely exists save on paper.
All went well for E&P at first. The principle eastern cities in the USA were visited by E&P military units which encounter little initial r+¬sistance. The English Prime-Minister has his photograph taken on the deck of a huge English battleship, underway and spewing coal smoke, surrounded by the adoring crew, costumed like Admiral Nelson, complete with sword and wrapped in a wind whipped battle ensign [flag]. Meanwhile the E&P invasion force is too small to occupy, as in dominate, the relatively large area of the USA. So US civilians who are resentful at the foreign occupation, are free to meet and decide if they want to offer some form of resistance to these E&P forces. Many do decide to resist the occupation and settle some internal, regional, scores, at the same time. Recall, internally, the Republic of the USA has been like a boiler building past the maximum safe [regional differential] pressure for some time. The system is ready to blow in 1858.
The prodigal son of a wealthy US family, who had been living abroad as a fugitive from justice, is brought back to head an E&P backed provisional government. This "Black Sheep" Chase character is the E&P installed President of the provisional Republic of the USA. Outside of Washington, D.C., where large English and Prussian Embassies are established in what comes to be know as the Green Zone at Arlington, VA, there is steadily increasing r+¬sistance. E&P forces are catching it from every regional and ethnic group. By 1862, every E&P troop movement is liable to set off one of the new explosive "land mines", sometimes followed by gunfire from a small ambush team. Somebody, probably the French, are sending weapons to the US resistance via Mexico.
In July 1862, some of the major factional figures in the US civil war/resistance movements meet at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, to plan an even larger program. U.S. Grant, R.E. Lee, Jeff Davis, Abe Lincoln, Bill Sherman, N.B. Forrest, Phil Sheridan, Frederick Douglass, and others, attend. They all agreed to continue with the Forrest Resistance program. This is a mobile resistance, which never offers battle, but still denies significant emotional respite, anywhere, anytime, to the occupation forces. From the perspective of the occupation troops the land mine explosions, brief ambushes, and the incoming raids and rockets, begin to seem endless. Over time this Forrest Resistance program works.
So, the E&P forces eventually do leave the USA, but not before the collapse of their supporting economies, in 1865. The E&P governments fought the war with borrowed money, because they could not raise the taxes evaded when possible by their wealthy Elites. As the war never brought in any significant commodity loot, there was little to sell to offset the cost of the war. Galloping inflation followed, as more and more investors realized that the paper Pounds and Marks being endlessly printed were ever less valuable. Real capital fled to France, Austria, and Russia.
Back in the USA, in 1865, they return to the Civil War, and eventually end it by splitting the US Republic into three regional entities. These are created from the North East, South East, and West. The West and North reunite in 1950.
END (Chapter 15)
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The sooner the USA leaves Iraq, the better it will be all around. The USA may then help the Iraqi people, via UN programs; maybe by helping arrange for UN peace keeping troops. But now, having US forces in Iraq can no longer serve any good purpose.
With every good wish,
John R. Cole
Edinburg, VA
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