From Progressive Democrats of America:

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A Lobbying Surge for a Diplomatic Surge--Redux

By Howard Jennings, PDA Virginia State Co-Coordinator
July 26, 2008

The Next Strategy on Iraq and Iran: A True “Diplomatic Surge”
As the nation hurtles toward disaster with Congress passing the Iraq supplemental spending bill, the Administration escalating its rhetoric for an attack on Iran, and AIPAC pushing a new bill calling for tough sanctions against Iran, it is clearly time for a new strategy. PDA has an important opportunity to begin lobbying Congress FOR H. Con. Res. 321, a bi-partisan bill that lays out a new call for diplomacy in Iraq and the Middle East. At the same time we need to urge Members of Congress NOT to co-sponsor the Iran sanctions bill H. Con. Res 362, which many see as an attempt to provoke Iran into an incident such as the alleged Gulf of Tonkin attack which propelled us into the Vietnam War.

The situation is critical, and the stakes could hardly be higher, as the folks who brought us the disaster in Iraq are using the same fear tactics to railroad us into a similar catastrophe in Iran, quite likely before the end of the year.

H Con Res 321--A Diplomatic Surge
PDA's “End the Occupation Issue Organizing Team” has been examining in our monthly calls the various options we should support on Iraq, and now the most realistic strategy is the diplomatic initiative called for in H. Con. Res. 321. This is a reasonable middle ground between indefinite occupation and immediate withdrawal. The bill calls on the Administration to implement numerous actions, including:
1. Continue withdrawal of all troops and eventually end the occupation.
2. As recommended by the Iraq Study Group, engage in a regional diplomatic initiative of Middle Eastern states, including Iran and Syria, to support a cease fire, promote stability in Iraq, and establish a collective-security arrangement among Iraq and neighboring countries.
3. Establish through the diplomatic initiative an international consortium for relief and reconstruction.
4. Provide relief for Iraqi refugees and displaced Iraqis.
5. Provide comprehensive rehabilitation and economic assistance for our American troops who have served in Iraq.

PDA has been working for several months on H. Con. Res. 321 with Members of Congress, staffers, and the Council for the National Interest, an organization of former diplomats. On June 4th Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R MD), Rep. Jim Moran (D VA) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D MD) hosted the first of a series of Congressional briefings to educate Congressional staffers on diplomatic steps that can be taken. Subsequent briefings will cover the impact of the occupation on our military, on our economy, and upon Iraqi refugees.

At this point there are 23 Republican and Democrat co-sponsors, and support from the grassroots is essential to persuade more members of both parties to sign on as co-sponsors. We envision this bill as the beginning of a long-term effort to restore diplomatic negotiation rather than military force as our primary tool of foreign policy.

H. Con. Res 362 and S. Res. 580--Sanctions against Iran
House Concurrent Resolution 362 and Senate Resolution 580 call for severe sanctions against Iranian banks, travel restrictions on Iranian officials, embargo on the shipment of refined petroleum products into Iran, and what amounts to a blockade and inspection of all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo until Iran verifiably suspends enrichment of uranium. Some have referred to this as a virtual declaration of war. While we oppose the spread of nuclear weapons to any country, we note that Iran has the legal right to enrich uranium as fuel for power plants. Some, including the Israel lobby claim they are building bombs, which Iran denies. This scenario is all too reminiscent of the “conclusive proof” of Saddam's “weapons of mass destruction” that the neo-con warmongers cited as justification for invasion, and which has resulted in the worst foreign policy fiasco in US history.

Under international law such actions are seen as a blockade, which is an act of war. Inevitably this would be a “trigger event” for an Iranian action, a retaliation by the US and possibly Israel, and further counter-retaliation, such as attacks against our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, blockage of oil shipments through the straits of Hormuz, and potential involvement of other nations in the region. If we want catastrophe in the Middle East, deeper recession and $6 gas in the US, this would do it.

Before a new unending episode of shooting, retaliation, and killing begins, we must engage in the intense, high-level diplomacy called for in H. Con. Res. 321 and as recommended by the Baker-Hamilton Report.

Please contact your Member of Congress--ask them to support H.C.R. 361 and oppose H.C.R. 362 .
Join the End the War, Redirect Funding Issue Organizing Team; contact Diane@pdamerica.org.