. ... When the US creates a shift of policy and
announces it will focus on the concerns of the people of Iraq, it will provide a powerful incentive
for nations to participate
.WeThePeopleNow.org
(www.WeThePeopleNow.org)
DRAFT
Proposed Plan to End Iraq and Afghanistan Wars/Occupations
and End the Use of Force in Pakistan and Elsewhere
(Revised March 12, 2010)
This is a work in progress. Critical comments and suggestions are welcomed and can be provided directly to the compiler, Ron Fisher, at DFPA@aol.com or 703-725-7849
Nothing in this plan is intended to be a criticism of our courageous enlisted U.S. Military Troops who have put in harm’s way by misguided and dishonest, civil and military officials.
INTRODUCTION
This document (http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/proposed_plan_iraq.pdf), originally prepared as a plan to end the Iraq war/occupation only, has been expanded to provide an open-ended draft, proposed, diplomacy based strategy/plan to:
1. End both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars/occupations.
2. End the drone attacks, and all offensive and covert operations and use of force in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world
3. Return United States Armed Forces, security contractors, CIA personnel, mercenaries, etc. to the U.S. in a just, peaceful and timely manner.
B. Take initial steps toward a peaceful, stable Mid-East peaceful, just and timely resolutions of the:
a. Israel-Palestine situation
b. Iran - U.S. and nuclear issues
c. Syria-U.S. situation
d. Turkey-Kurd situation
4. Renaming and revamping the so called "war on terror"
This document originally prepared as a plan to end the Iraq war/occupation has been expanded to provide a draft, proposed U.S. exit strategy from the Mid-East
The bibliography at the end of this document provides a list of the primary sources for the information in this plan, including in particular the Kucinich 12-Point Plan for Iraq, Introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich in the House of Representatives on January 9, 2007. Points and words from Kucinich’s plan are generally shown in italics in this document. Although written for Iraq, much of the information in Kucinich’s plan is applicable to Afghanistan.
“A US Declaration of an intention to withdraw troops and close bases will help dampen the
insurgency ... and ... provide an opening where parties within Iraq and in the region can set the
stage for negotiations towards peaceful settlement
. ... When the US creates a shift of policy and
announces it will focus on the concerns of the people of Iraq, it will provide a powerful incentive
for nations to participate
.
Also the article How to Get OUT of Afghanistan by William Polk provides “a sensible and detailed analysis of the options facing the President, and why he should choose to get out of this war right now.”
H. R. 2404, introduced by Representative Jim McGovern would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress outlining the United States exit strategy for United States military forces in Afghanistan participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.
H. R. 3699, introduced by Representative Barbara Lee would prohibit any increase in the number of members of the United States Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan.
H. CON. RES. 248, written and introduced by Representative Dennis Kucinicih Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan, written
BACKGROUND
1. The invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and covert operations and any use of force or subterfuge in Pakistan or anywhere in the world are illegal, unjust and immoral. Economic sanctions that harm civilians and the taking of the natural resources countries by governments and/or corporations are also illegal, unjust and immoral. Information substantiating this can be found in the Summary of the U.S. Occupation and Attempted Colonization of Iraq (http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/summary_iraq_occupation.pdf).
2. Not only are our military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the "graveyard of empires", illegal and immoral, they are doomed to failure and self-defeating.
3. These efforts are costing over $100 million a day, a devastating drain on the American Taxpayer.
4. The surge in Afghanistan, which will cost $1,000,000 per soldier per year, will fuel more attacks and deaths of our troops and innocent Afghans and provide more terrorist recruits.
5. Unless we drastically change our course and work toward a sustainable solution, things will only get worse.
6. The Afghan Marshall Plan, described at http://jobsforafghans.org, is modeled after the post WWII reconstruction of Europe with an emphasis on jobs. This Plan as a major part of this withdrawal plan will save taxpayer dollars.
7. With over 40% unemployment, desperation drives Afghans to take the only jobs available -- fighting Americans and Coalition Forces or opium production. The vast majority of the Afghan people hate the Taliban and they have no love for al Qaeda either.
8. The Afghan Marshall Plan, would cost just 5-10% of what the war is costing and will siphon off at least 70% if not all of the Taliban recruits.
9. The plan will also eliminate corruption in the reconstruction effort. There is no shortage of work to be done by unskilled and semi-skilled labor and cash paid directly daily or weekly to laborers gets the funds to those who need it most. The study includes an agency, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), with better than 80% efficiency linked to thousands of local CDC's (Community Development Councils) throughout the country.
10. It is criminal and a travesty that American Soldiers are getting killed by young men who would be more than willing to lay down their arms and work for $5-10 a day.
11. Comprehensive “Marshal Plans” should be planned and implemented for both Iraq and Afghanistan and other places in the world in particular Palestine.
12. It is imperative that these wars be ended immediately and that no additional troops be sent. To paraphrase Daniel Ellsberg, even if one million U.S., NATO and Afghan troops combine forces in Afghanistan, after we leave there will be no improvement in that country.
A Proposed plans for the United States to help resolve both the Israel-Palestine Situation and the Iranian alleged plan to build nuclear weapons are being developed and will available on www.wethepeoplenow.org
MAJOR INITIATIVES OF THE PLAN
Note: All the initiatives in paragraphs 1-4 should be initiated within one week after initiation of this plan except as otherwise noted and completed as rapidly as practicable.
Congress:
1. Prohibit any appropriation being used for offensive or covert operations or the use of force in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan or anywhere else in the world without a declaration of war by Congress.
2. Specifically authorize the President to use existing funds for defensive, peace-keeping, to bring the troops and necessary equipment home and to accomplish other items in this plan.
3. Repeal the legislation authorizing the president to use force in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The President in coordination with Congress and relevant civilian and military officials and the leaders of the countries of the coalition forces and the leaders of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan refine this plan:
1. Announce decision to not send any additional troops to Afghanistan and other salient actions/initiatives of this plan including:
a. An immediate unilateral cease fire,
b. Comprehensive humanitarian and resettlement aid/assistance efforts
c. Funding “Marshall Plans” for reconstruction, economic development and job generation for both Iraq and Afghanistan, to be executed primarily by Afghani’s and Iraqi nationals, not U.S. contractors.
d. The permanent closing of all military bases,
e. Withdrawal of all U. S. forces, U.S. contractors, CIA personnel, etc. to be replaced with a trained United Nations international security and peace-keeping missions.
2. Order an immediate, unilateral cease fire and a halt of all offensive, covert and clandestine operations by coalition and NATO forces, the CIA and U.S. security contractors. Call on all factions to please do the same. Order U.S. Armed Forces and Coalition forces to play a purely, defensive, peace-keeping role.
a. Withdraw CIA Personnel and Mercenaries. Order an immediate withdrawal of all CIA operatives and U.S. armed defense contractors, etc. and return them to the United States as rapidly as possible.
b. Redeploy U.S. Forces. Redeploy U.S. Forces into defensive peace-keeping positions away from areas where they are not wanted.
c. Immediately return all U.S. nuclear weapons in the Middle East, if any, to the U.S.
3. Sincerely apologize to the Iraqis, Afghans, Iranians and Pakistanis for all attacks, economic sanctions, invasions, devastation, occupations, the deaths, maiming, abuse and torture, the damage and destruction of, homes, facilities, historical treasures, the attempted theft of oil and oil profits and other resources.
4. Commence massive humanitarian, resettlement and employment aid and assistance efforts to insure that all the people of Iraq and Afghanistan who have been affected including those who have fled their countries have access to food, water, shelter, health care, security employment distributing the aid etc. to be paid for by the U.S. with the people of Iraq and NGOs doing the work. This work to be continued until all the people affected by the U.S. are self-sufficient.
5. Remove aircraft carriers, other surface combatants and submarines, if any, from the Persian Gulf and out of the sight of land.
6. Repudiate the use of force as a strategy for influencing the affairs of other nations. This particularly includes the use of drones and other remote-controlled devices, by U.S. military, the CIA or private contractors to violate foreign sovereignty and carry out assassinations, whether by U.S. military or private contractors.
7. Promise and Pledge to Make Amends in particular to
a. Immediately respect the sovereignty of and return the control of all oil reserves and other resources to the governments/people of each country
b. Make reparations and restitution and condolence payments for all the physical and emotional damages to THE PEOPLE and their countries
c. Treat THE PEOPLE as equals, and
d. Respect the fundamental rights of all THE PEOPLE
Once Congress and the President do the above, the insurgencies will fade away and the stage will be set for peaceful negotiations.
8. Restore Iraq and Afghanistan Political Sovereignty. Immediately restore complete Iraq and Afghanistan sovereignty and return control of oil, natural gas and other resources/assets, economy, government agencies, political processes, media, institutions, laws, etc., to the countries and their people so that they, not foreigners, are making the decisions about the future of their countries and are in control of their reconstruction. Cease all attempts to change national laws and take other actions that will facilitate privatization and allow corporations to appropriate these countries resources.
9. Treat as Equals. Insure while U.S. Armed Forces, CIA agents, contractors, etc. are in THE COUNTRIES, they treat THE PEOPLE including detainees as equals and with respect, not demonize any races or cultures and fully comply with their laws, the Geneva Convention, Hague Regulations, UN Security Council Resolution 1483 of May 22, 2003, other international laws, etc.
10. Develop, fund, support and participate in, but do not attempt to control comprehensive and broadly-inclusive negotiations and conferences on all relevant issues with no preconditions for negotiation and with everything "on the table"and Regional Meetings and Conferences. Means of negotiations should include phone calls, email exchanges, video and regular meetings, among representatives from the United Nations, Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, the political wings of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Taliban, and the European Union, etc., Negotiations should include:
a. Security and stability of the Middle East including in particular whether appropriate UN international peace-keeping and government assistance missions,
b. Civil rights and equality of the people.
c. “Marshal Plans” to rebuild countries and provide employment opportunities see Plan To Put America and the World to Work: Jumpstart the Economy and End the Recession as a guideline. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/put_america_to_work.pdf http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/put_america_to_work.htm
d. Resolution of the Sunni, Shia, Kurd power sharing situation in Iraq
e. Plans for timely, fair, fully creditable regional and national elections so that true democratic self- rule can be put into place.
f. Responsibilities of occupying powers (U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel in the West Bank and the Golan Heights), including prohibitions against changing a country's laws and taking its resources, etc.
g. Resolution of the Israel-Palestine-Syria-Lebanon situations including borders, settlements, right of return, two state solution, etc.
h. Resolution of the Turkey-Kurdish situation
i. International truth, reconciliation, amnesty, restitution, and restorative justice processes.
j. Consider the United Nations guaranteeing the borders of these countries so that they do not need large standing armies and for part of their armies to be reorganized and trained as Civil Engineering Corps and the other parts to be trained and become part of the national and local police forces.
11. Implement and finance “Marshall Plans,” in coordination with other countries and the UN, which provide both massive employment opportunities and basic services, health care, educational programs, reconstruction, clearing land mines, debris, repairing battle damage, rebuild roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, houses, and factories.
12. Request that the United Nations prepare and train:
a. Security and peace-keeping missions to move in and replace U. S. troops. The UN has
an indispensable role to play here, but cannot do it as long as the US is committed to an
occupation
. Prepare appropriate international peace-keeping missions from neutral nations with
at least 51 percent of the mission to be from nations with large Muslim populations to be used as
needed. This mission will monitor the cease-fire, strengthen local police forces and the judicial
system, help organize and monitor timely, fair, fully creditable regional and national elections so
that true democratic self rule can be put into place. This mission is to be paid for by the United
States and any U.S. equipment or facilities useful to the mission should be turned over to the
mission.
b. Government Assistance Missions. Prepare appropriate international government missions with at least 51 percent of the team to be from nations with large Muslim populations, to be used if the government agrees that it is needed. These team as needed would be deployed to Iraq and other countries to replace United States officials and contractors that are embedded in Iraq and other countries. This mission is to be paid for by the United States and any U.S. equipment or facilities useful to the team should be turned over to these missions.
13. Release Detainees Who Have Not Been Charged. In close coordination with applicable governments, commence releasing "security detainees" who have not been charged with a crime and pay them restitution if their confinement has been wrongful and unlawful and/or if they have been abused or tortured. If there is probable cause and they have been charged with specific crimes, as appropriate, turn them over to their own country, the International Criminal Court or indict and try them in regular U.S. court in accordance with applicable laws. If they have been held in connection with the post-invasion conflict, amnesty should be considered. In any case, detainees and prisoners must be treated humanely and with respect. They should be detained only in places which practice restorative justice and in which they can enjoy the full protection of the law and have prompt access by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This work must be completed no later than one month after enactment of this plan. This is the right and moral thing to do, and until individuals who have been wrongfully detained, abused, tortured, etc. receive justice, they could be a threat to the U.S. and our people.
14. Phase in UN Peace-Keeping and Government Assistance Missions replacing all US troops who then return home. These missions are to be funded by the U.S. until the Iraqi Government is capable of handling its own security and government functions
15. Order a return of all U. S. contractors to the United States and turn over all contracting work to the Iraqi government/people.
16. Permanently Close all U.S. Bases. Cease the planning for and construction work on all U.S. military bases, facilities and installations and turn property over to the people/government and/or temporarily to the UN peace-keeping mission as appropriate.
17. Correct the misdeeds of the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan including:
a. Cease and Reverse Privatization. Cease and reverse efforts to privatize these countries’ oil, water other resources, industries, economy, etc. and do not request any new oil laws or contracts until peaceful, post-occupation conditions guarantee a full and democratic national debate about the future of their resources.
b. Void Bremer and Similar Orders, Regulations and Rules. Cause all the "Bremer Orders," “privatization laws” passed under the occupation to be canceled or repealed and all associated contracts, "production sharing agreements (PSA's), memorandum of understanding (MOU’s), other similar contracts, any of which provide a percentage of profits to any companies or individuals to be voided.
c. Restore the Iraq Constitution. Provide the necessary assistance to the Iraq government to restore their 1970 Constitution and to remove/revise other laws enacted/changed by the U.S.
d. Develop and fund a process of national reconciliation. The process of reconciliation must
begin with a national conference, organized with the assistance of the UN and with the
participation of parties who can create, participate in and affect the process of reconciliation,
defined as an airing of all grievances and the creation of pathways toward open, transparent
talks producing truth and resolution of grievances. The Iraqi government has indicated a desire
for the process of reconciliation to take place around it, and that those who were opposed to the
government should give up and join the government. Reconciliation must not be confused with
capitulation, nor with realignments for the purposes of protecting power relationships.
e. Restitution, Reparations, and Condolence Payments. The U.S. should make restitution, reparations, and condolence payments as appropriate:
i. For physical and emotional injuries to individuals abused or tortured and wrongfully and unlawfully detained
ii. To the families of individuals killed or disabled by U.S. Armed Forces, private security contractors, the CIA, etc.
iii. To rescue the tens of thousands of orphans from lives of destitution.
iv. To emigres to return and resettlement.
v. To the employees of the government who were forced out of their jobs by the Coalition Provisional Authority.
vi. To the members of the Iraq military and Iraq military retirees who suffered pay losses when the Coalition Provisional Authority disbanded the Army and refused to pay military pensions.
vii. For reconstruction/restoration of what the U.S. has damaged or destroyed, for clearing and dismantling land mines, unexploded ordnance, depleted uranium, blast walls, wire barriers, etc., with Iraqis managing the contracts and doing the work.
viii. For what Iraq should have received for Iraq’s oil and other resources since the invasion of Iraq.
ix. For any Iraqi funds that were paid to U.S. government contractors for reconstruction work that was not done or was incomplete, shoddy or otherwise wasted.
x. For other similar items as they develop.
f. Help Restore Iraq's Fiscal Integrity. Strive for economic sovereignty for Iraq by working with the world community to restore Iraq's fiscal integrity without structural readjustment measures of the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank.IRAN AND NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Note: It is illegal for the U.S. to threaten to attack Iran, conduct any clandestine or offensive operations against Iran or invoke economic sanctions against Iran or any other country unless Congress has specifically declared war on that country.
1. The U.S. should:
a. Assist in maintaining the Middle East WMD/Nuclear Weapons Free Zone and insure that there are no nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction on any U.S. Ships or in possession of any other U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East as required by article 14 UN Security Council Resolution 687. This resolution calls for "establishing in the Middle East a zone free from weapons of mass destruction and all missiles for their delivery."
b. Take the lead on the cessation of the nuclear arms race and complete disarmament as required by Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which requires: pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
c. Cease expending any funds on any nuclear weapon development programs or to improve or refine existing programs.
d. Build on ongoing initiatives and develop a comprehensive Plan for the United States Role in Global Nuclear Disarmament which includes identifying obstacles and the underlying reasons for these obstacles and proposes short and long range solutions.
2. Accomplishing the above will strengthen the U.S. government's position when requesting that other states such as Iran and North Korea not develop nuclear weapons and will encourage Iran and other countries to help with the grave problems in Iraq.
ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
3. Officials of the United States should:
a. Support UN security guarantees for Israel, the timely establishment of a Palestinian State, and resolution of the Palestinian refugee crisis and their right of return.
b. Demand that Israel, as an occupying power, comply with applicable UN Security Council Resolutions and honestly negotiate with Palestinian officials.
c. Resume payment of aid to the Hamas government.
d. As required by the U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and to strengthen the U.S. government's position when demanding that other states cease supplying arms to Hezbollah, Hamas and warring factions in Iraq:
i. Demand that Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other Israelis in positions of command and control cease the use of any weapons supplied by the U.S. for any offensive purposes.
ii. Order all U.S. government employees, military personnel, U.S. contractors, individuals and their agents involved in providing funds, selling, giving, supplying, delivering, transporting, supporting, maintaining, providing technical or logistical support for any offensive arms, weapons, weapons systems, munitions, and repair parts to or for Israel to cease and desist and to stop all shipments and work in progress.
e. Instead of providing arms and aid to Israel, use the funds to buy Israeli homes, buildings, facilities, roads, and infrastructure in selected settlements in the West Bank and turn them over to the Palestinian authority.
f. Building on ongoing initiatives, develop a comprehensive Plan for the United States Role in Resolving the Israeli-Palestine Situation which includes identifying obstacles and the underlying reasons for these obstacles and propose short and long range solutions.
RENAMING AND REVAMPING THE "WAR ON TERROR"
4. Officials of the United States should
a. Cease use of the metaphor "war on terror" and treat terrorist acts as crimes.
b. Identify the underlying cause of terrorist acts and proposes short and long range solutions including in particular supporting wide spread economic development and education and training programs all over the world.
c. Develop a comprehensive Plan to Address and Reduce/Eliminate Terrorist Acts
5. Continually Report the Status of this Plan. The status of all of these items should be continually maintained and available to the public on the White House web site.
6. Congress pay for the items outlined in this from existing funds and with restitution from the government and corporate officials accountable for these problems. The cost of the McGovern-Polk plan, outlined in the book Out of Iraq, was an estimated $12 to $14 billion. Additional items in this plan and delays in getting started, would at least double this estimate. However, $28 billion would still be much less than one-third of the recent supplemental bill or three or four months of the current cost of the war. Funds are available to accomplish or assist in the accomplishment of all the above. Sources of these funds include, but are not limited to funds appropriated or made available under any provision of law including:
a. Remainder of the billions of dollars which Congress has previously appropriated
b. Funds to deploy or continue to deploy members or units of the United States Armed Forces or civilian military contractors to the Middle East.
c. Savings from cancellation of the permanent U.S. bases and other unneeded work.
d.Funds for offensive or clandestine operations in Iraq, Iran or in any country in the world in the absence of a formal declaration of war by the United States Congress.
e. Funds to deploy or operate U.S. aircraft carriers or other surface combat vessels in the Persian Gulf or within sight of land in the Middle East.
f. Funds to intervene or to plan to threaten or to overtly or covertly, intervene in the internal affairs of Iraq, Iran or any other nation.
g. Funds for CIA rendition, detention, interrogation programs and clandestine operations.
h.To accomplish "regime change".
i. Funds for any nuclear weapon development programs or to improve or refine existing nuclear weapons. These programs violate the spirit and intent of Article VI of the 1967 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPR).
j. Funds for any anti-ballistic missile (ABM) development programs or to improve or refine existing anti-ballistic missile development programs. ABMs will not work, are much to expensive and violate the spirit and intent of 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty which President Bush unlawfully “pulled out of”.
k. Funds from cancellation of other unneeded offensive cold war weapons systems.
Bibliography: Sources for the Information in this Plan
This plan is based on inputs from numerous individuals, organizations and other documents including:
The Kucinich 12-Point Plan for Iraq, Introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich in the House of Representatives on January 9, 2007.
How to Get OUT of Afghanistan by William Polk
Out of Iraq: "A Practical Plan for Withdrawal NOW", by George McGovern and William R. Polk, provide background, details and estimated costs for the major initiatives of the plan.
Ending the War in Iraq by Tom Hayden.
H. R. 508, to require United States military disengagement from Iraq, etc. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c110:./temp/~c110sAuLco) filed on 17 January, 2007.
H. R. 1234: The Plan to End the Iraq War.
House Continuing Resolution 288
H.R. 5708
A dozen or so other proposed related House and Senate bills.
The Bush Agenda: Invading the World One Economy at a Time by Ms. Antonia Juhasz