Iraq Amnesty Offer Upsets U.S. Lawmakers

[Eugene]

Iraq Amnesty Offer Upsets U.S. Lawmakers

By DEB RIECHMANN
The Associated Press
Sunday, June 25, 2006; 2:03 PM

WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress on Sunday denounced any Iraqi
plan that would grant amnesty to insurgents responsible for the deaths
of U.S. troops.

As part of a plan to mend sectarian strife, Iraq's prime minister
has proposed extending amnesty to insurgents and opposition figures
who have not been involved in terrorist activities.

Lawmakers are still trying to ascertain the details of the
reconciliation plan that Nouri al-Maliki released on Sunday. It came
out after a week of intense debate in Washington over the deployment
of U.S. forces and political posturing on the war months before
November's elections.

Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed
Services Committee, said extending amnesty to anyone responsible
for killing U.S. troops was "unconscionable."

<snip>

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/25/AR2006062500339.html

[Vidar]

1. 300,00 civivilian casualties is unconscionable too, Carl.

What's your point?

[ixion]

2. yeah, the insurgents didn't think much of it, either

:evilgrin:

[IndianaGreen]

3. Amnesty is something for Iraq, as a sovereign nation, to decide on its own

As to the Americans that are upset, tough shit! You shouldn't have invaded Iraq in the first place!

[OregonBlue]

6. I agree. If they are in fact a sovereign government, they will have to

do what they have to do. Remember South Africa, it took a lot of forgiveness to finally put it behind them. The U.S. will just have to back off and let them resolve this in their own way if they are going to reconcile all those opposing groups. Dems should not use this as political fodder.

[ninkasi]

8. Yes, it is

I remember Chimp saying that Iraq is a sovereign nation. Then he gave his absolutely BRILLIANT definition of sovereign. Or was the explanation provided at some other occasion? Anyway, he has already said that we'll leave when the Iraqis ask us to.

[Charlie Brown]

4. Um, Iraq is a sovereign country, guys

They decide how to keep the peace within their borders, not the US Congress.

[Rex]

5. You send them off to war and disrespect their use

and now show outrage when Iraq tells it like it is? Life is cheap and expendable, at least that is the message sent with our invasion of Iraq! Carl, you all made life cheap and worthless, trying to change the message now won't make the 'war' any more justified then when we originally invaded over a KNOWN lie.

[seriousstan]

7. Why are the Dems and Randy Rhodes ranting about this?

This is a country determining it's own rules.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Because it isn't popular to say that amnesty should be given to anyone

No amnesty to illegal immigrants, no amnesty to insurgents, or draft dodgers! These are the battle cries of most Americans.

Never mind that Jesus's death won amnesty for people, according to Christian doctrine. Or that amnesty would be the first thing that our own war criminals, from Bush on down, will be begging for were they to face a People's Tribunal or an international war crimes court.

[wellst0nev0ter]

12. I Think This Is The One Issue

Dems should be "irresponsible" and with which to hit the Republicans over the head. Dems don't actually control anything in order to enact any thoughtful policies, so the best thing Dems can do right now is continue throwing rocks.

[Roland99]

9. Didn't upset 19 GOP Senators who were lauding praise on amnesty

[Solly Mack]

10. Gee, seems to me a sovereign nation gets to make those decisions

without interference from foreign governments...but then I thought NOT invading a sovereign country for absolutely no justifiable reason was a no-brainer too.


Sending troops to invade a country for a pack of lies is "unconscionable." Pretending the the invasion was/is legal(ethical, moral, justified, acceptable) is "unconscionable."
Torture is "unconscionable." Extraordinary Rendition is "unconscionable." Detention without due process of law is "unconscionable."

A "unitary executive" is "unconscionable."


and the list of what is "unconscionable" goes on and on and on and on....

[Jacobin]

13. Are they upset about the call for US withdrawal in the

same report, which they don't seem to be reporting?

:rofl:

[RDANGELO]

14. This should be a clear signal that it's time to start leaving.

If they are secure and confident enough to offer amnesty to former enemies and give us a little slap in the face, what are we doing there?

[Terran1212]

15. THAT is how you create peace (take notice, Congress!)

It's called diplomacy: coming to reasonable terms based on justified grievances with your enemy. Not appeasement, but not dumbass warmongering that's going to kill EVERYONE either!

Levin is another Democrat who always seems to get it wrong. Not encouraging to the Party.

[HuffleClaw]

16. but, but, but... isn't this an 'iraqi internal matter' ???

an internal matter for the SOVEREIGN nation of iraq to decide???

[flamin lib]

17. Democracy is a bitch in the Middle east.

Iraq offers amnesty.
Iran elects a radical nutzoid.
Palistine elects Hamas.

Boy, democracy is just bustin' out all over and ain't we just lovin' it.