| "What about issues like Iraq?" July 8, 2007.
Claims by media and Republican pundits that all Democrats wish us to depart
from Iraq now, precipitously are distortions. This Democrat, opposed to the
war from the first, believes that America is obliged to leave Iraq in some
semblance of the condition in which we found it. We owe it to the Iraqi people,
and to the honor and reputation of our nation.
Saddam's police forces were vicious, but they did maintain a kind of order.
Enough to permit orderly routine tasks. The war eliminated the Iraqi police
without successfully replacing them. There can be no rebuilding of a viable
economy or infrastructure without the security only professional national
and local police personnel can provide. I believe it is possible to train
cadres of professionals out of country, in allied nations willing to sacrifice
to keep Iraq from total chaos. These cadres must then train police recruits
in Iraq. This must be incorporated into our strategy now.
George Hertzberg, Norwood Democratic Municipal Chair, 24 Carter
Street, Norwood 201 767 9411
"Norwood Dems Announce 2007 Ticket?" July 9, 2007.
In every campaign, the question arises of candidates walking door to door
to meet with voters. The upcoming campaign for Mayor and Council is no exception.
The process is time consuming for both the candidates and for those they
visit. It is hard to know when folks don't wish to be disturbed. But some
political professionals consider it to be essential for success. It is important
to know what specifics townspeople desire beyond less taxes and better services.
It is just as important for voters to get to know the candidates, their strengths
and where they stand. Norwood is a friendly town where people enjoy knowing
each other better.
To resolve this dilemma I suggest that a questionnaire be included in the
next issue of "The New Norwood Newsletter". Each voter could indicate when
he'd like to be visited by candidates, if at all, whether she would rather
be called, or would prefer to meet the candidates at some public forum, such
as the monthly Democratic Club meetings on September 18 or October 16. When
I ran for the Norwood school board 28 year ago, I called voters and found
that many were pleased to receive the call.
George Hertzberg, Norwood Democratic Municipal Chair, 24 Carter
Street, Norwood 201 767 9411
"Investigating How and Why the War in Iraq was Started"
The commutation of Scooter Libby's prison term has aroused suspicion that
Libby's knowledge could hurt the Vice President or President. Speculation
questions the reasons for starting the Iraq war. It appears the administration
knew that testimony that Saddam still had a nuclear weapons program was
uncorroborated and highly suspect. Iraq had finally admitted UN investigators.
Early searches indicated that all WMDs had been destroyed and no programs
restarted. It also appears that all Cheney's claims of Iraq-Al Qaeda connections
were fabrications.
Iraq presented no clear and present danger to the US. Moreover, the search
for Bin Laden, permanent eradication of the Taliban and assuring Afghanistan's
unavailability as a base for terrorism, were, and still are, uncompleted
tasks. So the question remains, why did George Bush want this war so badly,
that he could not wait until the UN inspectors had finished their job?
Rumors abound that Carl Rove had advised the President that war would help
Republicans win elections. Other rumors claim the pentagon felt that Afghanistan
lacked clear targets to sustain popular support for that war. A Dick Cheney
close friend describes his obsession with restoring all the presidential
powers removed in Watergate's wake. Wartime allows presidents to gather more
power from Congress and the courts. Is this why we went to war in Iraq?
All of this is based more upon rumor than corroborated fact, but truth is
the best cure for rumor. America is sick of polarization and an investigation
into these facts could further exacerbate the current partisan vitriol. But
the rumors may not stop growing without an investigation by the committees
headed by Congressman Waxman and Senator Schumer.
George Hertzberg, Norwood Democratic Municipal Chair, 24 Carter
Street, Norwood 201 767 9411
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