STEVE GREENFIELD WHO HAS ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR SENATE AGAINST SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON WILL BE SPEAKING IN ITHACA THIS SATURDAY.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 4:00-6:00 P.M.
LIVING WAGE SPACE ABOVE AUTUMN LEAVES
JOIN US TO HEAR STEVE'S VIEWS AND ASK QUESTIONS.
January 13th, 2006
Contact: Greenfield for Senate (www.greenfieldforsenate.org)
Steve Greenfield (845) 532-0280, greenfieldforsenate@earthlink.net
"Time's up, Senator Clinton." -- Steve Greenfield, NY Democratic Party candidate for United States Senate
On November 29th, 2005, Senator Hillary Clinton, facing mounting criticism from the anti-war movement and an unexpected and widely reported challenge in her own party's 2006 primary from anti-war activist Steve Greenfield, released a 1,600 word document standing by her pro-Iraq War voting record and outlining, for the first time, what developments she would look for before examining the question of US troop withdrawal. She said, in part:
"Like all Americans, I hope the Iraqi elections are a true expression of democracy, one that is committed to majority rule, minority rights, women's rights, and the basic rule of law. I hope these elections will finally put the Iraqi people on the road to real security and independence. If these elections succeed, we should be able to start drawing down our troops, but we should also plan to continue to help secure the country and the region with a smaller footprint on an as-needed basis."
The elections have come and gone. In their aftermath, there have been widespread charges of fraud, a delegitimization of Iraqi
self-governance, high-ranking Iraqi resignations, and one of the largest single-week escalations of deadly violence against both Iraqi authorities and United States troops since the onset of the invasion nearly three years ago.
Steve Greenfield, challenger for the Democratic Party nomination for US Senate in 2006, says "Time's up."
"We've heard this story over and over again. The anti-war movement argued from the beginning that the American occupation was the inspiration, rather than the cure, for the escalating Iraqi resistance. But Hillary Clinton, and the administration and congressional hawks with whom she has allied herself, denounced this obvious truth and spun their support for the war in new ways. First we were told the violence would end after the Coalition Provisional Authority set up civil institutions to replace direct Pentagon control. Then we heard the violence would end with the deaths of Saddam's sons. Then we heard the violence would end with the arrests of key figures in the ludicrous "deck of cards" of Baathist officials, culminating with the capture of Saddam himself. More recently we heard that the adoption of the new Iraqi Constitution, backed by an escalation in US troops, would weaken the rebellion, and ultimately, as Hillary Clinton asserted, that the new elections would calm the violence and empower Iraq's own civil authorities, police, and armed forces to quell any remaining resistance on their own. No reasonable person bought into this fool's paradise."
"Time's up, Senator" Greenfield continued. "The last item on your timeline of excuses has expired. United States forces have suffered one of the deadliest weeks since the war began. Hundreds more Iraqis have been killed. Hundreds more American families have been left widowed, orphaned, childless, or caring for invalid loved ones. When will you see that enough is enough, and move to swiftly bring our troops home from this deepening quicksand? How many more must die? How many more must be maimed and paralyzed? How much more debt must our children incur, and what legacy of violence must they inherit? When will you admit your error in supporting and sustaining this illegal invasion, and bring legislation to end the war?"
Greenfield called on all New Yorkers, regardless of where they stood at the time hostilities were initiated, to contact their pro-war Senators Clinton and Schumer immediately and demand an end to US involvement in Iraq. "Let them know that democracy starts at home. Tell them that if they believe, as we do, that our nation's government is by the people, for the people, and of the people, that the people of New York want our people brought home to safety, and we want it done now, as quickly as the safety of the troops themselves will allow."
For further information, contact greenfieldforsenate@earthlink.net or call (845) 532-0280 and visit www.greenfieldforsenate.org.
