Kerry Lays Out Exactly What Needs To Be Done

1. GET A UN RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A MILITARY FORCE UNDER U.S. COMMAND

Kerry’s plan calls for working through the UN to create a multinational force under U.S. command and control. This will enable us to recruit participation from nations with the security-building capacity needed in Iraq. There is no peacekeeping situation in which the percentage of U.S. forces has ever been this high; we need to spread the risk and share the burden. The United States will always retain command and control over all forces. Under Kerry’s plan, we will not send any additional American troops to Iraq. Once the security situation stabilizes through the participation of additional international forces, there would be an increased potential for the U.S. to reduce its force level in Iraq – and bring some U.S. troops home.

2. PUT THE CREATION OF A NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS

This aspect of Kerry’s plan is key to getting a larger international military force, and greater participation and funding on the civilian side. In return, other nations must contribute a substantial share of the multi-billion dollar reconstruction bill. UN member nations would also be expected to contribute expertise in reconstruction tasks. Effective American diplomacy is needed to bring this about. Simply passing a UN resolution incorporating these points, while necessary, will not be sufficient. Achievement of these goals will require a major U.S. diplomatic effort to increase military and financial participation by others. Sadly, we had such support following September 11, but have squandered it by our unilateralist policy in Iraq.

3. TRANSFER AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO IRAQIS

Kerry’s plan calls for the UN to transfer control over governance to Iraqis as soon as reasonably feasible. In order to accomplish this, the UN would preside over the phased-in transfer of control over governmental functions to a representative body of Iraqis in accordance with an announced timeframe of benchmarks pegged to the Iraqis’ ability to assume greater governing responsibility. In this way, power could be transferred in phases to the Iraqis without the need to wait for completion of a constitution and general elections. The announced benchmarks would provide the Iraqis a clearer picture of their future by giving them an understanding of the steps they would need to take to assume control.

4. ACCELERATE EFFORTS TO TRAIN AND EQUIP IRAQI SECURITY FORCES

Kerry’s plan calls for expanding the training operation for Iraqi security forces by involving our allies to provide more classrooms, more trainers, and more on the job training. The actual number of trained, capable Iraqi security personnel is woefully inadequate. Our allies are well positioned to change this by serving as mentors to Iraqi police, civil defense and military forces, and providing interim security personnel while this process is ongoing. A key task of the UN is to develop a plan that provides a foundation for Iraqi security.

Paying for the Plan

FINANCE THE COSTS BY ROLLING BACK TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS

Kerry believes that we should roll-back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy in order to pay for our responsibilities in Iraq. John Kerry and Senator Joseph Biden have introduced an amendment in the United States Senate that would do just that -- pay for the cost of U.S. efforts in Iraq by reducing the tax cut for the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Further, under Kerry's Plan greater international funding participation should eventually reduce the cost to the American taxpayer.

WINNING THE BATTLE AT HOME

America’s military strength also depends on a strong U.S. economy. For the U.S. to afford to pay to build communities in Iraq, we need to put people back to work and improve our schools and health here at home. Senator Kerry has proposed a State Tax Relief and Education Fund that will give $30 billion to states to stop cuts in educations and health care. Instead of tax cuts aimed at the wealthy, Senator Kerry would take an additional $30 billion to invest in the American people with domestic programs to help the states provide services to our communities, to support education for our children, and to restore jobs eliminated over the past two and a half years during the Bush Administration’s job-destroying “recovery.”

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:thumbsup:

Because instead of actually providing a plan, Republicans say that Dems have no plan. That's the Republicans only plan, really. They tell the public that the Dems can't accomplish anything.

The biggest flaw with Bush's plan is that he wants a UN coalition financed by everyone but controlled exclucively by the US. And he wants the US alone to control everything in Iraq. But he is an arrogant asshole.