Since 02-13-07
Congressman Mike Honda reply on
4 Veteran issues with same diatribe against Bush and Iraq
Since 02-13-07
From: Congressman Mike Honda [mailto:mike.honda@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: HR 140 - Require Parity Between Tricare and Medicare Institutional
Reimbursements
From: Congressman Mike Honda [mailto:mike.honda@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: HR 156 - Payment of DIC to the survivors of former POW war died on
or before 30 Sep 1999.
From: Congressman Mike Honda [mailto:mike.honda@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: SUPPORT HR 315 - HEALTHY Vets Act
From: Congressman Mike Honda [mailto:mike.honda@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: HR 343 - Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act
Dear James:
Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns with the war in Iraq. I
appreciate hearing your views on this important matter.
As you may be aware, I opposed President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, as I
believed that a diplomatic solution was still possible. In October, 2002, I
voted against House Joint Resolution 114, authorizing the use of military force
against Iraq on October 10, 2002. As the war in Iraq has stretched out longer
than our involvement in World War II, we have seen thousands of brave American
soldiers killed and hundreds of thousands more maimed, along with countless
Iraqi civilians killed. The President has led our nation has down the wrong path
by taking military action, and along the way he has quietly implemented policies
which violated the civil liberties of American citizens, and led to abuses
abroad such as those in Abu Ghraib.
As a result of the disastrous leadership of the Bush Administration and a lack
of effective oversight by the Republican-led Congress over the past few years, a
civil war is now raging in Iraq, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi
civilians every month as the various Iraqi factions attack each other, as well
as our brave servicemen and women. I am committed to bringing our troops home
while minimizing the damage left in the wake of the President's failed policies.
I cosponsored House Joint Resolution 18, offered by Rep. Murtha (D-PA), which
proposes a phased redeployment from Iraq, leaving a quick reaction
over-the-horizon presence of U.S. Marines. As a Member of the Out of Iraq
Caucus, I have frequently spoken out against the war, taking to the House Floor
to denounce the President's plan to escalate the war by sending more American
servicemen and women to Iraq.
President Bush needs to know that the American people do not support his "surge"
plan. I have cosponsored several resolutions which state that an increase in the
number of members of the United States Armed Forces deployed in Iraq is the
wrong course of action and that a drastic shift in the political and diplomatic
strategy of the United States is needed to help secure and stabilize Iraq. These
bill I cosponsored, such as H.Res. 41 and H.Con.Res. 23, send a clear message to
the President that Congress intends on enforcing the will of the American people
by redeploying our troops in an expeditious manner. If the President stubbornly
goes against the will of Congress (and the American people), he may be faced
with Congressional action to stop the war by withholding funds.
The President's militaristic approach to the Middle East was counterproductive,
making our nation less secure in our conflict with radical Islamic ideology.
Instead, I believe we must engage in sustained diplomatic efforts, coupled with
economic and civic programs, to combat the threats that we face. America's
relationships with our allies have been weakened by our involvement in Iraq, but
I believe that a new approach to foreign policy can allow us to solve the
challenges facing our nation.
Once again, I thank you for sharing your views me. Your voice is critical in
shaping the way I represent our district. I hope that you will continue to keep
me apprised of issues that are important to you.
Sincerely,
Mike Honda
Member of Congress
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