Representative Chris Chocola
100 Suite East Wayne Street
South Bend, IN 46601

Dear Congressman:

As I type this letter another wave of violence has struck Iraq. Ambushes. Car bombs. A drive-by shooting. Nine Iraqis have been killed and more than 20 wounded. And that?s only today. In the past three days 79 people have died, including six U.S. soldiers. The list of U.S. troops killed in the past week (those whose names have been released) appears below.

Many people, including members of our group, had hoped, but didn?t expect, that the violence would dissipate with the installation of Iraq?s elected government last week. Instead, the situation has become much more chaotic. Have you noticed that with many of the recent attacks responsibility is being claimed by groups previously unknown? Either the insurgents are playing games with authorities to hide their identity or else opposition to the U.S. occupation, and to collaboration with the occupiers, is growing. Certainly it isn?t dwindling.

In recent days we have been soliciting opinions from our members about the situation in Iraq. We want to know what people think our recommendation should be in regard to withdrawal.

We all agree that the invasion of Iraq ? predicated on the guesswork and mind reading inherent in the Bush Doctrine of Preemptive War ? was immoral and that the United States now has a moral obligation to repair the damage it caused. We mean the damage that can be repaired. No appropriation one can bring back to life the tens of thousands of innocents killed because of this criminal failure of intelligence and analysis and the shameful abandonment of international legal standards.

But now what? Some of us think the troops must be withdrawn immediately because they never should have been there in the first place. Some insist that a date-certain for withdrawal be set, regardless of the situation at that future point. Some want to see the so-called coalition forces replaced with peacekeepers from the United Nations. Many support the idea of negotiation with the insurgents, including an offer of limited amnesty to get them to lay down their arms and come to a negotiating table. Others insist that the U.S. government must train military and police forces capable of securing the country so as not to abandon Iraq to civil war.

Let?s hear your plan. When and under what conditions should U.S. forces exit Iraq? So far Congress has been willing to allocate billions upon billions for the occupation with no strings attached. If you are unwilling to write them into law, could you at least share with us your own expectations? What constitutes a stable Iraq, and what reason is there to believe that it can be achieved with U.S. forces there when it never was in Vietnam?

I thank you in advance for your response.

Writing on behalf of
Michiana Peace & Justice Coalition, I am,

Ed Cohen