Present: JD and Hodge Patel; from MPJC Lois Clark, Lisa Cunningham, Carol Dillon, Caroline Domingo, Iris Giamo, and Justin Wozniak
JD was very gracious and welcoming and offered to continue meeting with us "every month or so." All agreed that we should take him up on this.
JD intro
The newly elected Democrats in Congress have "hit the ground running." Already they have voted to freeze congressional reps wages and for increases in: the minimum wage, Pell grants and college tuition benefits, and veterans' benefits. (Note: Lisa later emphasized the importance of Pell grants to her family.)
JD is on the Veterans Committee and in his opening statement he committed himself to keeping Fort Wayne's veterans' hospital in business and less wait time and more counseling.
The dramatic change we have already seen in the country will continue. "I respect the White House and the president, but I am here to work." "I work for you… This is your office-whether you are marching outside or sitting inside."
Question 1: How would you end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Kathy pointed out that a recent AP poll had given the new Congress a disapproval rating of 58% and related this to question 1.
JD: Has been holding meeting across Indiana to get people views, especially those of veterans. The troops for the so-called Surge have already been sent. Where are they going? How will they be used? Who will lead? Will we get monthly reports? He had many questions and stories.
One story concerned a disabled veteran whose legs had been blown off when he stepped on an IED. He told JD that he had seen the Iraqi who detonated it look straight at him as he activated the device. "They're not like us," JD quoted him as saying. "Not better, not worse, but different." US soldiers can't rely on the Iraqi soldiers. They may or may not show up; they may have sold their guns. "We have each other. We just don't count on them."
Some of us were disturbed by this anecdote and challenged the casting of 'Us'-trustworthy and familiar-vs. 'Them'-different, either murderous or unreliable (however understandable on the veteran's part after his terrible, life-altering experience). Unfortunately, we didn't have time for a discussion in depth. [I am reminded of our dear late friend Ernie Dickson, who said that it was his experience, in WW II, of looking into another man's eyes and then trying to kill him that had made him a pacifist.
JD went on to say that from now on Petraeus will give monthly reports to Congress and we should know by July/August whether the 'Surge' is going to work. He does not expect it to work and anticipates a decision to that effect in Congress by September/October." Meanwhile he is not in favor of cutting off funding. He faulted the Iraqis for not "standing up."
Question 2: Are you in favor of long-term US occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan?
Kathy introduced this by remarking that 70% of the troops on the ground disapprove of the war.
JD: Favors Murtha's position, pull out to the borders. He thinks we may be heading in that direction. We can't just walk away-"We blew it up." We should help with reconstruction. "But the Iraqis have to decide." Will it be a three-way federation? Or a Sunni-Shiite civil war? Are we just postponing, for example, a Sadr insurgency?
Question 3: Collateral damage, i.e., civilian deaths, in warfare is a major cause of international disrespect for the United States and Israel. Since this is increasingly a fact of modern warfare, how strongly would you rely on diplomatic and peaceful solutions to conflict rather than a rush to war?
JD: Is fearful that we may be in a situation of civil war.
MPJC: We knew that a year ago.
JD: Iraq may end up as a loose federation, splitting the oil money, or Sunnis
and Shiites may go on killing each other. The 'Surge' is supposed to prevent
civil war. (He told some more stories that I didn't manage to get down.) With
Bush's strategy "we're trying to buy more time to create stability"
until the warring forces can agree.
Iris: Maliki is playing both sides.
JD: Agreed, "He is a tool of warlord Sadr."
Iris: Billions of dollars have been wasted on 'reconstruction' to no result
and companies are not being held accountable.
JD: Mentioned the recent scandal of several tons of US banknotes packed up,
shipped out-and lost. The Democrats were helpless before the election but
now they are going into action: The Oversight Committee hearings started this
week. The Democrats are trying to achieve justice and accountability, but
it doesn't happen in a day.
"I know you want to cut off funds [to the military]. I'm not to that point yet." He claimed that 90% of people in Indiana Second District are against cutting off funds.
Kathy: Military expenses are forward-funded, so money to support the troops
currently in Iraq is already there for the next six months.
JD: Agreed and turned this against Bush. If Congress did vote to cut off funding,
Bush "could just thumb his nose at us."
Kathy asked about censuring Bush.
JD did not give a clear answer but talked about media disconnect -"What
you hear half the time is not what I said.
4. Where do you stand on a possible war with Iran arising out of the war in Iraq?
JD: Congress is united against it
Justin: Can we stop the president from sending troops to Iran?
JD: No.
Justin: Would it be legal:
JD: There would be a congressional revolt.
* * * * *
Our time was up at this point and another group was waiting, so we could not pursue question 4 any further or raise our remaining questions, but we did give him the question sheet and draw his attention to our congratulations in #6.
5. Are you in favor of universal health coverage? If so, what plan do you
favor for accomplishing this goal? Where do you stand on HR 676?
If not, what about the millions of uninsured citizens and their need for quality
continuous health care?
6. Congratulations on your cosponsorship of the Employee Free Choice Act! We encourage you to take a leading role in the struggle for the passage of this extremely important legislation.
7. What are your views on immigration and the situation of undocumented immigrants?
What are JD's stances on
8. the environment;
9. the death penalty.
12th March 2007
Congressman Joe Donnelly
207 West Colfax
South Bend, IN 46601
574-288-2780
Dear Joe,
Thank you again for agreeing to meet with representatives of the Michiana
Peace & Justice Coalition last month and thanks to Nathan Bennett and
Hodge Patel for arranging the meeting. We really appreciated the frank and
amicable exchange of views and the opportunity to reach a better understanding
of each others' positions on issues of great importance to all of us.
I enclose my notes from the meeting. I hope you will find them a fair summary,
but please don't hesitate to let me know if you find any significant omissions
or anything with which you disagree.
We should certainly like to take you up on your gracious offer of continuing
to meet with us every few weeks. Please let us know, either by telephone or
email to me or the MPJC listserv, when next would be convenient.
I hope all is going well with you.
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Domingo