WILLIAMSON
FOR
U.S. CONGRESS
DEMOCRAT
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6
“The Future Can Be Ours.”
480-607-9726
Dear Friend,
President Obama’s decision to intervene militarily in Iraq was a prudent
choice because it was the only strategically logical choice available. To
allow the ISIS forces to maintain control of the Mosul Dam and gain more
momentum towards taking Baghdad would have been a poorly considered game
plan for protecting vital interests we have in the Middle East.
Our President has rightly pointed out that we, the Americans, did not
totally leave Iraq by our own choice. We wanted to keep some troops there,
but Prime Minister Maliki wanted us out, and so we respected his wishes.
Understandably, we do not want to go back into Iraq, but the spectre of an
ISIS-controlled Baghdad, and thence an ISIS-controlled Iraq, would not be
in the best interests for the prospects for democracy in the region, nor
would it serve U.S. and other western interests vis-a-vis our oil
possessions there.
How effective has the U.S. intervention been so far? Referring to the
retaking of the Mosul Dam, one New York Times article gives this
perspective: “It was not until President Obama authorized airstrikes by
the United States military on Aug. 7 that the Sunni fighters’ advance was
halted. Two days of concerted air assaults starting Sunday around the dam
then paved the way for Iraqi and Kurdish forces to reclaim the site.” (“In
Retaking of Iraqi Dam, Evidence of American Impact,” by Azam Ahmed, New
York Times, Aug. 19, 2014, www.nytimes.com).
The fact that American lives were lost in securing, rebuilding, and
establishing democracy in Iraq cannot be ignored. It is important to
protect what is still in the hands of the Iraqi government so that the
fragile benefits of liberty that are present in Iraq today can be
preserved. Yes, the political and humanitarian side of making Iraq strong
cannot be dismissed, but without our airstrikes and military aid, Baghdad
will fall and nothing will be left to build on that will keep up a
friendly relationship with the West.
We should not, in my judgment, send American ground troops into Iraq.
Haider al-Abadi, Iraq’s new premier agrees: “Mr. Abadi … said that he
agreed with Mr. Obama that American ground combat forces should not be
sent to Iraq and added that Iraq did not want other Western nations or
Arab states to send combat troops either.” (“New Iraqi Premier Backs U.S.
Air Campaign, Within Limits,” by Michael R. Gordon, New York Times, Sept.
25, 2014, www.nytimes.com).
When elected to Congress on November 4th, I will support the airstrikes
authorized by our President so that ISIS can be defeated in the region and
Iraq, under the new leadership of Haider al-Abadi, its coalition-building
new prime minister, can once again focus on growing its fledgling
democracy in an area of the world that can benefit from it. Those of
you–and I have heard from some–who advocate for a political solution in
that area should not despair, because “The United States has insisted on a
political solution so Iraq’s leaders can present a united front against
the onslaught by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which has seized
control of large portions of northern and western Iraq.” (“Maliki Agrees
to Relinquish Power in Iraq,” by Tim Arango, New York Times, Aug. 14,
2014, www.nytimes.com). The military intervention complements the
long-term goal of achieving political stability in the region.
If you would like to contribute financially to my campaign, please check
out my website at: williamsonforuscongress.com. Click on “Make a
Donation,” and, by means of safe and secure PayPal, donate to support your
dedicated Democratic candidate. If you wish to send in a check, the
information for you to do that is also on the “Make a Donation” page. If
you would like a yard sign, please let me know by calling our campaign
headquarters number above or sending me an e-mail. You may pick a sign up,
or I, or one of our volunteers, can take one to you.
The Future Can Be Ours if we acknowledge, difficult as it may be, that we
cannot abandon our ally, Iraq, in its struggles to fend off the aggression
of the brutally inhumane ISIS forces. We created the conditions for the
new government to form and now we must remain committed to helping it,
short of sending ground troops, so that it will get stronger and be able
to survive in the Darwinian political environment where it exists. It is
not just our oil interests that hold us there; it is, more than that, our
commitment to the Iraqi people whose fragile fledgling democratic
institutions need our support and nurturing. As it is said, “If you want a
friend, you need to be a friend.” We must befriend Iraq so that they will
be friendly towards us in the future.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
John
W. John Williamson
Scottsdale, Arizona