We believe that since the American people cannot vote to end the war in Iraq, there should be a National Referendum on the issue. The National Referendum question would ask: Should American troops be pulled out of Iraq on the condition that the United Nations, on a temporary basis, provide a Peace Keeping force for the security and assistance of the Iraqi people?
The reasons for the second National Referendum question, which would state Should the people of Iraq hold a National Referendum on the withdrawal of United States and British troops from Iraq? - are:
1. According to a poll conducted by the "occupation authority"
(and reported by the Washington Post, May 13, 2004) "80 percent
of the Iraqis questioned reported a lack of confidence in the
Coalition Provisional Authority, and 82 present said they
disapprove of the U.S. and allied militaries in Iraq".
2. A USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll (April 29, 2004) conducted in
Iraq, found that 57% of the Iraqi people would "prefer that
U.S. and British Troops leave Iraq" immediately.
3. U.S. civilian administrator Paul Bremer said (The Associated
Press, May 14, 2004) that "If the provisional government asks
us to leave we will leave," while referring to an Iraqi
administration due to take power June 30. Bremer went on to
say, "I don't think that will happen, but obviously we don't
stay in countries where we're not welcome."
4. Secretary of State Colin Powell stated (Fox News, May 14
2004) "Were this interim government to say to us, 'We really
think we can handle this on our own, it would be better if you
were to leave,' we would leave."
5. President Bush stated in his Press Conference of April 13,
2004 that, "According to the schedule already approved by the
governing council, Iraq will hold elections for a national
assembly no later than next January. That assembly will draft
a new permanent constitution, which will be presented to the
Iraqi people in a national referendum held in October of next
year. Iraqis will then elect a permanent government by December
15, 2005."
If the Iraqi people can hold two elections and hold a national referendum on a constitution - which is a very complicated document - the Iraqi people are surely capable of holding a national referendum on whether U.S. and British troops should be withdrawn from Iraq.
There is a great debate occurring in the United States today that centers on what the United States should do regarding Iraq. However, this debate is not occurring in the Presidential Election. Both President Bush and Senator John Kerry have virtually identical positions regarding Iraq. Our troops will remain in Iraq regardless of who wins the Presidential Election.