For the first time in United States history, the 7th District of Pennsylvania will have a three person race for the position of Representative to the U.S. House in November 2004. Furthermore, this race will be a referendum on the most contested national issue since the Vietnam War, the ongoing occupation of the nation of Iraq.
Curt Weldon, our current Republican Representative, likely would support the Bush administrations belief that Iraqs future is merely a matter of willpower, military muscle, money, and time until the first Arab democracy blooms in the desert of the Middle East. Although I am taking liberties with Mr. Weldons views, such ideas are the mainstay of the Republican Party as the of the writing of this editorial.
Mr. Greg Philips, the latest Democrat to try and unseat Weldon, has gone on record at several public events in support of the continued occupation of Iraq. To be fair, Mr. Philips would not have voted for Congresss authorization to allow Bush to invade Iraq, but he has expressed no plan to extricate United States forces at any time in the near future. Even when questioned about the possibility of internationalizing the rebuilding of Iraq under the auspices of the United Nations, Mr. Philips has expressed the opinion that this plan is not a viable alternative. He likens the United Nations to a tool of the United States due to the substantial funding our nation provides to this international organization. In the end, Mr. Philips lacks clarity on a very divisive issue that would differentiate himself clearly from Mr. Weldon.
I am Samuel Krakow, the Green Party candidate. I opposed the Congressional authorization for war. I marched with thousands of Philadelphians, as well as millions of other people worldwide, last February to protest the upcoming war. And now I adamantly believe the only way to prevent further bloodshed is to beg for the internationalization of the rebuilding of Iraq under the leadership of the United Nations. Although the United Nations is flawed in many respects, it is the only organization with the sanctioned authority to bring the stabilization so desperately needed in Iraq. Through its ability to unite far-flung nationalities under a united banner, United Nations troops have the greatest chance to stabilize Iraq in a multinational effort. However, if the United Nations refuses to lend aid in the rebuilding of Iraq, the United States must leave. To do otherwise only invites further escalation of the violence against United States forces. Iraqis may be grateful for liberation from Saddam, but they grow weary of our ineptitude in restoring civil order and basic services such as water and electricity. In many ways we are like unruly guests who are quickly overstaying our welcome. Soon the host will have enough of it and boot us out whether we like it or not. We can either leave peacefully or suffer a forceful and undignified retreat that will only get worse in its severity as we delay our departure.
In the end, the decision for the 7th District is clear. You can vote for the continued occupation of Iraq with Weldon or Philips, or to end it by voting for Samuel Krakow next November
