Ron Kind met with constituents opposed to the Iraq War at a meeting in La Crosse Monday February 19. Organized by Mike Brandt, Arena, the twelve participants included mostly veterans and people with children and grandchildren in Iraq. Marion Lang and Jody Slocum, Red Cedar Peace Initiative (Menomonie) attended and compiled these notes.

Kind Meeting Notes February 19, 2007

As you know, Ron Kind voted against “the surge,” against escalation of the war in Iraq. It was a non-binding motion. His statement in the debate is full of good thoughts about the need for change.

However, at a meeting in La Crosse, held February 19^th , when repeatedly asked to state a definitive action he would take, Kind was unable to offer any vision or direction. It was a familiar scenario --Kind agreeing with about every word that was said and then having no plan of action to match.

At the meeting, Mike Brandt, meeting organizer from Arena, argued that cutting off funding is the only way that Congress can end the US involvement in Iraq, the only way to block the power taken by the President. Brandt said, “Where we are today, is not about money. With $360 Billion already spent, not effectively, how could anyone possibly give the Commander another $100 billion, Why would any member of Congress want to do that? “

Brandt argued that the bills now being developed by Murtha and others to “protect the troops” – legislation limiting numbers of times a soldier can be deployed, and legislation prohibiting introduction of troops that do not reach certain standards of training-- would be vetoed by the President. Brandt said that cutting off funding was the only definitive way to change the course in Iraq. Kind agreed with this.

Kind spoke about positive moves in Washington focused on Iraq spending and Iraq strategy including “stepped up oversight” and “potential subpoena options on the horizon.“ Kind also mentioned Henry Waxman’s investigation into the $9 billion contractor fraud. Kind spoke about Democratic maneuvering for consensus and expressed interest in John Murtha’s bill. However, when asked if he would vote for Murtha’s Bill, Kind waffled saying, “It’s hard to say, it’s not in writing yet.”

At one point Kind said something to this effect: We can’t cut funding because we can’t get people out soon enough, they will be harmed. At that point everyone in the room sort of mumble and rumbled.

“All occupiers eventually leave,” said one participant. Kind said that was not true and that the US continues to occupy Germany, Bosnia, South Korea. So does that mean he never sees the US leaving Iraq? Are we still occupying Germany ?

The twelve of us from Eau Claire, La Crosse, Menomonie and Arena, represented Vets for Peace from several communities, Parents Against the War, and vets with service in the Korean and Vietnam War, people with service in Germany, and people who in addition to serving in the military had grandchildren or children serving in Iraq. One participant represented a group actively petitioning for impeachment of Bush and Cheney. One couple have a daughter serving in Baghdad, and another woman has a son, now returned home and on permanent disability because of post traumatic stress.

The stories the families shared about lack of clothing and supplies, the need for hemcom bandages and training in how to use them, difficulty in getting paid, lack of healthy conditions, lack of training, were deeply disturbing. They spoke about the presence of an additional carrier now positioned in the Persian Gulf ready for an attack on Iran this spring. One woman shared about her son’s attempted suicide after he returned home, and now said he is living in a homeless shelter for vets. She said he was fortunate to have found good care because so many others who return emotionally and physically disabled do not receive the care they need.

One woman shared an article from The Washington Post documenting the poor care returning soldiers receive at Walter Reed Army Hospital. More troops coming is an impossible situation at this facility which is overcrowded, and where records are lost and people fall through the cracks.

The 45 minute discussion was intense as participants repeatedly interrupted Kind asking him to state a specific action he would take to effectively end or reduce appropriations for the war. Kind continued to nod his head in agreement with almost everything that was said, never verbalizing any plan or definitive action to turn his agreement with everything said into legislative action.

Apparently Kind is being mentioned as a possible candidate for governor. “No one will win in Wisconsin as a Democrat who does not have a strong anti-war position,” he was told. Interesting.

Kind appears to be working within the party as consensus is built. But when asked, “If you did not have to consider consensus, what would you do, what would your position be?” he had no direct answer.

We urge you to contact Kind’s office and to press him to take a definitive position and to oppose the supplemental funding. He needs to hear from you.

608-782- 2558