Sam Nunn critical of Bush Iraq policy

Sam Nunn built a reputation as "Mr. Defense" during his 24 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The conservative Georgia Democrat chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee for a number of years. Needless to say, Nunn has established his credibility as a true patriot who puts our national security first.

The Naples Daily-News reports that Nunn has criticized George W. Bush for rejecting the Baker-Hamilton findings and plans for a troop surge in Iraq.

"The Baker-Hamilton report gave us a way out," Nunn said. "The president didn't have to agree with everything (in the study group recommendations) but he's rejected all the major recommendations of the report."

"We are in the middle of a civil war (in Iraq). This is no longer the United States vs. terrorists. It's Sunni vs. Shiite. The United States cannot referee a civil war."

"This troop surge is too few and too late. I hope it will be successful, but I don't expect it to go well."

"The biggest threat now is from terrorists who have no country. The United States must team up with other countries to make sure nuclear material never falls into the hands of terrorists," Nunn said. http://tinyurl.com/y7bbpt

Sam Nunn is right. Our involvement in Iraq has been a distraction rather part of the war against terrorism.

* JIM WEBB: FIGHTING POPULIST

Newly elected U.S. Senator Jim Webb D-VA is quickly developing a reputation as a fighting populist with a strong concern for economic justice.

The New York Times (January 12 edition) reported:

"Webb said Thursday that he wants to “re-emphasize his commitment” to issues of economic fairness. Among other things, he expressed concern about the growing gap in compensation between corporate executives and average workers."

“Every single speech that I made for the entire campaign, I laid out the fact that we must get back to economic fairness — that we measure the health of a society not by what is happening at the apex, but by what is happening at the base,” Webb said.

“We measure the health of a society not simply by what the stock market is doing,” Webb added, “but whether the people who are doing the work of society are truly receiving a fair share” of the benefits." http://tinyurl.com/yf4mgq

The Richmond Times Dispatch has also profiled Webb's populist advocacy.

"Webb said he is going to be part of a group that includes Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D., that will work to develop economic-populism legislation and "intellectual approaches." Dorgan is a populist and advocate for family farmers; he recently wrote a book called "Take This Job and Ship It: How Corporate Greed and Brain-Dead Politics are Selling Out America." Webb said he has also had discussions with newly elected Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio."

"While Webb didn't get into details, he hinted at interest in "fair-trade" efforts to protect U.S. workers in an era of globalization."

"We can't simply put demands on the American work force in a global economy and not ask for a level playing field with workers all around the globe," he said. http://tinyurl.com/wl5xq

I applaud Senator Webb for his willingness to speak out against corporate greed and for the interests of American workers.