ccun.org, September 29, 2007

DOVER, NH - 

The stunning admission by Democratic frontrunners Clinton, Obama, and Edwards that they might keep U.S. troops in Iraq beyond 2013 "is tantamount to an announcement of a permanent occupation that could cost U.S. taxpayers $5 trillion and bankrupt any opportunity to address health care reform, education, jobs, or any other domestic policy initiatives," Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today.

In remarks prepared for a speech in New Hampshire tonight, Kucinich is expected to challenge the credibility, motives, and fitness of the Democratic frontrunners to serve as President "when they either voted to go to war or voted to continue the war. They took us into this war, and, with every vote for continued funding, they have kept us there. Now, they're telling us we may be there forever, diverting trillions of dollars from desperate domestic needs to financing an illegal, immoral, and endless war. It is time to end this war, and it is time to expose their hypocrisy."     

Kucinich noted that "Senators Clinton and Edwards were among the most outspoken advocates in 2002 for giving President Bush the authorization he wanted to invade and occupy Iraq. And, until he announced his candidacy this year, Senator Obama supported the war every time he voted to continue funding it. Whatever they say on the campaign trail, they have all voted in support of this war - repeatedly."

"It is absolutely astonishing that these candidates have the audacity to portray themselves as pro-peace and anti-war when their statements, their actions, and their votes reveal just the opposite. They must be held accountable and answerable for their roles in this illegal, immoral, and disastrous war, and, that's what I intend to do."

Kucinich will be the keynote speaker tonight (Friday) at the North Grafton County Democratic Party Annual John F Kennedy Dinner at the Peabody Lodge in Franconia, NH. Tomorrow, he will be in Durham, NH for an afternoon "Conversation/Dialogue" with students and faculty at the University of New Hampshire.

Kucinich is the only Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the war authorization in 2002 and every supplemental funding appropriation since then.   

In October 2002, eight days before the House and Senate approved the war-authorization resolution, Kucinich released his own analysis of intelligence and information that accurately predicted subsequent events, discoveries, and consequences. It pointed out that there was no connection between Iraq and the events of 9/11 and that there was no credible evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. He led the fight in the House against the war and rallied more than 120 other Congressman to oppose the resolution. Kucinich's analysis also argued:

• "This language is so broad that it would allow the President to order an attack against Iraq even when there is no material threat to the United States."

• "A unilateral attack on Iraq by the United States will cause instability and chaos in the region and sow the seeds of future conflicts all over the world."

• "Unilateral action against Iraq will cost the United States the support of the world community, adversely affecting the war on terrorism."

In an interview today, Kucinich said, "Any candidate willing to continue risking the lives of our brave men and women in uniform, continue destroying the lives of millions and innocent Iraqis, and continue embracing the corrupt foreign policy that led us into Iraq and  keeps us there is not fit to serve as President of the United States of America."

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DOVER, NH – Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will be campaigning in New Hampshire tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday).

Among his public events over the next two days:

Friday:

6 p.m.: North Grafton County Democratic Party Annual John F Kennedy Dinner,
Peabody Lodge, Franconia, NH

Saturday:

2 p.m. - 3:30 pm: Presentation/Dialogue with university students and faculty, University of New Hampshire, Holloway Commons, 75 Main Street, Durham, NH.

Kucinich will also be meeting with staff in the Dover Campaign Headquarters Saturday, 340 Central Ave., Dover, and meeting privately with supporters.

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Contacts:

Washington, D.C.: Sharon Manitta, (202) 506-6683, Sharon.manitta@kucinich.us
National HQ: Andy Juniewicz, (216) 409-8992, ajuniewicz@aol.com
NH HQ: Susan Bruce, (603) 749-2818, susanb@kucinich.us

Website: www.dennis4president.com