VP Hopeful Brooks 11-Point Peace Plan for Iraq Deserves Second Look

Hartford, CT, March 17, 2006 - It is not often that America has the opportunity to invite new rational thinkers into the complex mix of international relations. Now thanks to several prophetic policy proposals forwarded by independent vice-presidential candidate Webster Brooks, we have an outside voice with credibility to turn to.

Brooks issued this statement, “The United States must acknowledge that stability [in Iraq] cannot be achieved without the substantial involvement of Iran.” Sounds like the same headline that has circulated for the past few days from Baghdad to London to LA. Right, except Brooks made his statement on November 30, 2005. It was part of his 11-point peace plan for Iraq, a well-detailed blueprint for solving the complex problems between the US and the autonomous factions in Iraq.

Brooks was a leading independent contender for the White House when he merged his forces with Daniel Imperato. Now this duo is gaining momentum from such forward thinking, led by Brooks third point of his Peace Plan to involve Iran in direct talks to alleviate the crises in Iraq.

The BBC notes that British Foreign Officer Jack Straw welcomes an open exchange with Tehran. Especially since the British policy of keeping on close terms with local politicians and militia leaders in the southern section of Iraq, which worked quite well until the start of this year, is starting to collapse.

Brooks plan assigns a productive role to the international community and addresses Iraq's complex border security needs. It contemplates Iraq enjoying all the emoluments of a rising nation, while possessing sufficient political flexibility to maintain its independence from bellicose neighbors. It employs safeguards that mitigate against internal subversion. Most importantly, this strategy proceeds from a sober assessment of where Iraq is today, and lays the basis for its evolution as a mature nation-state in the future.

To see the whole text go to: www.indepedentamerica.org

“To include Iran,” Brooks argues, “the U.S. must be politically sophisticated enough to understand that Iran does not want to control Iraq, nor establish a protectorate over Shiite dominated Southern Iraq. It was in Iran's interest that the U.S. deposed Saddam Hussein. With Saddam gone, Iran's goal was to prevent the installation of a puppet U.S. government in Baghdad that could be used as a staging area to invade their country. With U.S. forces already positioned in Afghanistan, the Iranians are sensitive about being militarily surrounded by a superpower with a penchant for calling them the "axis of evil," and publicly debating whether they are next on the U.S. hit list to be invaded.”

“Despite the invective the Bush administration has directed toward Iran and its nuclear ambitions, Iran was one of America's most reliable allies in dislodging the Taliban and al Queda from Afghanistan. Iran also remains concerned about Afghanistan's flourishing opium trade spreading to the region. Iranian agents shared intelligence with the U.S. about Taliban and al Queda base locations and escape routes. The Iranians also helped capture and hold Taliban fighters. By 2002, the Iranians and U.S. officials had established a back-channel called the Geneva Contact group to help apprehend and roll up Taliban forces.”

Brooks concludes, “The Iranians are well positioned to exert a moderating influence on Iraq's Shiite majority, and they have an interest in doing so. The U.S. and Iran share the same imperative in Iraq; neither side wants chaos or a civil war.”

Imperato/Brooks campaign coordinator Joseph Oddo reinforces the reason American voters should look to this new independent coalition. “Sadly it is typical of American foreign policy to only take action once a crisis is at hand. Brooks’ innovative solutions prove that qualified independents can be trusted to resolve the delicate issues of our nation. I sincerely hope that more citizens will become convinced of the credentials and conviction of the Imperato/Brooks team. Enough to suspend their reluctant support for the established parties, neither of which is putting forward as thorough a solution as Imperato/Brooks.”

About Webster Brooks

Webster Brook was raised in Detroit where he jumped into politics with John Conyers in the sixties. In 1990 he ran for Mayor of Washington DC, then five years later founded the Draft Colin Powell movement which led to guest appearances on C-Span, Crossfire, and Inside Politics.

For press inquiries contact:

Joseph Oddo
Imperato/Brooks 2008
(703) 338-0200
oddo@daniel2008.com

This release was published on openPR.