October 15, 2005

Open Letter To Democrats Everywhere

Now is the time for us to show what standing fast means. We need a strong voice from the Democratic Party leading a call of "foul," and showing America what is necessary for true leadership. The Bush Administration bullied this country into accepting their flawed rationale for the war in Iraq. But crying over the war and saying “we told you so,” doesn’t get us anywhere. It is time to suck it up and accept that this God-awful, bloody ground war is the war we have, and we cannot make it go away by withdrawing our troops.

What absolutely drives me to the point of maniacal laughter is the many, many people who led the call for war in Iraq, and called me and mine unpatriotic for not supporting the it, are whining now about the cost. Well, I have news for those people, war sucks and costs lives and money. Just like we told you before. And, this war, with its vague and yet lofty goals, without a supporting plan to actually do the work, is going to cost our nation dearly. However, leaving the job undone will cost us more.

If we leave now, if America deserts Iraq on the verge of civil war, which will likely bring in the Iranians, then Syria, then Egypt, where will we be then? With a huge loss of prestige and mud on our face, and a Middle East roiled with even more turmoil than before. A Middle East filled with nations that will distrust American goals and ambitions even more. An Iraq which will become the haven for terrorists which has lately become the excuse for starting it in the first place. Worse yet, if we abandon Iraq and let it slide into chaos, democracy itself will sustain a terrible body-blow. The hardline, old school authoritarian regimes will point to the blood seeping into the sand and say, “We told you so. Democracy is a pipe dream.”

Please do not allow this to happen. Keep our troops in Iraq, and go on the offensive against the Bush Administration. Point out the flaws in the President’s “plan,” point out the lack of funding and equipment, but do not vote for withdrawal. If Democrats vote to withdraw our troops now, the GOP will turn it in their favor and declare that whatever catastrophe comes from an early withdrawal is our party’s fault.