Some irony here - Bob Hall, former Marine Vietnam era Vet and 5 time MASS. legislator, me (4 years Marines 66-70, 26 yrs Warrant Officer in Army N.G. (all as a noncombatant) (treasurer) and Wendy Fjelstad married to career Air Force/Air Guard 4 tours in Mid East. (Pres. of Vote No to Cut and Run) the group that fought the "Bring the Troops home now" for the last 2 years all got our letters to the editor published on 8/12/07 WSJ. Opposing views can be seen by following link above.
Question: Should Congress sustain the troop surge in Iraq?
War is unwinnable, thanks to Democrats
If Forum columnists Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack think that Iraq "is a war we just might win," these Bush critics will find themselves the subject of attack. There is no chance to win the war, or even achieve stability in Iraq, because the Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, have staked the future of their party on an American defeat, and they must now do everything possible to deliver that defeat. That Bush's inept leadership of the war gave them the chance to advance their party at great cost to America will be his worst legacy.
O'Hanlon and Pollack recommend Congress extend the "surge" until 2008, but the Democrats were saying it had failed before it got fully under way. What happens in Iraq no longer matters; only what happens in the media.
Robert A. Hall, Madison
Continue surge to honor commitments
Indications are that the "surge" may need to be sustained. Gen. David Petraeus should be the one to determine the number of troops required to maintain and improve stability in Iraq. The number of troops needed there should decline as security levels improve and political stability is attained.
It is ironic that the opinions of two individuals from the Brookings Institution, both describing themselves in the State Journal Forum section as liberal and anti-war, seem to have more weight politically and with the "mainstream media" than Petraeus has.
Our military won the war in short order in Iraq. What has been won by "the surge" is the perception that, despite the sniveling and politicization of this war, the U.S. intends to honor its commitment as specified by the Congress and as a condition accepted by the president, that we not only topple Saddam Hussein, but stay until a stable government is in place.
If a continuation of "the surge" is needed to honor our commitment, it should be continued.
Jerry Johnson, Sun Prairie
Continue surge; drop 'Cut and Run'
If it takes "two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration's miserable handling of Iraq" to convince people that the military surge and new commander is working in the Iraq war, so be it!
Before the war began, the President pledged, "When the Iraqi troops stand up, we will stand down." That statement and the definition of victory when the Iraq nation has established democratic institutions and achieved a stabile security for its citizens is as clear an exit strategy as any commander in chief has ever declared, even after a war is over.
What is our exit strategy from Germany, Korea, the Balkans?
The surge is working. In spite of the Democrats in Congress and their investment in defeat, led by our own embarrassing Sen. Russ Feingold and meekly mimicked by U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the constant white flag waving is not working. Their "Cut and Run" retreat is not a winning strategy for anyone. However, the surge is working.
Yes, if we have the will to continue real support of our troops we will win in Iraq. Is now the time to finally ask, "Do you want to win or lose in Iraq?"
Bill Richardson, Middleton, treasurer, Vote No to Cut and Run
Petraeus, troops need help from homefront
We are winning in Iraq and now we need to win at home.
Our troops are performing brilliantly under Gen. David Petraeus and they deserve our continued support until their mission is completed.
Even the liberal mainstream media can no longer ignore the success our military is having in Iraq. Those on the left, who hold a deep-seated animus towards President Bush and the U.S. military, can be expected to continue their drum beat for withdrawal.
But the improving situation in Iraq calls for a fresh assessment by fair-minded Americans, who understand the importance of success and the seriousness of retreat and failure.
We can either have confidence in Gen. Petraeus and the successful efforts of our troops, or we can let the defeatists at home prevail in their efforts to bring about failure in Iraq.
Wendy Fjelstad, Cottage Grove (President, Vote No to Cut and Run)
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