I must disagree with the editorial staff of The Forum on its support of President Bush's proposed policy to escalate the war in Iraq. Refusing to fund an escalation of the war will not backfire, nor does it show "callous disregard for the welfare of our fighting men and women."
Military commanders have already signaled their disapproval for what Bush would call a "troop surge" and is more correctly called escalation of the war. The Bush administration previously held the position that it would listen to the commanders on the ground, yet when those commanders oppose the administration, they are ignored and/or replaced.
As the mother of a young man currently serving in Iraq, I used my vote to help send the mandate the American voters gave our elected representatives this last election. This mandate supports withdrawal from Iraq and wants Congress to deny any appropriations for continuing and/or escalating the war in Iraq. Cutting funding for the war and denying funding for an escalation is not the same thing as cutting funding for our troops. There are currently enough monies in the supplemental appropriation passed by Congress in fall 2006 to bring our troops home quickly and safely, with all the equipment and supplies needed for this redeployment.
Regarding the political expediency of taking the courageous and moral steps necessary to force an end to this conflict, I join millions of Americans in saying, "You fund it, and you've bought it. The war in Iraq will no longer be President Bush's war and failure. It will be yours."
It is past time for Congress to end the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. Bring our troops home now, and take care of them when they get here.
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Lisa Drewing
Fargo
