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Andrew Cline has been editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader since October of 2001. His writing has appeared in more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Review.Iraq resolution: GOP starts to wobble too soon
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Reader commentsDURING THE prelude to the first Gulf War, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher advised President George H. Bush to maintain his resolve, saying, "Remember George, this is no time to go wobbly."
Someone needs to deliver the same message to Senate Republicans. President Bush's surge has been at full force for only two weeks and already Senate Republicans are starting to bail on the war.
Pressure from Senate Republicans is good. It's about the only thing that will light a fire under President Bush to manage the war more actively and press for results sooner rather than later. GOP silence has let Bush get away with running the war on autopilot for too long.
The White House announced this week that it is considering plans to begin drawing down troops next year. That was directly caused by Senate Republican defections last week.
Unfortunately, some Republicans are going too far, calling for the President to withdraw from Iraq now. That would be just as foolish as "staying the course."
The surge is producing results. How do we know? We read it in The New York Times. If their reporters can see it, so should Senate Republicans.
The White House needs a plan for switching U.S. troops to a supporting role in Iraq by the end of Bush's term, if not sooner. Senate Republicans must hold the President accountable for making the necessary progress. But they should not let political pressure back home lead them to premature calls for troop withdrawal. Under Gen. David Petraeus, our forces are making progress in Iraq. Now is no time to go wobbly.
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YOUR COMMENTS
It's hard to call this war a mistake, because "mistake" implies an honest and worthy intention, marred by execution. Going to war in Iraq was, rather, collosally stupid; arrogant; myopic; and imperialistic. And yes, I'm a Republican.
Define "victory" in a war we never should have been in, and then explain how the folks who led us into it could achieve that. When you've gone 20 miles down the road in the wrong direction, you don't get to the right place by accelerating; you get there by turning around. The only hope for our troops (and our country) is also the only hope for those poor Iraqis who suffered under a native regime only to be "liberated" by a foreign one: we should pull out and let those people have the same right we demand--self-determination. We aren't helping anyone, least of all ourselves.
- Kate Rick, Wentworth
I have contacted both of our Senators from NH today because of their change in position as well as Rep. Shea-Porter to support our troops to victory.
My nephew has served two tours of duty in Iraq and is returning for the third time in October. Below is my mother's feelings as a grandmother of a soldier serving. I too join forces with her in supporting our troops. I too feel that the U.S. Congress is emboldening our enemies (Islamic terrorists) and endangering our military by all their political pandering. If you want to control the actions on the ground and become a field General, please join the military.
If you can't stand behind our troops; by all means, feel free to stand in front of them.
Proud to be a Military Family Member
Gail Giarrusso
Stratham, NH
Message from Dolly:I feel most of the blame for anti war activists is because of all the hateful statements from our congress . Their negativity has encouraged the terrorists and made a disgrace of our country. My father, brothers, and now my grandson have fought for our freedom, and the hope for others to enjoy the freedoms we have. Our troops are not only fighting a war in Iraq, their worst chalenge is our politicians.
- Gail Giarrusso, Stratham, NH
I feel that we must stand behind our President on this matter even if we disagree on his stupid immigration policy.
- Byron Bovaird, Northridge Ca
It seems, unfortunately, that the current trend in the free world points again toward wobbliness in facing a totalitarian threat.
- Thomas, Edelman
Unfortunately the current crop of politicians, both Democratic and Republican, lack the intestinal fortitude required for sustaining this war.
The President has made serious mistakes however, he, rightly so, has not waivered in the overall prosecution of the war.
I think we need to re-focus the debate and ask our selves a very serious question. If we pull out of Iraq, aren't we just playing into the hands of the radical Islamists?
I can only hope that whoever is elected as our next President has, atleast, the same political courage as President Bush. If we end up with some waivering, lets go with what the polls say, President, I fear we are all doomed.
- Brian Danley, Manchester
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