http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09/16/Opinion/Time_has_come_to_end_.shtmlThe nation heard a sober progress report on the war from Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the American ambassador to Baghdad, who asked for more time and patience. Their two days of testimony before Congress were followed by a nationally televised speech to the nation by President Bush, who made it clear that the burden of ending this war will fall to his successor, a new Congress and the American people.
Nothing the Congress and the public heard last week changed the choice we face as a nation - either continue with Bush's ill-defined and open-ended military commitment to Iraq, or begin an orderly and strategic withdrawal of U.S. combat troops in concert with a full-scale diplomatic surge in the region. We strongly come down on the side of those, including a majority of the American people, who believe it's time to start winding down the war and for the United States to put the responsibility for that miserable country's future where it belongs, in the hands of the Iraqi people and their leaders.
The United States is 4 1/2 years into this disastrous war at a cost so far of nearly 3,800 Americans killed, thousands more horribly wounded and almost $1-trillion in national treasure. Yet, the president refuses to acknowledge that his way has failed. If there were ever any doubts, Bush's speech made it clear that he has no strategy for ending this war, much less winning it.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
