03/17/07: Steve Burns: Democratic leaders can do better

Democratic leaders can do better

Should we, as a March 14 editorial suggested, give a pass to House and Senate Democratic leaders because they are "trying very hard to end the war"? To answer that question, let's do something the editorial did not and examine the legislation those Democratic leaders are writing.

The Iraq resolution drafted by the Senate Democratic leadership calls for withdrawal of "combat forces" from Iraq by March 31, 2008, except for troops considered "essential" to "protecting coalition personnel and infrastructure," "training and equipping Iraqi forces" and "conducting targeted counter-terrorism operations." Is there a single soldier now in Iraq who could not be kept there under one of these pretexts?

And the House Democratic leadership's bill would allow President Bush to keep U.S. troops in Iraq until August 2008. If current casualty rates continue, that means another 1,400 U.S. troops killed and another 12,000 U.S. troops wounded.

Some people, like Tina Richards, the mother of a Marine who has served two tours of duty in Iraq and was slated to return for a third, have had enough of this war. The editorial criticized her for confronting Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) in the halls of Congress, claiming her actions were perhaps "not the best strategic move."

The Editorial Board can have Obey. I'm standing with Richards.

Steve Burns
Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice
Madison