Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to revoking congressional authorization for war in Iraq and to creating pre conditions or artificial timetables for withdrawal . I appreciate hearing from you.
When members of Congress from both parties voted overwhelmingly to authorize action in Iraq , we made a sacred commitment to see this war through to completion. Our troops must not be forced to pay for the equivocation of politicians looking to cut and run when the going gets tough. We must continue to fully support our troops in the field and continue to fund the essential mission they are completing.
Some have referred to Iraq as another Vietnam , yet they somehow miss the most important lesson of that war: when politicians abdicate duty in order to fight a war of political expediency, there are no winners.
We must unequivocally reject the defeatist attitude articulated by DNC chairman Howard Dean t hat this war is ” unwinnable ,” and instead commit to our troops, our country , and the world that victory is the only acceptable outcome in Iraq .
We must continue to set realistic milestones, not arbitrary dates, to measure the progress that is being made. For those who would say that the tone of the current debate is a healthy exercise in democracy , let me be clear. Debate over the strategy for victory is welcome , destructive second-guessing of the mission our troops are currently engaged in , without a viable alternative, is not.
Despite the rhetoric of those who would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, measurable progress is being made: ratification of a constitution, free elections, the training of Iraqi police and military forces , and the building of domestic institutions for a society to succeed.
As freedom and democracy march on in Iraq , I am encouraged by the recent actions of Prime Minister Maliki to confront the Shia militias and Sunni insurgents.
As we recall yet another milestone - no major terrorist attack on U .S. soil since Sept. 11 - we are reminded that the war in Iraq is part of a much larger struggle. The terrorists clearly understand what many in the Democratic leadership do not seem to grasp: this war in Iraq will determine who will be on the offensive in this new century - the forces of freedom and democracy or the minions of tyranny, fear and terror.
My meetings with Iraq ’s political leadership have given me confidence they will embrace the opportunities being given to them. They will make mistakes, just as we have through the years, but they will never give in.
In all of this, we must in no way minimize the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform and their families. I visited Iraq twice and saw the cost first hand. It broke my heart as I flew out of Iraq aboard a cargo plane with five flag-draped caskets - sons and daughters, parents and spouses who had paid the ultimate price. However, I also remember what one sergeant said as we ate lunch together in Baghdad . He had just lost a friend and he told me: “Don’t let my buddy’s blood be in vain. We have given too much to turn back; I’ll stay here as long as it takes.” This soldier will never give in. And I am committed to do everything in my power to support the troops and their mission in this critical push for victory.
Thank you again for expressing your support. I stand with you in support of the President and our troops. As this 110th Congress continues its work in earnest, join me in prayer for our troops who are far from home protecting our families from future terrorist attacks, and let us renew our commitment to victory.
Sincerely,
Jim DeMint
United States Senator