I received the following update from my congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). I was sicken by this "update". I would like to share the update and my response with you.
Here is the right honorable Ms McMorris Rodgers:
Dear Friends,
I enjoyed seeing many of you while I was home for the August break. I traveled all throughout Eastern Washington and discussed a wide variety of issues including the 2007 Farm Bill, the State Children’s Health Program, access to health care, the Iraq war, immigration and how to keep our children and communities safe.
We returned to Congress this month eagerly awaiting the reports from General David Patreaus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on the status of the Iraq war. I feel they gave a fair and honest assessment of the current situation in Iraq. While some progress has been made, especially in the Anbar Province, they also pointed out that success has been uneven and will be neither quick nor easy. I was pleased that General Patraeus recognized the desire we all have to bring our troops home. The key is to be able to do this from a position of strength and success, not failure. Rapidly withdrawing our troops at this point would have devastating consequences and make a difficult situation worse. The lack of political progress at the national level remains troubling. The Iraqis’ must step up to the plate and prove that they can maintain a stable and functional government. I hope members of both parties will take a thoughtful and objective look at Iraq and determine the best way to move forward together.
And my humble response:
Dear Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers,
Please stop repeating the party line. No other reports from Iraq agree with the General’s assessment. In fact, the Pentagon Report that came out yesterday doesn’t agree with General Patraeus’ report. It was a complete sham to push the war off on the next President.
Devastating consequences for who? The President – definitely. The soldiers fighting and dying there? The families that wait for their return in substandard housing? The wounded that return to a broken healthcare system – I don’t think so. Halliburton, Blackwater, all the other defense contractors and oil companies – Yes. The Iraqis that are dying at a rate of almost 100 per day? The 4 million displaced Iraqis? The Mideast in general? Can’t Saudi Arabia, with our billions of dollars in military aid, defend themselves against Iran? Maybe it’s the American Corporations that have moved there offices to Dubai to avoid paying US taxes would be devastated.
I support the troops, the wounded and their families. Who do you support? Bring them home now.
Sincerely,
Paul Gavin