Robin Hayes, NC-08, Fails to see Successes in Iraq

I'm going to fess up. I've been one of those Democrats who has failed to see the successes in Iraq because of an overwhelming need to prove that George W. Bush is a failure. I've changed my mind and it's something Larry Kissell said that opened my eyes a bit.

From the beginning, Larry has said,

“We staged our way into Iraq in one year, there is no reason we can’t stage our way out in one year.”

That certainly makes sense. However, some Republicans like to pull out their cute phrases like "cut and run" instead of actually giving careful consideration to the implications of stagnation in Iraq.

In today's Fayetteville Observer, Larry Kissell is quoted as saying that we have achieved a level of success in Iraq

Kissell said America had three missions when it went to war: searching for weapons of mass destruction, capturing Saddam Hussein and bringing democracy to Iraq. All three have been accomplished.

When you put it that way, it cuts the legs off of the Republican argument that bringing the troops home will harm their morale and self esteem. I've never understood why Republicans would wage war or continue waging war as an exercise to build self esteem among the troops. Here, Larry Kissell solves that problem. The three main objectives have been achieved. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have accomplished what they were sent to do. It's time to bring them home.

Don't get me wrong. The violence in Iraq and the civil war that appears to be escalating are a public relations nightmare for George Bush and his remaining supporters like Robin Hayes, who would prefer to leave only after there are outward signs of success. They still have no plan, just a wait-and-see approach. They have a strategy for stagnation in Iraq and prefer to bog our troops down in escalating violence instead of bringing them home.

Larry Kissell has a better idea.

“We need our troops home as soon as possible to be able to stand ready for the next phase of our global war on terrorism,” he said.

Robin Hayes' strategy for our troops in Iraq includes another tired phrase, "stay the course". This translates to more of the same and I think our troops deserve better than that. Don't you?