YES!!! The nonbinding resolution IS a waste of time. What Congress needs to do is cut off funding for this disaster. It has been a boondongle from the start...inaccurate, "stacked" information, no bid contracts that have wased BILLIONS of dollars, and VERY poor management.

You sir, and those like you, are the cowards. Why is it that you presume to speak for those in our military, the majority of whom, last I heard, WANT to be withdrawn and allowed to come home. That being the case, your pipe dream about their "morale" being affected negatively goes up in smoke. In 2004, in the Presidential debates, Bush argued that he needed more time to train more Iraqis, while Kerry argued that more should have been trained by that time. Well, either way you look at it, now they have. There are over 300,000 trained Iraqi police and militia to do this job. Saddam is dead. The war, for Americans, should now just be one of support and training where necessary. We can withdraw to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, and the Kurdish portion of Iraq and offer support as requested by the new "democratic" Iraqi government. Remaining, in this supportive role, is NOT "cutting and running". This will allow us to bring many of our troops home, or redeploy them to Afghanistan where the war on terror truly is. Remember that Bin Laden guy? This article shows your cowardice. You would rather be a Bush/NeoCon shill, repeating their talking points over and over, than stand up for the troops you are supposed to represent. You should be ashamed for attaching your name to this drivel.

If I could find someone to tell me who we are fighting for, I might find a way to support this war. My problem is that I can't find any good guys to support. The Shia government has been involved in all sorts of atrocities...like rounding up Sunnis and drilling holes in their heads, while the Sunnis keep blowing up markets and mosques, killing innocent civilians. Give me one visionary, one statesman to stand up and call for peace, and I would rally around him with all the support the US could send. I always hear that we are sending the wrong message to the enemy...what enemy? Who are we fighting against? Who are we fighting for? And we are sending the wrong message to the troops. What message? Which troops? Surely there are soldiers who would like to come home...who don't like and support this war. To cast all soldiers in the same light seems to over simplify the situation. I have heard this all before...in the 1960's. Fight them there so we don't have to fight them here...support the troops...wrong message to the enemy...chaos in the region...spread democracy...been there, done that, don't want to do it again.

Apparently the most detrimental thing we can do to the troops' morale is exercise the democracy that we've told them we're fighting to defend. If Lt. Col. Francona wants a country run by martial law where dissent and debate are outlawed, he should come right out and say so, so his fascist tendencies are plain for all to see.

Cowardly? How about "treasonous". The moral midgets that concocted this non-binding B.S. should be tried for treason and shot. Congressman Murtha a hero? Yeah well,remember a guy named Benedict Arnold? He to was a hero before he was a traitor.

America was told it would cost 25-50 thousand military lives just to take Iraq, I think in the 3 day adventure we lost 2, or something like that. If the ACLU and alike would spend as much time and money trying to ban islam's (god of death) by legislation and education as much as they try to ban the Juedo-Christians ( God of life) , maybe middle-east freedoms could emerge. Ala wants YOU dead, I guess that’s OK, but only if they get the liberals first !! The U.S. military has NOT and will NOT LOSE anything, they can only be defeated by American cowards or by the word of GOD, and nothing else, surely not by a bunch of cowards hiding behind woman and children like Arafat saying, signing and lying night after night just so he can sharpen his knife.

The fact is,unless something different is done,we will lose.Another 20,000 troops wont do it. If the best that can be suggested is more troops,we should pack up and leave now. The fact is,no matter how many troops we send,it will not fix the problems in iraq. The problem is,every day we are there,we alienate more and more iraqis. I keep hearing these comments calling for "full engagement" or "taking off the gloves' Exactly how many more iraqis do we need to kill before they start to like us? 1000? 10,000? Is it 100,000? If we "take the gloves off" and kill a million iraqis,will that make the survivors like us? Will that make them want us to stay? Somehow,I think it will just make the rest of them grab a gun or a bomb vest,or just a stone or a sharp stick and go kill some more americans to get revenge for their brothers,sisters,husbands,wives,sons and daughters that were killed by american bullets and american bombs. Ask yourself this,if it was iraq,in our country,killing americans,no matter how bad our government might be or have been,wouldnt you fight. Wouldnt you be willing to die to throw the foreighn agressers out of your country? Why do you think the iraqis are any different than we are in that respect. As yourself how many americans an occupying power would have to kill before you welcomed them? Why then do you think that more troops,and more killing will help. The problem is,an offensive armys job is to use force to subdue the enemy. They control through fear of being killed.In general,if the cause is right,this can be ok. WWII was an example. We sent armys to defeat and control germany and japan. In this case,its just not workable,regardless of whether or not you think that the war is just or not. The more iraqis we kill,the more iraqis hate us. The more they hate us,the more iraqis go over to the "cause" and kill more americans. If the solution is to send more troops,and kill more iraqis,then we have already lost. If thats all we can come up with,its time to give up and bring everyone home. The fact is,an insurgency is the ultimate weapon of a modern war. So far we just dont know how to defeat it. It defeats an enemy by using their own stregth against them. The stronger the force we use in iraq,the more backlash we create,and the stronger the insurgency gets. Eventually,the attacker gets sick of all the death and expense and gives up. It worked in vietnam,it worked in afganistan,and now its working in iraq. We dont know what the solution is. The solution however is NOT more of the same. (this is often called "staying the course") We need to approach the problem from a different direction,or its not worth the money and the lives to keep trying,when failure is ineveitable.

If you support sending our boys to their deaths then you can claim to be "supporting the troops", but that stuff on your hands is not honor, it is the blood of boys who did not deserve to be put where they are to justify a failed policy that was always based on deceipt. You wrap yourself in shame, not glory. You disgrace your country by accusing patriots of cowardice. If it is so noble to go and fight in Iraq, then by all means; go fight in Iraq. There is no coward quite like the coward who sends others to their deaths while he huddles in comfort at home and blames those who had more sense than himself for the misery he has inflicted upon innocents. It is folks like Rick Francona that have made Al Qaida stronger and attracted a new generation of millions to hate America and threaten our country. What a miserable legacy he has left for his country. He should be, but is not ashamed. I am ashamed for him.

Typical Congress when the going gets tough cut and run.

Wow...this country is divided. Will it take another 9/11 (or worse) to bring us all together again?

1) Not everyone in the military is serving because they have no choice .. many do so out of principal .. my son being one of them 2) If this is truly a war we CAN'T lose , taxes should be doubled, a draft should be reinstituted and every available resource should be dedicated to winning the war (what ever that means) .. half assed approaches only prolong the inevitable defeat and waste lives ... so if our government and people are really not committed here (WE AREN't), lets get the heck out .. if there are long term consequences we will have to deal with them later after some very significant soul searching and rebuilding of our very broken military 3) think this government supports our troops? --> talk "supportive" or not means nothing ... support means clearly defining a clear objective, then providing all necessary funding , manpower and equipment to get the job done quickly and as safely as possible, aggressive diplomatic support and solutions, competant and CREDIBLE leadership (BUSH and CHENEY? ... not going to happen), provide agressive psychiatric and medical care for vets during and FOREEVER for their sacrifices so WE can all sit around and pontificate (this isn't happening, the VA system is broken, underfunded, and getting worse)... pathetic

It is easy to say what should be done when your butt is not in the grass. I think that retreat without victory is a cowardly and ill concieved non-plan. Instead of retreat, why don't the Democrats and rebellious Republicans come up with a real plan?

Sadly, it does not surprise me that some people equate opposing the war with stabbing the troops in the back, or that it is our patriotic duty to support the president, no matter what, or that if we disagree with the president the terrorists win. It astounds me, however, that anyone would still believe that Iraq had anything to do with 9-11, that we're fighting them there so we don't have to fight them at home, or that staying the course will result in a free and stable Iraq. Staying the course charted by Bush and his supporting cast of neocon draft dodgers has proven to be a losing proposition and a recipe for disaster, and there never has, nor will there ever be, a free and stable Iraq. One hundred KIA every month is too high a price for the troops to pay just so Bush and them can save face, avoid having to admit a calamitous mistake, and not have to face the consequences of their malfeasance. If ya'll like the war in Iraq, ya'll are gonna love the next one with Iran.

I see a lot of we can't win comments. What happens when it moves over here? More 9/11. Where do we withdraw to then?

Binding or Non-binding, the President and Vice President will do what they want. But if the democrats don't fund the war (they have already misused the money allocated), the President will blame them if the war doesn't go well. He has had several tries to get it right, but I don't see much progress.

it is odd that the president does not have the human fortitude to try to open dialect with the factions that are doing the most harm to our soldiers. i have seen first hand what an IED looks like. and it is not a question to me that i don't want to see another soldier face these insidious devices. since the begining of this senseless conflict that the president and his administration started, there has been no clearly defined strategy for achieving a victory. the only thing that i have seen is;(1)the numbers of the dead soldiers keeps rising (2)misdirection and blantant mismanagement (3)the families of the fallen have to deal with an administration that says that they care but,really do not.the only purpose of this conflict is :OIL and companies getting rich from the continous war

As I read the article about the non-binding resolution, etc. I thought I was back reading what the democrat congress did during the Vietnam war. The democrats lost the Vietnam war for us and to anyone who thinks these grandstand resolutions and comments don't hurt morale I can only think how me and my combat infantry unit felt so many years ago in Vietnam when we heard the same rubbish then as now. Don't the elected officials ever learn that they are helping the enemy with their political games!

France and Britain are the root cause of this problem, it started in 1917 when Britain took Bagdad in retailiation for siding with the Germans in WW1. Then to make matters worse Britain and France deciding what the borders of Iraq would be without any regard for the situation between the three groups they were putting in a eternal WWF cage match. Why do none of you know the history of this situation?

Douglas MacArthur once said "It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it." A corollary might be that it is also fatal to enter any war under false pretenses. Which is where we are now. So for those like Francona who see any disagreement with their view as softness or treasonous I say to them show me why we should be there? Why should my brothers in arms continue to die and be mutilated for the lies of this administration. Iraq is not about protecting our way of life, it is only jeopardizing it.

The Republicans in Congress, always willing to obfuscate and temporize, decried the substance of the resolution as either a meaningless exercise, or the worst message to send our troops. And as usual, they were wrong on both counts. It was with their support and lack of oversight that the Bush Administration has become mired in Iraq. It was on their watch that troops were sent in lacking body armor and uparmored equipment. The blood of 3100+ soldiers and the maiming of many thousands more is on them and President Bush. Like the cowardly bullies they are, they want to know NOW what someone else will do to clean up their mess. They want to ensure that political blame is paszxsed around, and they can escape the reckoning with the electorate that first began in November of 2006. Stated clearly, disagreeing with the President, especially one this incompetent and unrealistic, is a true measure of patriotism. Supporting the troops has NOTHING to do with disagreeing with a policy that ensures more soldiers die. Those that prattle on about "the morale of the troops", demean their intelligence and their understanding of debate in a democracy. The troops are stuck there precisely because there was no debate. The resolution embodies what the American public said in November to Mr. Bush--your policies are wrong and need changing. Get the troops out of a civil war. The cowards are those willing to send young men to their deaths for politics, not national interest. Psuedo patriots waving the bloody shirt are no longer to be feared--they are to be ignored.

Colonel, with all due respect, I disagree with your assertions. You state that, instead of passing a symbolic non-binding resolution conveying to the President that the majority of the country does not support his war strategy, Congress should cease funding the war, which would force a withdrawal. However, the goal at this point is to give the President a chance to curb his unqualified obstinance and comply with the demands of the American People- those whose sons are risking their lives. Congress is giving the President the chance he is due to act appropriately by abjuring his proposed troop surge. You say that this resolution shows a lack of support for the troops. I ask you, sir, who supports the troops? Does the despot who keeps the American people and their sons involved in a war they do not stand behind support the troops?- A proposition so extravagent it does not warrant an answer. The proper move for the President is to admit that he no longer has popular support for the war- popular support being necessary for any war in a civilized, free nation- and act accordingly. Sending more troops in the teeth of the people's will is imprudent, notwithstanding a decorated Colonel's views to the contrary. The Constitution allots Congress the power to declare war. Why? Because Congress was seen as having direct access to the people's wills; in short, the Framers thought popular support was neccessary for a war. Why would cutting off the funding for the war be a bad move? Because it would put the troops in hard ways, and as I have established, the troops are my primary concern. Cutting off funding would imperil them because (and this is obvious) funding is necessary for armor, food, and other indispensables. Therefore, saying that Congress doesn't care about the troops is like saying that the those who opposed the Vietnam war did not care about the troops. However, in fact, the very oppositte is true. Those who care about the troops do not want the troops deployed to fight in a war we should never have gotten into (at least in the people's view).

Francona is correct. The D party is scary at best and Anti-American at worst.

Over paid and underworked Congressmen and women have shown their true colors once again in a time when patriotic loyalty is paramount. The Dems will live to regret this course of action. God forbid if some terriost attach should occur while the Dems are so called in control. I dred to think what strategy might be employed. Negotiation is not an option with these Muslim fanatics. What really scares me is that Nancy Pelosi is but two heart beats away from the Presidency1

I voted for Bush four times (GHWB twice and Sonny Boy twice). At the time of the invasion I had reservations but trusted Sonny to handle the situation like his Father. Unfortunately, Sonny Boy did not learn the lessons of Vietnam and the Gulf War that his Father and Colin Powell learned - massive force, quickly applied is what wins. The so-called surge is nothing more that a Johnson style escalation. To be a real "surge" 40,000 or 50,000 more sets of boots should have been committed as fast as our aircraft could get the troops there. However, Sonny Boy knew that would not sell in Peoria and might actually result in his impeachment. This conflict has been bungled at the very top (Sonny Boy, Cheney [who should have known better] and Rumsfeld) from Day One. It is probably too late to save the situation in Iraq - let's not let the same crew drag us into war with Iran.

Can't disagree with the right to dissent. It is a basic right in this democracy. Saying that I must agree that a non binding resolution without doubt was a waste of time, and most likely will cost us the lives of many more of our troops at the hands of an emboldened enemy. That's a major concern, but what concerns me most, is we will exit leaving a very unstable country deep in civil war. Extremists throughout the middle east and elsewhere in the world will see it as an opportunity to step up the Jihad, disrupting the world economy to the extent that we will experience a major worldwide depression. The world runs on oil, like it or not. The Jihadist know that a disruption of supply could bring about a crash that would make 1929 look like a picnic. Their objective is just that, and when we cut and run from Iraq, watch them go to work on the moderate states such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the other oil producers of the area. How many million men and women will the United States have to send to that part of the world to bring stability back to the world economy. Oh yes how many 9/11's will the U.S. and Europe experience while this is all going on. I don't like the Iraq situation any more than most of you, but we are in it and better win. The last thing I want to do is come back and say "I told you so". After all I want your grandchildren and mine to have a safe secure world to live in. It never will be if we don't face up to and defeat the islamic extemists who would take the world back to the 8th or 9th century.

I think about this fact, unless you don't read and like being lied to. The Coward-in-Chief and his deferment VP and war cronies LIED about the invasion of IRAQ to you, me and Congress and the Senate. Simply put, they cooked the books and lied about the WMD's and the war. Does anyone of intelligence think this is another conspiracy theory? Most of the reports like the recent Pentagon report say they LIED. Want to read something interesting? Read just the first page of the 911 Comission report. The WH refused to cooperate in the 911 investigation. WHY? So, if you think the non-binding resolution hurts morale. What does the LIE about invading an innocent country do for morale when you die for a lie. Would you feel worse about the lies that is killing you or the non-binding resotution on there morale. What do you think that does for the troops that believed they were going to Iraq to find WMD and would be welcomed with open arms. This administration is a stranger to the truth and can't be trusted when they say they won't attack Iran. Maybe the non-binding resolution is more for the future than the present. The troops were already being sent before the Senate meeting.

If.. If according to the Dems "America spoke loud & clear". Why didn't it pass? The Dems are in charge of both the House & the Senate. So why didn't it pass? If America spoke why did Liberman win in Conn. He was a strong voice FOR the war. Something Dems like to quickly forget. Most of the Dems elected trended Moderate. Not radical left. People keep comparing this to Vietnam. How Bush is leading the US into a quagmire. Well who lead us into Vietnam? Why Pelosi's hero JFK. Who Escalated Vietnam LBJ. He created that war on poverty & great society. How did that "war" on poverty go. Another failed Deomcrat war. Oh and is Democrat not Democratic. Our government is a representative Republic. Which has a Democratic process. The parties are Republican & Democrat. Know the difference. Any Democrat who refers to themself or their party as democratic is anything but. Since after the 2000 election they suggested abandoning the Electoral College.. the foundation of a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC. The Electoral College gives the smaller & less populated states a voice in Our Democratic process. Who would listen to Rhode Island or Delaware if not fir the fact that they have weight & a voice thanks to this process. The Undemocratic Democrats saught to take that from them & Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont, Maine & the other smaller states. As well as ome of the less populated middle states Kansas & Wyoming as examples. In such a case winning in high density areas NYC, LA, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Phaladelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and the like could give you a simple Majority win. Which means 12 citties could determine any national election. Is that democratic? Back to the original topic. If after the "failed" D-Day attack where 10,000 were lost approx 2500 killed others missing or wounded. In ONE day! Why did the Republican (minorty) vote that this war was a bad idea? Now we hear how this has lasted loner than WW2 but look at the cost. One battle One Day 10,0000 killed missing or wounded. 2500 deaths in one day. How many people died on 9/11? 2973 I only count the victims. That was one day in a matter of hours. To think that this war has not had mistakes made would be foolish. However in the way we have had to conduct it. It has gone very well. The Russians lost in Afganistan in the 80's in case you have forgotten. We have helped them on the road to Democracy. The terrorists are trying to create a civil war in Iraq & the media is helping feed that line. However if it were a civil war ther are 25 million Iraqis. Why havent the 80% or 18 million not over run the 140,000 US troops to get at the 7 million who were incharge during Saddams rule. Civil war not likely. Seems so hypocritical John Murtha taking funding from the troops. Yet in the 70's he was willing to take money from fbi agents pretending to be arabs only not just then. He wanted the money only later. Our troops are to be supported. If this was true dissent as some claim where is the alternative? The Democrats talked about a surge when they were running. They complained Rangle that we needed a draft and more troops. Now Bush wants more & they don't. If you dissent you should have a counter offer and withdrawl & redeploy is not a viable action. General Patton said - you do NOT pay for the same real estate twice. That is a good lesson. Why send men in and the send them out only to send them back to where they were again. You have to gain ground control more area and squeeze the enemy till they give up or die. Did we get close to Berlin and say okay this has gone on long enough. Did we stop before Japan surrendered? Japan & Germany wanted control over land and the peoples in those areas. The extremists want 1 thing. Anyone who is not with them DEAD. So if you are not a muslim extremist they want you dead. Want proof. Who are the terrorists killing more of US troops or Iraqi citizens? The Iraqis are Muslim. If they are wiling to kill fellow muslims they are more than willing to kill all of us. Athiests look out. They don't care that you don't believe in any God. Christians, Baptists, Mormons, Buddists any religion or lack there of. How do you negociate with someone who's bottom line is that they want you dead. You can't remember that. It's a small thing that they want. It's the only thing they want. You dead. That's all. Then they can have peace. At least until they determine which sect of their religion is most right.

How is George Bush going AWOL not an act of cowardice? Francona has a serious case of selective amnesia.

I hear people call the U.S. murders. How quickly we forget. 9-11. The only murders are the muslims and their jihad.

Paul H. Black - If removing dissent is the first sign of a weakening democracy, how do you feel about the scientists calling for the rescinding of credentials for all scientists who do not buy into the man-made global warming theory?

To belief if this resolution was good or bad,it has the right step towards the president,to start working with congress. It is time for the Iragies to take the front lines and the U.S. troops to give the support, I don't belive I have heard any body ask, Why is it that the U.S. soldier takes 6-7 months to train for war and it is taking the Iragie soldier 3-4 years to train? Also WHAT has happend to the BILLIONS of dollars that was given or loaned to Irag?. For anybody to think that by sending more troops is going to win this war, you have to be dreaming. It is time for the Irag government to take charge of there homeland and let the Irag troops do the fighting with U.S. giving the Support. Nobody is saying the funds are going to be cut off from the U.S. troops all they are saying is who is going to be responsible for the that the president is asking for. So far this administration has no clue or not willing to give out information as to What has happen to the first BILLIONS of dollar. As far as looking for people to join the armed services just like Vetiam, the U.S. government was looking to the justice system to get recruits with soft type charges. It is too bad that the Republican Congress did not come up with any ideas on how to fix this war or worry about the U.S. troops when they were in control of congress. It is a mess now, it's time for the Democratic congress to TRY to fix and to get the votes to fix this war, WITH out HURTING the U.S. troops, and then try to concentrate on other matters on U.S. soil. The bottom line is this administration can not keep going the same path and everybody in the U.S. know that(Don't they).

Our forefathers fought for us,thru hardship and sacrifice...and we made it.Its our job to continue on and show the world what we are about.Terror is gripping the world and this people are giving their lives for it.Our ancestors gave their lives for us.If this was for oil how come we are still paying 3.00 a gallon.Someone has to fight against terrorism,if you dont do it for you; do it for your children and grand children.They deserve it.Free people have some rights.Opressed people have nothing to live for.As you will see if this stays the way its going!War veteran and proud of it!!!!!!

You have no right to judge congress. How is their resolution supporting the enemey. I hate reading crap like that from people like you sir. You are acting like you own the right to state your opinion as truth but critize someone else. Your experiences should make you more sound in judgement. The president led the country to a war without meaning and purpose and sir that was a coward act. The troops are smart enough to know that their congress support them but congress does not have to support the mission. I guarantee you that our troops felt that we abandon those in New Orleans. What about that sir. Please, think about who you are writing to when you sit in your throne to minimize the work of people that are not on your side of the issues. I am an american and I love my country and I have served my country but I do not support this war or the president. If that gives confort to the enemy I pray that AlQueda so called leaders come out of their caves and see if I will not blow them away in a heart beat.

The President refuses to admit at least publicly,that our involvement in Iraq for whatever reason it is that we are there, is a fiasco.All he can say is not going to cut and run, going to stay until we reach our objections,(what are our real objections for being there anyway?)and so on and so on. He also says that if we leave that region,that the people who want to do us harm will follow us back here,so I guess that means we will have to stay there for eternity since the enemy we are fighting against is an ever changing and evolving enemy every day. Want to talk about supporting our troops? How about getting them the equipment that they need to survive in that hostile environment.We have the most sophisticated armament that the world has ever seen over there, and yet we have troops going door to door and putting themselves in the worst possible danger one could ever get themselves into in a combat situation, without the proper equipment.There is no excuse for this.If we aren't going to get out of there, then lets pull out all the stops and get the job done and stop pussyfooting around at the expense of the fine men and women who have answered the call to serve.

The non-binding resolution is useless! IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH AND DICK CHENEY NOW!!! Likewise, let all of the Republican Senators and Bush and Cheney get in to the field of battle---stand a post---fight for whatever it is that they believe! Let then waive the flag and take the bullets themselves, personally and up front. Let them die for the Iraqi Oil that they so crave for themselves and their oil industry corporate supporters. Bring our troops home now!! Iraq is not worth another drop of American Blood!

Stop playing politics with our troops and let them do what they were trainded to do, get the job done, and come home. You can't expect them to win a fight after giving them the best training in the world only to tie their hands behind their backs and oh by the way blindfolding them too, then say, we still want you to win. It's not about the troops, it's about the the people we call politians who haven't got the nads to do what's right. You're in a war, get rid of politics and let the troops end this. Then administer your politics to restore order after everything said and done. You can't fight this war by conventional means. Fight the fight the way they do and it will stop. People die in wars, it's a fact. Terrible as it may be, innocents die as well as combatants. If you let terrorist get away with their brutal ways, then this government and you bleeding hearts get exactly what you deserve. Shame on all of you who tell our fighting sons, daughters, husbands, and wives that what they are doing has no purpose or meaningful right. Everyone of you who don't stand and fight for those who are weaker than ourselves are the true cowards. If I lived over there, I would welcome anyone, and I mean anyone to fight for me so I wouldn't have to live in terror on a daily basis. Not knowing if I would wake to see another day or see if my children would live to have life and enjoy children of their own. So, yes I support our troops and this war 1000% and more as should you. Stop arguing and bickering amongst yourselves, put differences aside and let our troops do what's right, get the job done, and then bring them home. And yes, it is true, we are not the world police. We should clean our own yard before we tell our neighbor to clean his.

Congress need to do a up down vote for funding the war effort. Let the cowards place their votes instead of having all the hogwash of the Reids, Kennedys, Kerrys, Hagels. I believe the Senators and congressman would continue to fund the war effort. they were all part of the original decision and I don't believe we can leave without victory. We did that once and we have the backstabbing Kerrys, Fondas likes. .This wasn't Bushes War this was the great USA

The conservatives had their way the last 12 years and what has the do-nothing congress (2-day work weeks) do but steal from the American people to fill their pockets. How many raises have they given themselves but we can give the working man a raise until they give more tax breaks to the rich. They attack a country that has done nothing to us and destroy it. They lie about the reasons to go there and then tell us we're bad for wanting to know the truth. They out CIA agents and destroy whole intelligence operations to protect their lies. They don't tell us how many people died for that little slip of the tongue. George lies to us over and over yet he's not held accountable because he's a "Christian" and a "Republican". They take our troops and extend there service in Iraq indefinitely, but that's not bad for the troops. They fail to provide body armor and armor plating for their vehicles as they promised, but that's not bad for the troops. They send our national guard to Iraq, but that's not bad for the troops. They give contracts to their buddies that line their pockets instead of those that make the best product, but that's not bad for the troops. They rubber stamp everything George has wanted for his and Dick's oil war for the last 6 years (how long did WW2 last), but that wasn't bad for the troops. George has not listened to any expert that disagrees with him since the beginning of this mess. He'd fire them or ignore them he's been like a loose canon, And guess what they were right and he was wrong all along. So now he's gone and prayed about over Xmas and talked to the same people that got us in to this mess. He's ignore the recommendations of the committed he had form to advised and then poof all of a sudden he's got it right. Its time for the American people to stand up and throw out the rest of this corrupt gutless bunch of liars who put their own welfare first out of office. They can't even stand for free speech because they can't face the truth. Bullets harm our troops not words in Washington. This congress needs to shine a light on all the stuff the last congress and the Bush administration has done to us. Lets see all the truths they've hidden from us.

Cowardly, huh? Well, it's a good thing that "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" military types like yourself don't set national policy. Unfortunately, we have a "bring 'em on" zealot in charge who stupidly "broke Iraq", so now "we own it". This obvious subtlety is lost on you, but fortunately, it's not lost on the brave congress men and women of the House of REPRESENTATIVES (Get it? It's the people, remember? Your boss?) Cut off funding for the troops to prove you have courage? Stupid. Send a message the the Idiot-in-Chief? Brave. Or would you rather that Congress continue to claim that the Emperor is fully and properly attired? The only drivel in this blog is gushing out of your silly mouth. What? Now I suppose you want to beat me up? Typical!

The American voter had spoken this past November. And true enough, the majority of Americans no longer wish to be engaged in Iraq, now for a period of time exceeding our participation in WWII. But the American people do not want to lose this war, something the giddy Democrats do not wish to deal with. No right-minded individual is against honest dissent as this is what this country is about. But let's have some intellectual honesty for a change. If you truly have the courage of your convictions, republican or democrat, stop the funding and bring the troops home. Non-binding resolutions in war-time are frivolous and dangerous. We can afford neither. And make no mistake, WE ARE AT WAR. Re-read centuries of history and do not forget what is really happening in our time. This enemy will not allow us to simply leave. They will follow, make no mistake. I suppose there are those of you out there who will need another twin-towers example or something far worse to possibly awaken your own misguided and frightened souls. For those of us that understand what is truly at stake here, I pray that will not be necessary, and that we will remain safe, in spite of your political fancies. This is no game.

The non-binding resolution is useless! IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH AND DICK CHENEY NOW!!! Likewise, let all of the Republican Senators and Bush and Cheney get in to the field of battle---stand a post---fight for whatever it is that they believe! Let them waive the flag and take the bullets themselves, personally and up front. Let them die for the Iraqi Oil that they so crave for themselves and their oil industry corporate supporters. Bring our troops home now!! Iraq is not worth another drop of American Blood!

It is not a matter of exercising democracy at this point. Any actions that do not serve to accomplish our primary objective, success in Iraq, not only waste time but serve to further the interests of our enemies. Not only the insurgents in Iraq, but the insurgents in AFG, Somalia, Thailand, etc. The words and actions by our elected representatives will jeapordize more lives than that of any troop surge by glorifying the acts of our enemy and reinforcing their tactics as a model to be emulated by others. Why do so many U.S. citizens seek truth in our enemies description of us as a "paper tiger" who cannot endure conflict in the face of casualties? Is this the same country as just a few short years ago?

You and other apologist for this failed policy of an idiot president love to remind us that we need to focus on the quagmire we are in and not worry about the pi55 poor leadership that got us here. NO! Our military, my dead cousin and my damaged son-in-law included, have been put, along with our nation, into a situation that a GOOD leader would not have got us into. And now you tell us we have no choice but to buck up and get behind this President and follow every escalation that he suggests? Then you go on to call the Senate cowards as they attempt some sort of response to the idiot in the White House that doesn’t involve getting on their knees and puckering up like the recently dismissed Republican Majority did for 6 years. LtCol Francona. I suppose it is a tribute to your military training that you never question policy. As a military person that is correct behavior. As citizens we have an obligation to question our leaders on every decision. The fact is our leaders are fallible; the fact is WE are fallible. Witness the past two elections. Sir you and anyone who adopts the credo of “My Country Right or Wrong” are simply bad citizens. What it should be is “My Country Right and ONLY Right” If you haven’t noticed sir the only wars that we have done well in are the ones that the American people have been behind and actually participated in. Part of that pesky Powell Doctrine. BRING EM HOME NOW! In case you haven’t noticed we are going to need them in Afghanistan and Pakistan.. Thats where the enemy has been all along.

Good article! It just shows by all the comments how narrow minded liberals are. Call for peace??? There will be no peace until all the major terrorist organizations have been destroyed. Bush is the only one that has the balls to stand up to people like Saddam and Al Qeida. Liberals just want to live in a society of false peace and thats all it will be if we fail. If we don't do something about the terrorists we will have a lot more 911s. It seems that everyone has forgotten about that little incident in New York. The democrats are causing us to lose this war by trying to get out early. President Bush said from the beginning that this war will be a long one. For the troops over there in battle...That is what they signed up for. When you sign the contract to enter the military you know that someday you might go to fight for your country and possibly die. Let the military fight the war not the politicians.

I'm sick of these neo-con jackasses that paint everyone that doesn't agree with them as traitors and America haters.Those are despicable tactics of every facist from The Soviets to the Nazis and have no place in a country that embraces free speech.

It was worse than cowardly, it was blatant aid and comfort to the enemy. The house leaders should be billed for wasting the taxpayers money on this and murtha should be brought up on charges of attempted extortion for the threats against the military budget unless the queen gets her private c-5. i have friends and family over in iraq and to a person, they have said we are winning. the propaganda seen on the mass media is misleading at best. there are now millions of free people that may get to live a life without the torture chambers or rape rooms. there was no outcry when billy boy sent thousands to fight in somalia. same thing. this day of mtv 30 second addhd mentality news where the me now generation should remember that it took longer to find those darned rose law firm billing records than it took to defeat saddam. and yes, there have been wmd's found in iraq, you would have to be a fool not to be able to find the evidence of the sarin gas shells that were booby trapped as ied's. everybody has centrifuge parts under the rose bushes... get real... the liberal facist/communists just want to get rid of free speech and take everything we have to include our freedoms. communist manifesto... yep, conquer from within...

I think Mr. Francona is exactly right, However, let's not forget that the Congress and Senate have every right to be cowards if they so choose. I think we will learn from our mistakes. To me the real cowordly thing to do would be to withdraw now. We don't need to like the war, after all since when has anyone involved in war ever liked it. I think we need to make sure our decisions are responsible not just popular. I object to the notion that losing just a little over 3000 troops in several years is alot. Since when has anyone in any previous war lost so few troops? I think if it was such a mess like some say then we would have lost at least 3000 troops each year or every 3 to 6 months. So, what would happen if we just pulled out? Remember Afganistan in the 1990's when we just turned our backs on it thinking all would be well? Remember just after 9-11 the leaders of our country were saying we can't do that again. To me this is an equally or more dangerous situation. To just leave would be very irresponsible.

1. The resolution WAS cowardly. Nonbinding? why even waste my time? 2. The resolution supports the terrorists - they can now smell a victory over the USA, thanks to the democrats. (maybe this is Vietnam again) 3. NOT ONE DEMOCRAT has come up with a plan or said a word toward victory over these terrorist thugs (let's not forget who sets off the car bombs) If the thugs stopped blowing up cars would this still be a "war". 4. Conservatives may use fear, sure, but flying planes into building scares me - I was in NYC during the first attack, thank God I wasn't there for the second, and I really don't know where the thugs (who have hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal) will attack next. Will they? won't they? Liberals don't seem to talk about it. 5. How many more building have to go down? How many more "infidels" (read you and me) have to die before the Left in this country realize that "they are coming"? 6. Iraq, if left to it's own -at this point- will turn into another bastion of thuggery, like somalia, Syria, Sudan, etc. New thug bases will pop up and they will train, like in Afghanistan, to kill us. 7. Lastly, no dissent is being squashed - it is just that you are WRONG, and your protests support our enemies. 8. What a mighty nation we would be if we all stood as one, while our troops where in the field.

America is no longer a super power we have become a paper tiger, Korea, Viet Nam, and now Iraq...mmmm why dont we just have a constitutional amendment declaring ourselves as a neutral country. That way we can just build a little picket fence around our shores and sit back and watch the rest of the world blow itself up. Sleep well tonight for there is a soldier standing guard for you.

Cowardly huh? Okay big mouth, here's your chance to show how brave you are. Go re-enlist for duty and clean up Iraq. The Army needs tough guys like you. Surely a tough guy like you won't be imtimidated by non-binding resolutions?

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