How did military families feel when they read that bit of news?
How did our service members feel when they read that staying through 2010 is the plan?
How do our service members plan their lives knowing that there is no escape from the war and the consequences for the next four years?
Republican Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio wants us to stay in Iraq until the job is done. How do we know when the job is done? How many more of our loved ones have to die until the job is done?
According to the Columbus Dispatch, here is what the Ohio Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Sherrod Brown, had to say: Brown...wants to see the military produce an exit strategy in the next 18 to 24 months, arguing that staying the course will dig the U.S. into a deeper hole.
Brown, who talked with the editorial board Tuesday, also wants to see competent Iraqi security forces in place, but he doesn’t think that can happen until the U.S. lets them know that American soldiers won’t stick around indefinitely.
"If the Iraqis think we’re not going to leave, there’s no incentive for them to do what they’re not doing now with security forces and political settlement," he said.
For those who predict chaos if we set a time to leave, Brown said, chaos already is happening.
"I’m not saying it’s going to be a peaceful country if we leave after two years, but we’re now refereeing a civil war," he said. "We’re not making Iraq safer, and we’re not making ourselves safer."
Here are the latest statistics from Iraq Coalition Casualties:
| U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: | 2742 |
| Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: | 13 |
| Total | 2755 |
If you want change in Washington, DC, you must elect new senators and members of Congress. Without a change in elected officials, it all becomes the same old routine --- scandals, ethics violations, lobbyists writing laws, war, lack of oversight, tax cuts for the rich, growing profits for oil companies and war profiteers, etc.
It is time for change.
