Dear Editor,
After years of preventing any serious legislation on Iraq from reaching the House floor and months of pressure to have a REAL full and open debate, the Republican leadership of the house has offered to hold a sham “debate” this week.
There is absolutely no substance to the bill the Republicans have offered. Rather than debate the war in Iraq, the manipulation of pre-war intelligence, the lack of a plan to win the war and the failure to supply our troops with the armor and tools they needed to be successful, members will simply be allowed to vote either yes or no on a bill to “support the war on terror.”
No amendments will be allowed for debate or votes. What’s more, the time allotted for this sham has been much reduced from the original 17 hours.
The American people deserve more.
This blatant politicization of American and Iraqi deaths is an insult to the men and women of the American military who are serving in Iraq with no idea what their mission is or when they will be allowed to come home. It is an insult to the Iraqi public, 80 percent of whom want to see the American occupation end immediately and it is an insult to the American public who deserves a Congress who will act honorably and honestly on issues of such import.
We deserve a true debate on Iraq in Congress so we can bring our troops home.
Kristine Dillon, Gilroy
