Residual Forces

Back on April 23rd I sent both of Minnesota’s US Senators an email regarding Democrat Senator Harry Reid’s remarks that we have already lost the war in Iraq.

I got the usual auto-respond from both of their offices, and figured that was that.

But, I received real responses from them both. Coleman’s came yesterday, and Klobuchar’s today.

Here’s the email I sent them both.

Sen. Coleman & Sen. Klobuchar,
I’m a blogger and your constituent here in Minnesota who is very supportive of the mission in Iraq and the war on terror in general. I posted the following letter that was sent to Harry Reid. I believe it is very important you remember who we are dealing with, both in the war in Iraq, and the war for resolve here at home.

Defeating America’s enemy overseas is far more important to me than anything else. I implore you to consider victory as an option. DC Politics as usual is going to do nothing but embolden America’s enemies. I implore you to take your criticism, if legitimate, to the President and DoD directly. By publicly exposing the negatives and exposing the hardships we face, you’re just giving the enemy a playbook to follow [to defeat America].

War is hell, and this war is unlike one we have faced before. Patience, especially from Congress, is needed to ensure the evil we face cannot win. You each have you own stances and agenda, mine is for a safer stronger America who radical Islam is afraid of, not confident that we will leave a battle when politics at home goes bad.

At the least, please read the quote from JFK that is included below. After reading that, I hope you remember an America that at one time didn’t make defeating America’s enemies a political football or election issue.

If we walk away from this enemy today, it will get stronger and more dangerous, and we will have to deal with that threat in the future. It is time America stood up for itself, and stood up to our enemy. I ask you both find the resolve to do the same.
Sincerely,
Andy Aplikowski
***
Blaine, MN

Their responses couldn’t be more different.

Sen. Coleman’s

Dear Mr. Aplikowski :

Thank you for contacting me concerning Senator Harry Reid’s (D-NV) recent remarks on the American military presence in Iraq . I believe Senator Reid’s recent comment that the “war is lost” was both careless and, frankly, wrong.

Iraq is the most important issue facing our country today. I spend a great deal of my time in Washington meeting with our military commanders and diplomats to get a full understanding of what is happening in that country. I have visited Iraq three times, most recently on April 22, 2007, to gain a firsthand look at the situation on the ground and I continue to spend a great deal of time listening to our troops and their families back home. Above all, I honor the incredible sacrifices Minnesotans in uniform are making everyday, and pledge my strongest support to them and their families.

Senator Reid’s comments about the U.S. military efforts in Iraq were irresponsible and counterproductive. To claim that the war is lost sends the wrong message to our troops on the ground - troops who have never lost a battle in this conflict.

Regarding the troop “surge,” in a briefing before the Senate on April 25, 2007, General David H. Petraeus , Commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, told me that it is simply too early to judge the success of our new strategy in Iraq because we do not have the full force in place to execute the new strategy.

My time in Iraq gave me another opportunity to reflect upon the tremendous courage, skill, commitment, and patriotism of our soldiers. These are extraordinary citizens that have a great sense of confidence in what they’re doing, a willingness to sacrifice - and sacrifice they have. Minnesota and America have much to be proud of, and I was truly humbled by the things I heard and witnessed from our soldiers in Iraq .

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me. I value your advice. If I may be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate

I think this is great, and he did address the bigger point I raised as in Harry Reid’s comments.

Sen. Klobuchar’s

Dear Andy:

Thank you for expressing your views on the war in Iraq. Your comments reflect your strong opinions on this critical issue, and I appreciate your taking the time to email me.

As you are well aware, our nation faces dangerous enemies overseas and we must remain vigilant to protect against the terrorist groups that would do us harm. I am committed to enhancing our nation’s homeland security and to pursuing terrorist networks abroad. I believe the war in Iraq has distracted us from this effort.

Our troops have done everything we could have asked of them in Iraq. They deposed an evil dictator and they continue to perform their duties bravely and honorably for the past four years. However, the situation in Iraq has devolved into a civil, sectarian conflict. I do not believe it serves the interests of our troops or our nation to have U.S. soldiers remain in the middle of this conflict.

That is why I joined the bipartisan majority in the Senate in voting for a bill that provides full funding for our troops in the field, but also proposes a change of course that would begin the process of redeploying and reducing our combat forces from Iraq, with the goal of bringing the bulk of our combat troops home by next year. After that time, a limited number of forces will remain to help train and equip Iraqi forces, to provide force protection, and to perform targeted counter-terrorism operations. A phased withdrawal from Iraq will compel the Iraqi government to stand up and push for the political reconciliation between Iraq’s main ethnic groups. As U.S. military commanders have repeatedly stated, only a political solution will end the violence in Iraq. And withdrawing our forces from Iraq will allow us to focus on the true threat terrorist groups pose around the globe.

Thank you again for communicating your thoughts.Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator

Now, A-Klo responded as I would expect any Democrat to. She refuses to even acknowledge that terrorists are fighting us in Iraq. I find it incredibly hard to believe that members of the US Senate can’t put two and two together. As in, that 3 US troops were kidnapped by al Qaida in Iraq last week, and have yet to be found.

Her true pacifist side is clearer than ever, and her unwillingness to take a fellow Democrat to task for speaking recklessly at a time of war is shameful. I have to seriously question her ability to think outside the Democratic box to keep America safe.

Just look at what she is suggesting. Withdraw our troops from Iraq, the central front in the war on terror, and basically negotiate with our enemies. Would we have negotiated with Hitler to deal with Italy or Japan in WW2? She has neither the desire nor the ability to win this war or make decisions regarding it.

Losing in Iraq will mean losing the war on terror. Iran will not take our diplomats seriously when they know that is all we will throw at them. Folks, we are at war with Iran. I wouldn’t be surprised if they played a role in the kidnapping of our troops, or if they are not in Iran right now.

For crying out loud, this is a global war that knows no borders. Our enemy is becoming increasingly emboldened  by the words and actions of Democrats like Sen. Klobuchar. I more than anyone wishes the war was over in Iraq, but just making it so will not deal with the problem we face both there and across the globe.

There are people who want us dead, and will do anything they can to make it so.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

We need more people in DC who can think and speak that way again so that our enemy knows we are serious about defending ourselves and our friends across the globe. And shame on anyone who seriously or politically thinks that we can just walk away from this fight, and not pay a much large price in the future.