A Plea To Save Our Iraq Mission

We’d be a little nuts not to have doubts about either the surge or the fate of our Iraq mission, after so many disappointments along the way. But, we’d be insane to toss the mission in the trash, along with the nations and peoples who depend upon the United States to defend their opportunities for greater freedoms, security and development. Our president and his generals, who have more information and responsibilities than any of us, believe we have a decent chance to overcome.

The Democrat Party and some Republicans believe that they can better micromanage the war, or abandon it in effect by publicly undercutting the president, the mission, the resolve of Iraqis and others abroad, and the potentials through resolutions disagreeing with the president’s course.

That is entirely unacceptable.

If there was ever a time for every straight-thinking blogger and blog reader to stand up, loud and clear, this is it.

Hugh Hewitt has launched a petition drive to deliver a clear message to Republican legislators.

Yesterday General Petraeus testified that the Biden/Warner resolutions and those like them encourage the enemy.
What does it mean, "to encourage the enemy?"
It means that the enemy gathers will and strength from the prospect of a collapsing political will to seek victory in Iraq and stability in the region.
With that additional strength and will the enemy redoubles and retriples efforts to kill American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.
In short, it means that more Americans will die.

This is the Pledge, and the site to sign up.
Every blogger and blog reader should, and encourage every other blogger and blog reader.

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit, says:

This is the sort of grassroots pressure that Democrats have been feeling for a while, but it's new to Republicans. I think that Hugh's right to start this drive. Opposition to the surge is wrong (see what Petraeus said) and it's also political suicide for the Republicans.

Now, it’s time for everyone else to stand up. Do it now. Please.