George W. Bush’s ill-fated decision to frighten this nation into an illegal, immoral, ill-conceived war against Iraq, a country that posed no real threat to us, will haunt him throughout history. Now most Americans believe the U.S. should never have undertaken this calamitous military misadventure and support bringing our troops home.

Let’s look at the current reality in Iraq. Thus far in April, an average of 25 American soldiers have died each week, a rate that could bring the total to more than 4,000 by year’s end. The unrelenting violence currently claims approximately 50 Iraqi lives daily, with total civilian deaths estimated at more than 60,000. Our allies in this conflict are drawing down their forces. The various factions in the Iraqi government continue to squabble rather than deal with pressing issues.



Aware that the American public no longer believes his original pretexts for war (WMDs, al-Qaida/Saddam connection, etc.), Bush and his apologists have fabricated an inventory of dubious justifications for “staying the course.”



We must give the “surge” an opportunity to work. One definition of insanity: Continuing to do the same thing over and over, each time expecting a different result.



A bloodbath will ensue if we leave. If the warring factions in Iraq are intent on more sectarian violence and ethnic cleansing, keeping our troops there only forestalls the inevitable.



