A letter

Here's the letter I just sent to my Congressman:

Dear Representative Pascrell,

I am deeply troubled and sorely disappointed at the Democratic House leadership's decision last night to take all the teeth out of the proposed legislation to limit the war in Iraq and to prevent war with Iran. As I understand what has happened, House leaders have decided to de-couple the provision of funding from Bush's actions regarding the war in Iraq, thereby giving him essentially free reign in Iraq for the rest of his term. Even declaring the war illegal if it continues past March 2008 will not stop him, since there is no way that issue could get resolved in the Courts before his term has expired -- unless, of course, he decides to remain in office without elections.

Meanwhile the decision to drop the portion of the bill preventing Bush from attacking Iran, short of a first strike by them, will be read by Bush as essentially another AUMF, giving him de facto power to attack Iran at will. Whether he will choose to use that power is not clear, since almost everyone knows that this country would destroy itself by doing so, but the Bush administration has never shown itself to have any awareness of realities on the ground, so I wouldn't trust him any further than I could see him.

Frankly, I think this decision by the Democratic leadership only reinforces the image of Democrats the Republicans love to perpetuate -- that of a bunch of weak frightened wimps who do not have the guts to stand up for what they believe.

I would encourage you and your colleagues in the House to push back on these measures and try to put some real hurdles in Bush's path.

Sincerely,