The Games (Anti-War) People Play

I don't mind criticism of the war effort even when I disagree with the criticism. What I object to are criticisms that I don't think are intended to help us win. Too many people see our troops in Iraq as a tool to leverage political advantage.

Let's take a look at one I mentioned a while earlier, shall we?

From The Corner comes a campaign to call for the withdrawal of 20,000 American troops after the mid-December Iraq elections:

Today in the Senate, facing a Democratic resolution on Iraq, the Republicans offered their own call for President Bush to come up with a plan. They didn't go nearly far enough, but clearly our call for a concrete plan is gaining momentum.

It's time for the next step. Help our "20,000 troops home over the holidays" campaign place billboards in the home districts of Republican leaders.

Help place billboards in Republican leaders' home districts

To date, over a quarter of a million people have signed our call to withdraw 20,000 troops from Iraq over the holidays. That withdrawal should be linked to the completion of December elections in Iraq - and it should be the first step in the concrete plan for Iraq that President George W. Bush owes the American people.

We shouldn't let America's brave men and women go another day without having such a plan in place. That's why we're turning up the heat with our Billboards and House Signs campaign over the next month.

Will you add your voice and your financial support to this effort right now?

Well that's nice.

You should understand what is happening now in Iraq as we timed rotations of units into and out of Iraq to provide additional security for the October and December votes:

The usual troop level this year has been about 138,000, although that has been strengthened to about 160,000 this fall out of concern for extra violence during voting in October and December.

Got that? We have temporarily increased troop strength in Iraq by about 20,000 troops by timing the rotation of troops. Without any change in policy, our strength will decline by about 20,000 in the new year. No campaigns are necessary for this to happen. No need to go out in inclement weather and plant signs. No need to donate money. In fact, there is no need for any honesty on the part of those promoting this campaign at all.

Will these campaign sponsors claim victory when our troop strength comes down? Will they claim it is a beginning of the big bug out?

People are playing games with our troops. I hope the press calls critical attention to these partisans who see the White House as the ultimate objective of their war--and to Hell with the troops who are mere cannon fodder in their plans.