Letter: Reasonable exit strategy would boost U.S. image

Monday, June 13, 2005 | 8:56 a.m.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., has presented a reasonable exit strategy from Iraq. Her House Concurrent Resolution 35 calls on the president and Congress to create and execute plans to withdraw United States troops and replace them with security forces from Iraq, neighboring states, the United Nations, and the Arab League. Further, it calls for the reconstruction of Iraq and for returning control of Iraq to Iraqis.

The United States does not have enough troops in Iraq to maintain security and those who are there are getting worn out. Recruitment of new troops is way down and a draft would be political suicide.

"Staying the course" means spending $100 billion a year and depending on the development of an Iraqi police force whose officers take such jobs because they're the only ones available. Further, many Iraqi police are reluctant to shoot their own people because they see the insurgents as patriots and the occupiers as the enemy.

Polls now show that most Americans believe that the war in Iraq was a mistake. Woolsey's proposal gives us a chance to improve our image around the world, reduce the threat of terrorism and support our troops by bringing them home.

JERRY BITTS