Letter: Political parties are missing point in war

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 | 7:03 a.m.

Most Democrats, and a small but growing number of Republicans, have had it with the war. They've read President Bush the riot act and given him until September to turn things around , or all bets are off.

It's despicable, however, that neither political party's motivation for the September deadline comes from overwhelming guilt for their part in enabling the president to start an unnecessary war.

Nor are they overwhelmed with sorrow for the ongoing loss of American troops. Oh, no. It's something a lot more personal, a lot more pressing, and a lot closer to home than the war in Iraq that has them motivated.

It's something that's frightening and fast approaching. It's something that could rock their world and forever change their lifestyle, change their place of employment and change their financial situation.

It's something they're dreading and something they can't bear to lose. It's something that could take away their power and put an end to their perks.

It's something that's all about them. It's about their egos and their poll numbers. It's about what the future has in store for them and their political parties, not about whether our troops have a future. It's something looming on the horizon that keeps them awake at night.

It's something that will exert more pressure and more influence on what Congress and the president do than anything else would. It's something, and maybe it's the only thing, that will finally compel Congress to end this war.

It's Election Day 2008.

Joyce Segal, Las Vegas