Letter: Cut-and-run would create ‘Pandora’s Box’

Monday, March 12, 2007 | 7:36 a.m.

In Carrie Steele's March 9 letter advocating the use of the War Powers Act of 1973 to order President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq immediately, we both may see our political aims met.

Ms. Steele wishes troops were withdrawn right now; "tomorrow", in fact. This war has been argued and argued to death and it's time to act, as I read Ms. Steele's letter.

For myself, I want to see at least one of the houses of Congress pass back to Republican hands and the unbearable baggage for the Democrats of a cut-and-run presidential nominee placed before the electorate in 2008.

Though in no way am I condoning a cut-and-run policy, the fastest way to accomplish both of our objectives is to cut and run, abandoning the liberation of Iraq and opening up a horrible "Pandora's Box" of death, despair and Shia law domination in the region.

As many national polls have stated since November, an American national humiliation, an emboldened worldwide terrorist enemy and a Middle Eastern regional slaughter - which will make the Balkans and Rwanda look like "SpongeBob SquarePants" - is not why the Republicans lost seats in 2006. The vast majority of the electorate (about 65-70 percent) wants to have a successful conclusion - whatever that may seem to us today - to the liberation of Iraq.

The "non-binding majority" that controls both houses of Congress these days knows this as well. They are truly scared to death of cutting funds and pulling out now, as Ms. Steele wishes to happen.

So the corrosive congressional undermining of our military and their mission begins, instead of the immediate cut and run Ms. Steele advocates.

Max Heeman, Blue Diamond