16 JUL 07 / "US House Votes to Withdraw"

The Democrats are at it again. The House voted last week 223 to 201 to pass HR 2956 "The Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act," which, if enacted into law, would require troop withdrawals to begin from Iraq within 180 days.

The Democrats are counting on a military defeat in order to ensure a political victory in the presidential election. By pushing the debate forward months in advance of the report General David Petraeus will give the Congress in September, Democrats hope to further disillusion the American public and set the stage for what they consider to be an inevitable troop withdrawal before the elected Iraqi government is strong enough to survive -- the results of which will disastrous for the Iraqi people.

However, experts like the military historian Frank Kagan are working to convince the American people that victory in Iraq is still possible. The situation on the ground is improving in Anbar province, this should be cause enough not to give up the war for lost. It's only lost if we stop fighting.

The blogs and first hand reports from soldiers and Marines tell a more complete story that most mainstream media outlets. The reenlistment rates of those who have seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan is very high.

Military spending needs to be increased to deal with the strain military operations in theatres have placed on equipment. Troops could use more time between deployments. Reserve and National Reserve carrying too much of the load.

We won the war to remove Saddam Hussein from power. What we've been trying to receive in these subsequent years is far more difficult.