With Respect to the Troops

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) says it's time for the senate to lead.

I would caution any political leader who claims to speak on behalf of the political views of our men and women in uniform. Our military people are largely a mirror of our society, particularly in the ranks, and their political views are as diverse as our own. As one example, last year a survey of U.S. troops in Iraq indicated that more than 70 percent believed the United States should exit Iraq within a year. As I have said before, it is inverted logic to claim that we should continue to fight this war on behalf of the troops. The fact is that they are fighting this war on behalf of the political process. They deserve political leadership that is knowledgeable and that proceeds from an assumption that our national goals are equal to the sacrifices we are asking them to make.

These times require exactly this kind of smart, principled leadership. With a few more like Jim Webb and Russ Feingold, we can set our country back on its proper course. Remember this in 2008.