Letter to Sen. Barack Obama

Senator Obama:

You are one of America’s greats and I believe you will be President of the United States even if it is not in 4 or 8 years. Also, I believe there is a Democratic Congressional majority because of your contribution. That majority is already doing wonderfully for us concerning domestic affairs, but its unwillingness to sustain the fight against our enemies concerns me. There are more American lives at stake regarding Iraq than just the soldier’s or Marine’s. I write you because I feel that all of us have a vested interest in keeping Iraq from becoming another terrorist forward operating base. Many of us understand the cliché, “you can’t have your cake and eat it, too,” but the cliché has significance when it comes to Iraq policy. We cannot talk of a withdrawal of any kind and honestly believe that Iraqis will be able to keep regional powers from interfering more than they are already, or that they will be able to quell terrorism or sectarian violence once we have gone. We have to establish order to allow Iraqis to build and broaden stabilizing organizations, which organizations can then help themselves and their own people. As of now, though, the democratically elected Iraqi government exists only because our forces keep a modicum of order or, rather, keep chaos from bringing that government to its knees. Once we withdraw, we should expect overwhelming chaos to ensue. It is a possibility that is more real than Iraqis defending themselves from increasing violence that will touch everyone in the region and in the United States. It is important for our leaders to understand that protecting us, U.S. citizens, is a priority transcending all political ambition.