Posted on 01/31/2007 1:39:09 PM PST by PhiKapMom
January 31, 2007
Dear xxxxxx,
Thank you for your letter regarding the War in Iraq. I appreciate your input.
First, I am extremely proud of our men and women in uniform. Our military has performed bravely in the most difficult of circumstances and they have done a superb job. They and their families deserve our thanks and admiration for all they have sacrificed in service of our country.
I have visited Iraq, and I continue to monitor the situation closely.
It is vitally important for us, when considering Iraq and the War on Terror, to remember who we are fighting and what is at stake. We have an obligation to future generations of Americans that we achieve victory in the War on Terror. The terrorists we are confronting today in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere would be on our doorstep if we retreat. It is better to confront and disrupt terrorists who would do us harm in their own lairs in far away lands rather than allowing them to once again launch attacks on us in our own cities.
Overall, the debate over troop levels in Iraq is not what matters - victory is what matters. I believe now is the time for us to look within ourselves and ask "Do we want to win?" If our goal is simply to get our troops home and not to win the war, then we should bring them home today, not over a long period of time. We will be doing our troops a great dishonor if our objective is to leave Iraq yet we leave them in harm's way. Let's bring them home today if we do not intend to defeat this evil.
If we are committed to making the world safe from terrorism in the future, then packing up and leaving Iraq because we are unsatisfied today with our progress would be an unwise move. Al-Qaeda and other radical Islamic terrorists in Iraq will certainly seek to seize control of all or parts of Iraq at the first sign of American retreat. This would allow al-Qaeda to re-establish a base of operations in Iraq to plot terrorist attacks, replace their terrorist training camps we destroyed in Afghanistan and fund their nefarious activities through one of the world's largest oil supplies.
We all mourn the loss of the more than 3,000 soldiers who have been killed in Iraq. Each one of these is a brother, sister, father, son, mother, sister, friend or neighbor who we will never see again. They gave their life so we and our children can live a life free from fear of the next terrorist attack.
We must recognize our troops have eliminated two evil regimes that threatened international security. We cannot forget our soldiers have killed or arrested approximately 55,000 terrorists and insurgents. Almost every one of those 55,000 would have committed horrific acts of terrorism against innocent Americans if they had been given the chance.
We must also understand what motivates our enemies to commit terrorism. In their twisted worldview, there is no middle ground or moderation. Their vision for the Middle East would move the region farther and farther away from societal norms and into an even larger confrontation with Western Civilization. These terrorists and their ideology call for the absolute submission of individuals to a combined church and state. They discourage artistic expression, punish intellectual curiosity and deny people the right to pursue their entrepreneurial talents. All the while, they treat women as if they were property instead of people -prohibiting them from being educated and stoning them for not wearing veils. They throw hand grenades into churches and synagogues. They ban satellite dishes and Internet service so their propaganda will go unchallenged. It is a mindset that believes everyone should submit to their rule - that everyone must believe as they do or be killed. It would have disastrous implications for the United States, Israel and all of Western civilization should we cede control of Iraq and yield to the brutal terrorists who cling to this evil way of thinking.
Radical Islamic terrorists attacked us in 1979, 1983, 1993 (twice), 1996, 1998, 2000 and on September 11, 2001. Before 2001, we retreated after each and every attack, thereby inviting our attackers to grow bolder. Each subsequent attack was worse than the one before it, all leading up to the September 11 attacks that killed 2,819 and harmed many more. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, called the United States "a paper tiger" and said "dealing with the pampered and effeminate Americans will be easy." Today, the followers of this ideology are fighting us furiously as we try to rebuild Iraq, and we are on the verge of repeating the same mistake we made so many times before - retreating.
If we believe the violence we see on television is not part of an ongoing strategy, then we are mistaken. Terrorists have learned from our past retreats that Americans can be easily broken of our resolve to finish a fight if it becomes drawn out. Terrorists believe we will give in if they can make us weary of death and destruction. Of course, we all do not wish to see this detestable type of behavior, which is why we must end it by winning, not retreating.
Every American should remember bin Laden has said, "The most important and serious issue today for the whole world is this Third World War raging in [Iraq]." Also consider the words of Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's top deputy, who said, "We must establish an Islamic Authority over as much territory as [we] can to spread [our] power in Iraq and extend the Jihad wave to the secular countries neighboring Iraq."
The decisions we make about our role in Iraq and its future are being watched closely. Iran, for example, has funneled weapons and money to terrorists in Iraq, hoping a defeat for America is a victory for Iran and their plan to acquire nuclear weapons. Keep in mind the haunting words of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he said, "We will soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism . Undoubtedly, I say that this slogan and goal is achievable, and with the support and power of Allah, we will soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism and will breathe in the brilliant time of Islamic sovereignty over today's world." In January 2007, he also told his supporters to "[be] assured that the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel will soon come to the end of their lives."
We must remain mindful these individuals are determined to see our annihilation, and that their blustering and threatening must be taken seriously, not dismissed and pushed aside. It is clear leaving them alone will not appease them, as they have attacked us repeatedly. We ignore these threats at our own peril.
Mistakes were made after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled and we should re-examine our tactics in Iraq. But leaving Iraq will not stop the attacks against America. We must keep in mind that Iraq is a central front in the larger war on terror. We aren't simply fighting Iraqi militias protesting an "American occupation," we are fighting terrorists from across the globe who seek our defeat and ultimate destruction. They have waged this war against us for more than 25 years. It is not the democratically elected Iraqi government that seeks our withdrawal. Rather, it is the terrorist insurgents who fight to prevent democracy from gaining a foothold in the region. They hope the United States will flee and abandon their mission, leaving them with the upper hand.
Our enemies are smart and patient. They know that while they cannot defeat us outright, they can frustrate and outlast us.
As I stated earlier and I emphasize again, it is time for us to look within ourselves and ask, "Do we want to win?" For the sake of our security and our future, the answer must be an emphatic "yes."
Thank you again for your letter and for taking the time to share your opinion on this most important issue. I appreciate your views, and I hope that you can appreciate mine. Please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Tom Coburn
United States Senator
First Senator Inhofe and now Senator Coburn have answered my email to them asking for their support of the troop increase and to stand tall against the DemocRATs. I posted Senator Inhofe's email earlier in the week and now you have Dr. Coburn's!
Last night, Hugh Hewitt had a caller from Portland, OR saying he'd written to Gordon Smith twice....no replies.
Thanks for writing, and sharing.
Great job!
Coburn for Prez!
Good for you! (You lucky dog, having TWO great conservatives representing your state! I am VERY impressed with Inhofe's resistance to the religion of global warming and Boxer's hilarious attempts at a "hearing".)
You certainly are two for two in your state. We used to be also, but no longer, and now I see that dumpy Claire McCaskill padding around the well of the senate looking like she should be an inmate in one of her husband's nursing homes.
Thank you for contacting me concerning Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I understand the public anxiety over the war, and I share many of the frustrations with the pace of progress in Iraq . While we continue to have success militarily, our overall strategy to defuse the sectarian violence and improve the political process is insufficient. It is clear that we must chart a new, specific path in Iraq . We should hold Iraqi political leaders accountable for meeting specific benchmarks for success. We must put more pressure on the Iraqis to defend their own country, to move our troops away from the front lines, and ultimately return home.
In December of 2006, I traveled to Iraq for a second time, and met with Minnesota soldiers, military commanders, and Iraqi leaders to get a candid, firsthand assessment of the situation on the ground. During my meetings, I emphasized the need for Iraqis to move quickly to solve the sectarian violence. Our investment in Iraq cannot be open-ended. The Iraqi police and Army need to assume more responsibility for security throughout the country and especially in Baghdad . Iraq 's political leaders also need to provide a political environment that will foster greater opportunity for reconciliation between its sectarian factions.
Concerning the level of U.S. troops in Iraq , I do not believe politicians should set troop levels. Troop levels should be set by our military leaders including our commanders on the ground. At this time, I would not support any kind of significant increase in troops in Baghdad . Given the sectarian strife and delays in the Iraqi political process, I think a troop surge would only create more targets and place more American troops in the crosshairs of Iraqi sectarian battles. Some military commanders have suggested a surge could be worthwhile in areas outside Baghdad , such as in Fallujah , and I am willing to take a look at that proposal.
At the same time, I think our country's military forces are stretched too thin and I do support an increase in the size of our overall military. America 's all-volunteer military is the best in the world and I will remain committed to lessening the burden for our service people, particularly the Guard and reserve, as they do their work in Iraq .
However, there is no doubt in my mind that the safety of Americans from terror is tied to what happens in Iraq. Leaders of al Qaeda have made very clear that Iraq is central to their efforts to destabilize America and the world. Osama bin Laden himself has said that "the most serious issue today for the whole world is this Third World War that is raging in Iraq." Bin Laden has called Baghdad the capital of a new radical Islamic Caliphate he would like to create, stretching from Spain to Indonesia . On September 11, we learned the consequences of ignoring dangerous developments in the Middle East . It is for this reason that we cannot afford to abandon our efforts in Iraq .
My time in Iraq gave me another opportunity to reflect upon the tremendous courage, skill, commitment and patriotism of our soldiers. These are extraordinary citizens that have a great sense of confidence in what they're doing, a willingness to sacrifice -and sacrifice they have. Minnesota and America have much to be proud of, and I was truly humbled by the things I heard and witnessed from our soldiers in Iraq .
Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me. I value your advice. If I may be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate
Tom Coburn is absolutely my favorite Senator. You Sooners are lucky.
Missouri Bump!
Yea Oklahomans. Pity Nebraskans.
You are so fortunate to have Senators who stand tall. My senator, Maria Cantwell replied to my email, which chastised her for demanding diplomacy, by stating that she will not back down from demanding lowering of troop strength and increased talking. Her and Feingold make a good (ugly) team.
Thank God
Wish we had more Senators like the two Oklahoma Senators in the Senate that would stand up and be counted. These two Senators always reply. Also received a snail mail reply from my Congressman Tom Cole who echoed our two Senataors.
That is because Dr. Tom Coburn is a grassroots Senator not a politician -- we worked hours and hours, walked door after door in Oklahoma, and made call after call all across the State.
Coburn Grassroots movement sprang to life the night of his announcement and we never stopped until election night when he clobbered Carson. Never been prouder to be an Oklahoman that night when they declared Oklahoma for Dr. Tom Coburn. With Dr. Tom, what you see is what you get!
Two years ago at the State Convention, Sen Inhofe passed out literature that showed the junk science of global warming! I love to hear him speak about Boxer and Clinton -- not exactly complimentary! :)
What a contrast to what Senator Inhofe wrote earlier this week and now Dr. Coburn. I told both of them I Thank God they are my Senators.
yeah... I was just thinking..... embarrassed to report what the NE RINO might say. When I called his office last summer to convey my feelings (and those of about 90% of Nebraskans) about illegal immigration, I got a letter a few days later saying that the majority of his constituency favors a process to allow illegals to stay and work in the U.S. ..... I think we all know what he has to say about the war. It makes me ashamed to think I voted for him... and sad at the lack of support from Hagel as my son is about to leave for his 2nd Iraq tour with the USMC.
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