SUBJECT: De-escalate not escalation, then investigate

Americans want our troops home. We need Congressional lead Democrats to
refuse to fund this deployment, act now toward a withdrawal of troops, and hold
hearings on the rationales for launching this war and continuing the
occupation amidst a civil war. This administration continue to reject the will of
most Americans, as expressed in polls and in November's election, which support
the safe, orderly withdrawal of all US
troops. Continually ignores polls inside Iraq showing that majorities of
both Sunnis and Shi'a believe in armed attacks on US troops. Escalation was
opposed by the top two US military commanders in the Middle East, recently
dumped by President Bush, including Gen. Abizaid who told the Senate last month
that he'd asked his commanders in the region whether more troops would "add
considerably to our ability to achieve success in Iraq." According to Abizaid:
"They all said no."This new request is so devoid of reason and rationale that
many suspect it is a political ploy -- to shift blame for "losing Iraq" to
Democrats if they reject the troop increase, or to leave a US quagmire in Iraq
for the next White House if Democrats approve the increase. How many more
must die or be injured in this disastrous occupation? Don't talk about passing a
non-binding resolution, DO IT. Remember what the VP said before the November
election!

WALTER HILL
PETERSBURG, VA
804-731-6566